The Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras (JSYO) has named three new conductors for the upcoming 2017-2018 season. They will be under the direction of Deanna Tham, Jacksonville Symphony assistant conductor and JSYO principal conductor.
David Song, a native of Jeon-Ju, South Korea, will conduct the jump start strings ensemble at the Florida State College of Jacksonville’s South Campus. Song began studying violin at the age of 10 and has performed extensively as an orchestral, chamber and solo violinist. He made his solo debut with the Southwest Florida Orchestra and currently serves as an assistant principal violinist for the Savannah Philharmonic. He received his Bachelor of Music in violin performance from Stetson University and pursued a Master of Music in violin performance at Baylor University.
Helen Morin will conduct both encore strings and premiere strings. She earned her Bachelor of Music from Trinity College of Music in London and her Master of Music in violin performance with Lucia Lin at Boston University. Morin has been in St. Augustine since 2010 and often plays with the Jacksonville Symphony, as well as freelances with local chamber orchestras in St. Augustine. She teaches at R.B. Hunt Elementary School in St. Johns County, where she has established an after-school strings program, which is now in its fifth year.
Rose Francis will head up foundation strings at the Florida State College of Jacksonville’s South Campus. Francis earned her bachelor’s degree in music education and a Master of Music degree in conducting from the University of North Florida. She is involved as an educator and conductor throughout Northeast Florida serving as the string orchestra director at Pine Forest Magnet School of the Arts in Duval County; an adjunct professor in upper string techniques and pedagogy at the University of North Florida; and conductor of the Civic Orchestra of Jacksonville.
These conductors will be joining Tham, Naira Cola and John Wieland as instructors for the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestras, helping to serve more than 300 young musicians from all over Northeast Florida.
“We look forward to their contributions as part of the JSYO family,” said Kathryn Rudolph, director of education and communication engagement for the Jacksonville Symphony. “We hope you will come out and meet them at our first concert on November 19th.”
The Jacksonville Symphony is North Florida’s leading music nonprofit offering live performances at Jacoby Hall in the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts and other venues throughout the area. In addition, the symphony provides music instruction for youth and operates the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra. For more information about the Symphony, visit JaxSymphony.org.
