Our Directors
Orchestra Directors
Austin Isaac
High School Orchestra Director
Email: ADIsaac@fcps.edu | Phone: (703) 426-1074
Austin Isaac is the high school orchestra director at Lake Braddock Secondary School (LBSS) and is also the lead of the orchestra Collaborative team there. He has taught orchestra at the elementary and secondary levels in both public and private schools in Virginia. He received his B.M. from James Madison University with a concentration in instrumental education and his master’s degree in education from George Mason University.
As a conductor and clinician, Mr. Isaac has had the honor of conducting multiple honors orchestras for both middle and high school ensembles throughout the state of Virginia. He is also the conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra with The Capitol Symphonic Youth Orchestras. As a director at LBSS, the middle school chamber orchestra has been invited to perform at the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) In-service conference and the High School Symphony Orchestra has been invited to perform at the 2020 Music for All national orchestra festival, the 2024 VMEA In-service, and the 2026 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic.
As a double bassist, Austin has been an active performer in a variety of orchestras in the Northern Virginia area. He has also served as an adjudicator for state assessment performances throughout Virginia. Austin has also co-presented on improvisation in the instrumental classroom at the VMEA in-service conference and has served on the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA) Orchestra State Grading Committee. In addition, he has served as a regional orchestra representative for VBODA, and as the chairman of the orchestra sight reading committee for VBODA.
He also enjoys writing music for a variety of ensembles which have included string orchestra, full orchestra, concert band, and choir. His original works and arrangements have been selected as J.W. Pepper’s Editor’s Choice selections and have been published with Carl Fischer Publishing, Wingert-Jones Publishing, Tux People’s Music, Cane River Music, Southern Music, Zicato Music, Dog Smile Music, in addition to self-published works.
Austin lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife Nicole and their two cats Lychee and BK.
Diana Chou
Middle School Orchestra Director
Email: DLChou@fcps.edu | Phone: (703) 426-6383
Diana Chou is a music educator, cellist, and conductor. She has been a music educator since 2008, and has taught for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) since 2013. She currently teaches at Lake Braddock Secondary School as the Middle School Orchestra Director. In addition, she is Director of the Fairfax Chamber Players, an orchestra made up of FCPS teachers in conjunction with the Academy Course Program. Mrs. Chou is the Artistic Director of The Capitol Symphonic Youth Orchestras (TCSYO), as well as Conductor for String Ensemble.
Mrs. Chou has been a music educator since 2008 and has taught for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) since 2013. She currently teaches at Lake Braddock Secondary School as the Middle School Orchestra Director and is co-department chair of the Performing Arts Department.
She has organized many events for the Lake Braddock Pyramid, including Strings Extravaganza, Solo Spotlight, and Area Orchestra. She is the Secretary and Event Coordinator for the Fairfax Arts Coalition for Education (FACE) and works to bring musical opportunities to all students. Mrs. Chou enjoys curriculum development, and has worked on projects for FCPS and the Virginia Department of Education. She has been a mentor to many first-year orchestra teachers and has hosted several student teachers. She is an active freelance cellist in the Washington D.C. area and is a founding member of the Maestra Ensemble. She has performed concerti with the Manassas Symphony Orchestra, Fairfax Chamber Players, and Orchard Park Symphony Orchestra, and is slated to perform the Vivaldi Double Cello concerto with the Friends and Family Orchestra in June 2026.
She is an active guest conductor and has worked with Middle School All County Orchestras in Virginia and New York. In May of 2025 she had the opportunity to work with members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as a participant in the “Girls Who Conduct” masterclass with Marzena Diakun.
Before moving to Virginia, she taught elementary and middle school orchestra for the Ithaca City School District. She served as Vice President of the Seneca Tompkins Music Educators Association and was the Chairperson for All County and Area All State festivals. Mrs. Chou was also the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Ithaca Community Orchestra. In 2013 she was named a Music Educator Grammy Award Quarter Finalist. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Ithaca College, and Master of Music in Conducting from Houghton University.