Our Directors
Peter Ariano, Director of Bands
Education: Master of Music Education '27 University of Maryland at College Park; Bachelor of Music '23 Towson University.
At Quince Orchard, Mr. Ariano directs two concert band ensembles, the jazz ensemble and teaches four levels of piano. He is also the director of the QO Marching Cougars and is the administrative lead for the QO Percussion Ensemble and Winter Color Guard.
Outside of teaching, Mr. Ariano is a professional accompanist having played for many MCPS schools, the University of Maryland's School of Theatre, and the Young Artists of America.
Brigitte Kirchhoff, Director of Orchestras
Education: Master of Education '09 (in Human Development) University of Maryland at College Park; Bachelor of Music '03 University of Maryland at College Park.
Brigitte Kirchhoff, has been working in the Montgomery County Public Schools since 2003 and been the Director of Orchestra since 2005. Priot to QOHS she was the instrumental music teacher at Roberto Clemente Middle School and the conductor of the Potomac Valley Youth Orchestra Preparatory Orchestra. Mrs. Kirchhoff holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Master of Education in Human Development, both from the University of Maryland at College Park. While attending the University of Maryland on teh Creative and Performing Arts Scholarship, Mrs. Kirchhoff was President of the University of Maryland’s student chapter of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).
Quince Orchard orchestra ensembles consistently receive superior ratings at district and state assessments. From 2008-2010 she served as the Elected Faculty Representative on Quince Orchard’s Instructional Leadership Team. From 2010-2011, Mrs. Kirchhoff represented Montgomery County Music Teachers by serving on the Councils of Teaching and Learning (CTL) as well as spearheaded several committees to support music education efforts in MCPS. In 2008, Mrs. Kirchhoff received the honor of conducting the MCPS Junior All-County Honors Orchestra. Mrs. Kirchhoff has also been the preparatory conductor for the MCPS Senior Orchestra five times. Mrs. Kirchhoff has helped mentor new teachers to MCPS and prepare those in college wishing to be music educators. She actively adjudicates at solo, small ensemble and large ensemble adjudicatons across the state of Maryland.
In her free time, Mrs. Kirchhoff enjoys reading and training for races in the effort to keep up with her marathon-running husband, and being the biggest supporter of her sons Andrew and Matthew.
Robyn Kleiner-Vilgos, Director of Choirs
Education: Master of Education '18 (in Learnign Design and Technology) Purdue University; Bachelor of Music Education '11 The Ohio State University.
Robyn Kleiner-Vilgos has taught for Montgomery County Public Schools since 2011 directing both instrumental and vocal performing ensembles. At QO Mrs. Kleiner-Vilgos teaches all the choir class, AP Music Theory, music technology and piano. Prior to her position in MCPS she studied both Choral and Instrumental Music Education at the Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio. During her undergraduate training, Mrs. Kleiner-Vilgos studied flute as well as percussion, and served as President of Sigma Alpha Iota and the Central Ohio Flute Association. Mrs. Kleiner-Vilgos performs with many ensembles in the Montgomery County area, singing with The National Philharmonic Chorale and playing flute for various wind ensembles including Flutes on the Brink, Maryland Band Directors Band and The Musical Offering Flute Choir. Mrs. Kleiner-Vilgos serves on the staff of the QO Marching Band and Drama Production Team. Mrs. Kleiner-Vilgos remains an active member of National Association for Music Educators, Maryland Music Educators Association, and the American Choral Directors Association.