The Ensembles
OFFICE
The WVYS has space in the offices of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra,
located on the third floor of the Clay Center for the Arts (300 Leon Sullivan
Way). The WVYS is staffed on a part-time basis by the General Manager.
(561-3542). If the General Manager is not in the office at the time of
your call, please leave a message or e-mail her at the following address:
sisaacs@theclaycenter.org. Information is also available on our web site
at www.wvyouthsymphony.org.
WVYS STAFF
Youth Orchestra Conductor
Robert Turizziani – In addition to his work with the West Virginia
Youth Orchestra, Mr. Turizziani is the founder and music director of the
Seneca Chamber Orchestra and the music director of the River Cities Symphony.
He has a degree in clarinet performance from the University of Cincinnati
College-Conservatory of Music. He is currently the principal clarinet
of the West Virginia Symphony. Mr. Turizziani has performed with the orchestras
of Cincinnati, Columbus, and Louisville, as well as the Cincinnati Pops
and Opera and a number of smaller regional orchestras. With the Pentaura
Quintet, he has participated in artist residencies at the Banff and Sandpoint
Festivals.
Youth String Ensemble Conductor
Colleen Tan - YSE conductor Colleen Tan is a violinist and violist who
earned her Master’s Degree in Violin Performance at the University
of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and her Bachelor’s
in both Violin Performance and Instrumental Music Education at The Catholic
University of America. As a violinist, she has performed in the Vatican,
Rome, Lucca, Portugal and with the Washington Concert Opera, Cincinnati
Ballet, West Virginia orchestras as well as many other ensembles. A member
of the Lake String Quartet, she performs in Yellowstone National Park
each summer.
An active educator, Mrs. Tan currently teaches strings in Kanawha County through the artist-in-residence program of the WV Symphony. She taught middle school orchestra and band in Montgomery County, Maryland. She was also a conductor for the Montgomery County Honors Orchestras program. In Maryland and West Virginia, she has directed groups to successfully compete and attain highest honors at Music in the Parks festivals, including the Dunbar/Mann Middle School combined orchestra with Mr. Jessee. In Spring of 2004, the YSE earned a Unanimous Superior rating at the NFMC festival under her baton. She and Mr. Tan reside in Charleston and maintain a private studio.
Cadet Strings Conductor
Ian Jessee, an Ohio native, came to West Virginia to participate the West
Virginia Symphony Artist-in Residence program as a string instructor for
the Kanawha County Schools. Mr. Jessee earned his bachelor’s degree
in violin performance from the Ohio State University. He performs with
the West Virginia Symphony, Seneca Chamber Orchestra, Ohio Valley Symphony,
and is concertmaster of the River Cities Symphony Orchestra. He has participated
in the Mid-America Chamber Music Festival, the Lancaster Festival, USA
where he was welcomed as the Wilkes Young Artist Fellow; the Klassischemusikfestspiele,
in Austria; the New Hampshire Music Festival, and the Bach and Beyond
Baroque Music Festival (Fredonia, NY).
Under Mr. Jessee’s guidance, his public school programs have received superior ratings and highest honors in Music in the Parks Festival, the Strawberry Festival, and last year placed 2nd in the very prestigious National Orchestra Festival. This year he will serve as president of the West Virginia chapter of ASTA, the American String Teacher Association, as well as the state chapter of NFMC, the National Federation of Music Clubs. He is also a member of Music Educators National Conference, and the West Virginia Music Teachers’ Association.
Directions to Important Youth Symphony Sites
St. Timothy Lutheran Church - Corridor G
(site of the Chamber Concert)
Take I-64 to the Oakwood Road Exit
At the end of the ramp turn right onto Route 119
Go through two stoplights. At the bottom of the hill turn right on Lawndale
Lane.
The church is on the right at the top of the hill. Plenty of free parking is available
Scottish Rite Temple
(site of the Winter, Chamber and Spring concerts in 2005-06 Season)
From Interstate I-64 take the Clay Center Exit (Exit 100). At the stoplight at the end of the exit ramp turn right onto Washington Street. Travel two blocks on Washington Street, turn right onto Capitol Street. The Scottish Rite Temple is located on the right-hand side of the street immediately past Kinko’s.
Questions? Concerns?
For your convenience, a directory of contact people has been provided
below. If you have questions or concerns during the year, these are the
people to contact:
President Board Of Directors Tom Beal 343-0710
Parent Advisory Rep Board Of Directors Michael Keller 727-5012
Youth Orchestra Conductor Robert Turizziani 345-4662
Youth String Ensemble Conductor Colleen Tan 342-0151
Cadet Strings Conductor Ian Jessee 345-1845
General Manager Stephanie Isaacs * 561-3542
Conductors Assistant Cadet Strings Badri Shafii 965-7775
Conductors Assistant Youth Strings Teresa Westfall 722-6511
Conductors Assistant Youth Strings Michael Keller 727-5012
Conductors Assistant Youth Orchestra Andrew Burdette 610-2348
Conductors Assistants Cadet Strings Jessica Lane 925-5969, Kim Shin 549-0775
Volunteer Coordinator Board of Directors Beth Chiparo 346-1314
*e-mail address: sisaacs@theclaycenter.org