Deanna L. Kringel is a native of Delaware. She began her instrumental music studies as a Suzuki violin student, at the age of four, at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland, and began her performing career playing solo violin for the Governor of Delaware’s Inaugural Banquet at age twelve.  Kringel was selected all fours years in high school to perform in the All-State Orchestra. She was also the first music student in her high school to perform at the All-State level in three performing ensembles:  All-State Orchestra, All-State Band and All-State Chorus.

 

Kringel received her Bachelors in music education with high honors from James Madison University and was the first JMU student to perform a double senior recital on two instruments (violin and flute), as well as the first to graduate with majors in two primary instruments. Kringel began her teaching career in Roanoke City Schools, which nominated her for the Sallie Mae First Year Teachers Award.

Ms. Kringel is currently in her ninth year as the Director of Orchestras at Oscar F. Smith High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, as well as the beginning strings teacher at several feeder elementary schools. During Kringel's tenure, the string enrollment has more than doubled at OSHS.  Most recently, the Oscar Smith High School Chamber Orchestra performed by invitation at the 2005 Virginia Music Educators (VMEA) In-Service Conference, by invitation at the 2007 National Band & Orchestra Festival in Carnegie Hall and by invitation at the Music for All National "Orchestra America" Festival in Indianapolis. 

Kringel is in her ninth year directing the entertaining “Oscar Smith High School Strolling Strings.”  She also directed the Williamsburg Youth Orchestra’s “String Orchestra” for five years.   Kringel is listed in Who’s Who in American Women, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Education, Who's Who Among America's Teachers and National Honor Roll's Outstanding American Teachers.

Kringel has served as a guest conductor throughout Virginia, including the Virginia Beach City Public Schools’ All-City Orchestra and James Madison University’s “Spring String Thing.” She is an active member of the Music Educators National Conference, Virginia Music Educators Association and American String Teachers Association. Kringel is also a free-lance musician performing violin, viola, and flute throughout the Hampton Roads area.