Meet Our Conductors

Joseph Arden Lee, Music Director/Conductor

Mr. Lee graduated cum laude from Vanderbilt University in 1998 where he received a BM in bassoon performance and a minor in voice. Mr. Lee is currently the assistant conductor and director of education for the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. As assistant conductor, Mr. Lee has successfully led the musicians of the HSO through rehearsals, Family Concerts, Young Peoples’ Concerts, as well as multiple performances of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. Mr. Lee is also the artistic director and conductor of the Huntsville Youth Orchestra, as well as the director of music ministries at East End United Methodist Church, Nashville, TN. In recent years, Mr. Lee has served as conductor of the Nashville Double Reed Ensemble, assistant conductor of the Vanderbilt University Orchestra, musical director of the Vanderbilt Opera Theater, and artistic director/conductor of the Shoals Symphony Orchestra.

As an orchestral musician, Mr. Lee’s principal instruments include bassoon, contrabassoon, and violoncello. He is currently the contrabassoonist for the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, he has performed with many orchestras including Nashville and Alabama Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Nashville Chamber Orchestra. He has performed live on NPR, and his performances may be heard soundtracks of various independent films.

Mr. Lee has extensive experience in teaching and conducting students. He has been a guest clinician/conductor for the Alabama Honor Strings Festival and Nashville Metropolitan Summer Strings Camp. He has worked as an orchestra/chamber music teacher and coordinator in the Nashville area, most recently as Director of Instrumental Music at the Harpeth Hall School for Girls. He has been a chamber coach for the Blair School of Music, and continues to guest conduct the Vanderbilt Orchestra frequently. Mr. Lee has also been the music director/conductor for the Tennessee Valley Music Festival for the past three summers. Mr. Lee has been invited to join the faculty of the Sewanee Summer Music Festival as a guest conductor during Summer 2007.

Mr. Lee has participated in music festivals and master classes both at home and abroad. In master class, he has conducted the Mannes College of Music Orchestra, Philadelphia Singers, Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic (Zlin, Czech Republic), Symphonic Youth Orchestra of Edegam (Belgium), and the Parnu City Orchestra (Estonia) with world renowned instructors including Otto Werner Mueller, Christoph Eschenbach, Neeme Jarvi, Paavo Jarvi, David Hayes, and Duain Wolfe. In July of 2006, Mr. Lee conducted portions of two concerts in conjunction with the David Oistrakh Music Festival (Parnu, Estonia) that were broadcast by Estonian National Radio. Mr. Lee’s conducting teachers/mentors include Maestros Robin Fountain, James Paul, and Taavo Virkhaus.

Leona Cotruvo, Conductor

Leona Cotruvo received her B.S. in Music Education from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and Suzuki teacher training from nationally recognized teachers, Alice Joy Lewis and Marjorie Aber. While residing in Portsmouth, N.H., she was Music Supervisor of the Portsmouth Elementary Schools. Mrs. Cotruvo has worked extensively with young string players and orchestras in the Jackson, Mississippi Public Schools, at string camps and has served as a clinician at Suzuki Workshops. Mrs. Cotruvo conducts the Concert Orchestra.

Kristi Condrey, Conductor

Kristi Condrey teaches private lessons on violin and cello out of her home in Athens, Alabama. She has been teaching for over six years, and enjoys working with children and adults alike. She received her training from the University of Memphis’ Suzuki Strings Institute in June 2005, from Teacher Trainer Kimberly Meier Sims. She is married, with three children. She is the Conductor for the Novice Strings in Limestone County. Kristi also plays bluegrass fiddle and enjoys taking fiddle students to competitions around the region.

Kelli Battraw, Conductor

Kelli Battraw, a native of Arizona, received her Bachelor’s Degree from Arizona State University in Music Education with an emphasis on strings. After graduating, Mrs. Battraw spent 4 years teaching elementary school in the Chandler, AZ school district. In that time, she also had the opportunity to work with students in both district and state elementary orchestra festivals. In addition, Kelli brings 9 years of private string instruction experience to the Huntsville Youth Orchestra Organization. Kelli is the Novice Strings Conductor for Huntsville and Madison. In addition, Kelli currently works for the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra as the Arts-in-Education Coordinator. As part of her job, she teaches 3rd grade students in Huntsville and Decatur city schools to play the violin, and also teaches small group violin lessons in the after school program for the Symphony School. Kelli and her husband, Aaron live in Madison and had their first baby in June ’07. Kelli is conducting Beginning Strings in addition to Madison and Huntsville Novice.