MEET THE CONDUCTORS
Our team of music educators at North Idaho Youth Symphonies work hard in order to produce a quality musical experience for our musicians and compelling performances for all.
SHAD FRAZIER
Director of Philharmonic Symphony
Shad Frazier graduated with a BA in Instrumental Music Education from the University of Idaho. He has been a member of the Idaho Army National Guard since 2009 and is a Chief Warrant Officer 2, currently serving as the Commander for the 25th Army Band. The 2023-24 season will be Mr. Frazier's fourth year with the NIYS.
Mr. Frazier is also the Instrumental Music Director for Lake City High School where he manages two Concert Bands, Marching and Pep Band, two Jazz Bands, two String Orchestras, and the percussion ensemble, “STOMP”. He has been teaching since 2012 and has experience at all grade levels in band, orchestra, and choir.
Shad married his wife, Allison in 2011 after meeting in the Vandal Marching Band at the University of Idaho (GO VANDALS!) in 2007. They have two sons together, Dean and Arlo, who are the two most precious boys on the planet. He enjoys spending time with his family and their two dogs, Penny and Daisy in the woods or on the water, fishing.
Kristina Phillips
Director of Intermezzo
Kristina Phillips received her Bachelors of Music Education from Pacific Lutheran University and received her Masters Degree from the American Band College at Southern Oregon University. She has taught band and orchestra in the public schools in Tacoma, Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. Currently, Kristina is the Fifth Grade Strings teacher for the Coeur d'Alene School District.
Kristina is the principal cellist for the Coeur d'Alene Symphony, has served as principal bassist of the Coeur d’Alene Symphony, and is a regular performer with local music ensembles including Coeur d'Alene Summer Theater and the Lake City String Quartet. She has served as one of the conductors for the North Idaho Youth Symphony since 2007. She also maintains a large private teaching studio in Coeur d’Alene. She and her husband Jim (who teaches orchestra at Cd'A HS - go Viks!) live in Coeur d’Alene with their four adorable children, three dogs and numerous chickens.
Degrees and Certifications:
Bachelor of Music Education, Pacific Lutheran University 1998; Masters of Science in Arts and Letters, American Band College at Southern Oregon University, 2003; Idaho Teaching Certificate.
Jonathan Madrid
Symphonic Band Director
Jon Madrid is a middle school instrumental music educator with over eight years of experience building engaging, student-centered music programs. He began his teaching career as a K–12 music educator in the Cottonwood School District, where he led general music classes and directed band programs across grade levels. He currently teaches in the Coeur d’Alene School District, where he directs a comprehensive program that includes beginning, intermediate, and advanced band and orchestra, as well as a pep band. His teaching emphasizes collaboration, engagement, and the development of strong musical fundamentals to support student success.
Mr. Madrid earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Idaho and his Master of Music in Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University. He is certified to teach in Idaho. His teaching philosophy focuses on patience, consistency, and creating a supportive environment where all students can grow as musicians and individuals.
In addition to his work in the classroom, Mr. Madrid maintains an active private lesson studio, teaching a variety of instruments including strings, brass, piano, and percussion.
As a performer, Mr. Madrid has performed with regional ensembles, including the Coeur d’Alene Symphony, Whitworth Symphony Orchestra, and North Idaho College Wind Symphony. He also mentors student teachers, helping guide the next generation of music educators.
Mr. Madrid has been recognized as a Teacher of the Year nominee in 2022 and 2024 and is a recipient of multiple Excel Grants. He has also received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Idaho Commission on the Arts to support drum festival programming for his students and community.
Christi Chang
Director or Debut Orchestra
Christi Chang is the cofounder of Summer String Academy. She holds an M.A. and a B.A. in Music Education from Central Washington University and is a Nationally Board Certified orchestra teacher. Mrs. Chang is interim conductor for the Intermezzo orchestra in the North Idaho Youth Symphony (NIYS) and coaches violins.
Mrs. Chang currently teaches high school and middle school orchestra in the East Valley School District (Spokane Valley, WA). Voted by her peers, she received the honor of Northeast Music Educators’ Association’s “2025 Music Educator of the Year”. In June 2025, she was awarded the “Barry Manilow Music Project” Award. Mrs. Chang personally received a $10,000.00 check from Mr. Manilow to purchase instruments and bolster the district’s music program.
During her 24 years of teaching, Christi Chang taught orchestra grades 5-12. She started over a thousand beginning string players and nurtured thousands of middle school players. She taught in the Bellevue School District for 12 years. Mrs. Chang taught at Bellevue High School and subsequently at Chinook Middle School. Her orchestra program yielded over 150 orchestra students each year.
Christi Chang learned through the Suzuki method before becoming a private Suzuki teacher herself. She went on to perform in the US, Germany, Africa and Central Asia before her first high school and elementary orchestra position in the Renton School District.
As Hazen High School’s orchestra director (Renton, WA), Christi Chang was recognized by the news media for her achievement in founding a program that provided private instrument lessons to underprivileged elementary students. Mrs. Chang trained high school students to tutor elementary orchestra students. The program saw over 100 students each year and Mrs. Chang was recognized for her outstanding success. Christi Chang was invited to the American String Teachers Association’s conference in Atlanta, where she presented her thriving tutoring program.
At Bellevue High School Mrs. Chang’s groups regularly received high marks at contest. A highlight of her career was going through a selective audition process to conduct her orchestra at New York’s Carnegie Hall. A recording of her performance was later aired on Seattle’s Classical King 98.1 FM.
In addition to her teaching, Mrs. Chang particpates or adjudicates in Idaho Music Educators’ Association (IMEA) and Washington Music Eductors’ (WMEA) activities, Solo & Ensemble contests, and Orchestra Large Group festivals. She is active in the music education community; having served as Washington Music Education Association’s (WMEA) region’s secretary, treasurer, and well as managing the several WMEA All-State Orchestras.
Christi Chang worked with former Seattle Symphony conductor Gerard Schwarz, former New Jersey Symphony conductor, Jeff Grogan, and international conductor of the St. Petersburg State Academic Symphony Orchestra, and Fabio Pirola. As a friend and colleague, Mrs. Chang worked with Terry Shade, author of the well-known “String Basics” orchestra method book.
Mrs. Chang lives in Idaho with her husband and three children. You can see the Chang family at Summer String Academy each year!