Richard Branson s currently the director of the Taylorsville-SLCC Orchestra. Richard finished a D.M.A. in orchestral conducting at UNLV, studying with Taras Krysa. He also studied at Brigham Young University where he earned a B.M. in music education, and a M.M. in orchestral conducting. While there he received the MENC Professional Development Award. Richard had a distinguished teaching career at Alta High School in Salt Lake City for eight years. He is also in demand as an adjudicator for orchestra and band festivals throughout the state.

JoAnna Cochenet is currently at her new position of Artist Faculty at the Omaha Conservatory of Music (OCM). As conductor on staff, she rehearses the ORM Baroque Camerata and teaches private viola and violin and other group classes. She also serves as the OCM site conductor, coordinating with the Omaha Area Youth Orchestras Elementary Strings program. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, JoAnna holds an M.M. in Viola Performance and Orchestral Conducting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a B.M. with certification in Instrumental Music Education and a Performer’s Certificate in Viola from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Todd Craven is currently studying conducting with Dr. William Wiedrich at the University of South Florida. An accomplished trumpet player, Todd has held the principal trumpet position with the Sarasota Orchestra and the Florida Brass Quintet for 12 years. He has also performed with the New York Philharmonic and the Cincinnati Symphony. Todd holds degrees from the University of Michigan and Indiana University.

Russell Ger received his Master’s of Music in Orchestral Conducting from The Boston Conservatory in May, 2010. Prior to that, he studied both voice and musicology at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Whilst living in Sydney, Mr. Ger conducted an array of professional, community and university ensembles. He had numerous repeat engagements with different groups including the Eastern Sydney Chamber Orchestra, the Sydney Chamber Orchestra, and the University of New South Wales Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. Since August of 2008, Mr. Ger has lived in Boston.

Jason Lim, the 2011 winner of the American Prize for an outstanding young conductor, was born in Penang, Malaysia. He received his formal training in viola performance when he won a music scholarship to study at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with Alice Waten. The following year, Jason Lim commenced his studies at the Canberra School of Music in Canberra, Australia and completed his B.M. with honors at the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney. While in Canberra, he began his conducting studies as an apprentice with the Canberra Youth Orchestra and served as assistant conductor with the Ku Ring Gai Philharmonic Orchestra in Sydney. Jason holds an M.M from the University of North Texas. He currently resides in Denton, TX, where he directs and coordinates numerous ensembles.

Richard Marcus is a conductor and educator with over twenty-five years of professional experience. He has served as Music Director of the Athenaeum Orchestra in Indianapolis, and the Sherwood Conservatory Young Musicians’ Orchestra in Chicago to name a few. He has guest conducted the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the Valley Civic Orchestra, the Butler Symphony Orchestra, and the University of South Carolina Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Marcus earned a B.M. from the University of Iowa, an M.M. from Butler University and graduated from the University of Calgary’s Wind Conducting Diploma Program. He has served on the faculties of the University of South Carolina and the College of Charleston. Mr. Marcus is currently a doctoral candidate in conducting at the University of South Carolina.

Gemma New, recently appointed Assistant Conductor of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, makes several guest-conducting debuts this upcoming season. Born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand, Gemma made her first conducting appearance at age 15. A recent graduate of the Peabody Institute, New has served as the cover conductor for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and assistant conductor for the Peabody Opera Theatre and Peabody Concert Orchestra. She has received numerous awards, including a Dame Malvina Major Foundation Excellence in Arts Award and a NZ Federation of Graduate Women Scholarship.

Sandra Noriega, working as both a percussionist and a conductor, has been a part of many ensembles and organizations that promote the works of underrepresented musicians. She has performed with the Women’s Philharmonic and founded the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra. She has taught at the college level for 10 years and has decades of experience teaching at the grade school levels.

Christopher Ramaekers, winner or the 2011 American Prize in Orchestral Conducting, is currently the Principal Conductor of the Ravenswood Community Orchestra and is the Music Director of the Hyde Park Youth Symphony. He has also served as music director of the Orchestra of St. Vincent’s and is the Director of Orchestras at Camp Encore/Coda in Maine. Chris holds a B.M. from Western Michigan University in Trumpet Performance, an M.M. in Orchestral Conducting from Northwestern University and is pursuing a DMA at Northwestern.

Ofra Hans-Sacher, hailing from Israel,  is on faculty at the American International School in Even Yehuda, Israel, Anita’s Treehouse International School in Herzlia, Israel, and the ADAM V’sviva School at Kibbutz Gaash. He works extensively with elementary-level string players, teaching privately and conducting. Ofra holds a B.M. from Indiana University, an M.M. from Rutgers University, and has pursued a DMA at Boston University.

Richard John Siegel holds a B.M from College of St. Francis, an M.M. from Northern Illinois University, a PhD in Sacred Music from Greenwich University, and a Juris Doctor from Northern Illinois. Since 1968, Richard Siegel has been the Music Director and/or Organist at multiple churches in Illinois. Richard is also a published composer and author. He is licensed to Practice Law and is currently Circuit Judge, Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Will County, Illinois.

Dr. David Upham is the conductor of the University of New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra. Prior to his arrival in New Hampshire, he was active in Seattle as a conductor of professional, student, and community orchestras. As an educator and clinician, David has participated in music festivals across the country and has a decade of experience working in public schools. Dr. Upham holds degrees from Luther College, the University of Northern Colorado, and the University of Washington.

Tony Brandolino serves as Music Director of the Liberty Symphony Orchestra and teaches violin and chamber music at William Jewell College.  He has appeared as conductor with the Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Sioux City Symphony, Kansas City Youth Symphony and Saint Joseph Symphony. A native of suburban Chicago, Tony attended High School at the Interlochen Arts Academy and earned degrees from Northwestern University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Amy Fajardo, born in Bogotá, Colombia,  is a music student starting to build her career as a conductor and composer. Her musical studies started at a very young age and eventually brought her to the USA. Currently, she is a student at the Berklee College of Music studying Film Scoring and Conducting. She hopes to pursue a career as an Orchestral Conductor.

Theresa Diaz McGee is experienced in conducting both choral and orchestra repertoire. She has spent nearly a decade as the Music Director of the Wallingford Chorus and the Wallingford Chamber Orchestra. In 2010, she was name a semi-finalist for the American Prize for orchestral conducting. She holds degrees of the University of Bridgeport and the Manhattan School of Music.