Huntsville Youth Orchestra

Meet Our Conductors

Joseph Arden Lee, Music Director/Conductor

hyoconductor@hotmail.com

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.

Jacob Frank, Conductor

philconductor@gmail.com

Jacob Frank began his study of the violin at the age of 10. In high school, Jacob played in the Huntsville Youth Symphony, and was concertmaster his senior year. He has studied the violin with instructors such as Alberto Jaffe, Viljar Weimann, and Achim Gerber. Because of his love for the violin, he desires to instill in his students that same passion and desire for the violin. Since graduating from Bob Jones University in 2006, Jacob has been teaching the 3rd grade violin programs with the Huntsville Symphony School, teaching privately, conducting a chamber orchestra with the Decatur Youth Symphony, and playing as a 2nd violinist in the HSO. Mr. Frank is so happy to be a part of the HYO program, conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra.

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.

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. More recently, Kelli spent 3 1/2 years as the Arts-in-Education Coordinator for the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. In addition, Kelli brings 12 years of private string instruction experience to the Huntsville Youth Orchestra Organization. Kelli is currently the conductor of the Novice Strings and Intermezzo orchestras. Kelli and her husband, Aaron, live in Madison with their 2 sons, Adam and Hyrum.