MEET OUR TEAM
JOSEPH GELLER
Wortham Head Director
Mr. Geller is the Head Orchestra Director at Wortham Intermediate School since the 2025 school year. Previously, he served as the Orchestra Director at Staley Middle School (2018-2025). A proud alumnus of Frisco ISD, Mr. Geller attended Rogers Elementary, Staley Middle School, and graduated from Wakeland High School in 2013. He went on to earn a degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas.
During his time at UNT, Mr. Geller was actively involved in various musical activities. He was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity and contributed to UNT's elementary strings program. He has performed in numerous recitals, demonstrating proficiency with the viola, violin, ukulele, and vocals. With over 13 years of private teaching experience, he has been dedicated to developing young musicians.
Mr. Geller’s musical journey includes performances with prestigious ensembles such as the UNT Concert Orchestra, San Angelo Symphony, Monroe Symphony, and the UNT Chinese Ensemble.
Outside of his musical and teaching endeavors, Mr. Geller enjoys cooking with his wife, playing video games, and reading comic books.
Nikit Desai
Scoggins Head Director
Nikit P. Desai earned a bachelor's degree in Music Education with a concentration in viola performance from Texas Tech University, studying under Dr. Blair Williams and Dr. Kimberly Sparr. He performed with the TTU Symphony Orchestra, chamber ensembles, and solo recitals while teaching young musicians through the TTU String Project, including a unique “parent orchestra” for adult beginners.
After graduating, Mr. Desai served as Associate Director at Centennial High School (2019–2021), leading ensembles to UIL Sweepstakes performances. He continued this success at Scoggins Middle School, where he emphasizes culturally relevant repertoire and advanced foundational skills.
An active violist with the McKinney Philharmonic, Mr. Desai enjoys tennis, golf, and cooking diverse cuisines in his free time.
Patrick Hayes
Violin/Viola Private Teacher
Described as playing with “pleasant nostalgia” by the Dallas Morning News, Patrick Hayes is a violist whose sound has allowed him to reach audiences in many settings. As a chamber musician, he was a violist in the Frieden Quartet and in the Kuttner Quartet Fellowship with the Pneum Quartet at Indiana University. He also has studied baroque performance with Paul Leenhouts and Cynthia Roberts. Patrick has served as principal with the Dallas Bach Society and completed a European tour with the Baroque ensemble, Fantasmi. Orchestrally, he has played with many local orchestras and has performed with the Verbier Festival Orchestra for two seasons. He also has taught in the DFW area working with students of all ages. He aspires to give his student the tools they need to become their own teachers and instructs them on how to find their own artistic voice. He received his bachelor's degree in viola performance at the University of North Texas with Dr. Susan Dubois, and completed his master's degree at Indiana University with Stephen Wyrczynski.
Jarrett Bastow
Cello/Double Bass Private Teacher
Jarrett Bastow is a professional double bassist, educator, clinician, and freelance music coach with many years of experience performing with orchestras and guiding students in their musical development. He maintains an active performance schedule across multiple states while working closely with schools, families, and young musicians in the community.
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Low End String Academy – serving students 18 and under through a Suzuki–Vance blended approach that builds character, technique, and artistry.
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Strung Low Teaching Studio – designed for older students and adults, focusing on musical expression, body-aware technique, and sustainable practice habits.
In addition to private teaching, Jarrett provides cello and bass clinics through Bisectional Low String Clinician Services, supporting orchestra programs with sectionals, workshops, and masterclasses that strengthen ensemble sound and student confidence.
Through Opus Freelance Music Coaching, Jarrett also mentors musicians in areas beyond performance—such as time management, personal branding, and building multiple income streams. His coaching helps young professionals and seasoned musicians alike create healthy, balanced, and sustainable careers in the arts.
He holds a Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College, a Master of Music from Northwestern University, and a Master of Arts Leadership and Cultural Management from Colorado State University. His primary teachers are Erik Johnson, Nicholas Walker, Andrew Raciti, and Lauren Pierce.
Jarrett is committed to helping every student grow as a musician while developing the focus, discipline, and creativity that will serve them well beyond the classroom.
