For Immediate Release
ORLANDO, FL - Following an extensive search, the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra is pleased to announce the four finalists in the running for the position of Music Director and Symphonic Orchestra Conductor for the organization. The finalists are Nate Beversluis, Dr. Thomas Taylor Dickey, Christopher Thibdeau, and Dr. Robert Yaklich.
The four finalists were chosen by a search committee, comprised of board members with diverse backgrounds, from a group of over 50 talented and qualified candidates from all over the world. Each finalist will rehearse with FSYOs Symphonic Orchestra. These rehearsals are open to the public and will be held on February 22, 2015 and March 1, 2015 from 3:45-5:00 PM at Edgewater High School – 3100 Edgewater Dr., Orlando, FL 32804.
About the Finalists:
Nate Beversluis: Nate Beversluis is a pianist, conductor and composer/arranger, currently Resident Conductor with Greensboro Symphony Orchestra. He serves as assistant conductor and frequent concerto accompanist to Dmitry Sitkovetsky, as well as Music Director of the flourishing Greensboro Symphony Youth Orchestra program. He also conducts Greensboro Symphony as a ballet orchestra for local productions. Recent guest conducting engagements include Ohio Southwest Regional Orchestra, CCM Philharmonia, and Orlando Philharmonic. Previously he was Music Director at Elon University, Seaside Music Theatre, University of Central Florida Theater Department, and Associate Artistic Director at Tri-Cities Opera. He holds degrees from Indiana University (Jazz Studies) and the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) at the University of Cincinnati (Orchestral Conducting).
Dr. Thomas Taylor Dickey: Reviewed by critics as a "dynamic and exciting conductor" whose conducting is "imbued with aplomb, energy, and pathos," Dr. Thomas Taylor Dickey is the Director of Orchestral Activities at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and concurrently serves as Conductor of the Dubuque Symphony Youth Orchestra (IA). Previous positions include Director of Orchestral Activities at the University of Evansville (IN) and Conductor of the Evansville Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (IN). Dr. Dickey has also held assistant conductor positions with university and professional orchestras in Illinois, Louisiana, and Georgia. He holds doctoral and master's degrees in orchestral conducting from the University of Georgia and Louisiana State University, respectively, and further studied conducting at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and numerous workshops and master classes.
Christopher Thibdeau: Christopher Thibdeau has a diverse background as both a cellist and a conductor. Recently appointed the Music Director of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestras of Atlanta, Christopher has previously served as the Associate Conductor of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, Associate Conductor of the Brighton Symphony Orchestra, and Conductor of the Atlanta Music Project Orchestras to name a few. Christopher is also the Assistant Conductor of the Georgia Tech Symphony Orchestra. He is an active cellist, maintaining a private teaching studio as well as performing with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Thibdeau holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Cello Performance from the Eastman School of Music and a Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Dr. Richard Yaklich: Dr. Richard E. Yaklich, currently serves as an Associate Professor of Music at Florida Memorial University; Former Conductor of the South Florida Youth Symphony (2002-2013) and the former Director of the Jubilate Chamber Orchestra, Associate Conductor of the Kingsport Symphony and Music Director of the Kingsport Youth Symphony. He has conducted orchestras throughout the United States and Eastern Europe including the Maikop Philharmonic and the Sochi Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his conducting activities, he is an active cellist and composer and has had works performed by the Colorado Symphony and in Romania. Dr. Yaklich received his bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Colorado; his Master's degree in music from Colorado State University and his Doctorate from the University of South Carolina.
FSYO's current music director, Andrew Lane, who served the FSYO as Music Director since 1998 – with a two-year leave between the 2005 and 2007 seasons – will continue to lead the program through FSYO's 58th season ending in May 2015.
About FSYO: The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra aims to educate and inspire Central Florida's top young musicians via programs committed to strengthening musical talents and developing appreciation of the arts through classical music. The FSYO, in its 58th Concert Season, comprises three full orchestras, one string training orchestra and various chamber groups, made up of more than 250 students from nine Central Florida counties, including Orange, Osceola, Lee, Seminole, Brevard, Lake, Highlands, Polk and Volusia. Programs are sponsored in part by the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs; the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; Darden Restaurant Foundation; Universal Orlando Foundation; The Central Florida Foundation and United Arts of Central Florida. We thank these groups for their generous support. The FSYO is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For more information, please visit www.fsyo.org | facebook.com/THEFSYO | @fsyo
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