Conductors

Staff

Board

Charles West, Youth Symphony Conductor

Charles West is an orchestral, chamber and solo clarinetist and a conductor, performing throughout the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia andAustralia.  His recorded repertoire ranges from standard sonatas to avant-garde, on labels which include Klaver, Wilson Audiophile, Centaur, CRI, Crystal and he is heard on a Grammy Award-winning 1993 Telarc CD. West holds the Doctorate and three other university degrees, has been a Fulbright Scholar, and he has been President of the International Clarinet Association. His career has included nearly thirty years as Principal Clarinetist in six different professional orchestras and opera companies on two continents, and he has held teaching positions in three North American universities, with guest professorships in South America, Taiwan, Hong Kong, The People's Republic of Chinaand Australia.  He has been Conductor of Orchestras and opera conductor at Virginia Commonwealth University, and has served as conductor or adjudicator throughout the U.S.  During his seven-year tenure as Conductor of the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra, the orchestra became recognized regionally for its standard of excellence. Dr. West is presently Professor of Music and Coordinator of Winds & Percussion at Virginia Commonwealth University, conductor of the Youth Orchestra of Central Virginia, and Artist-Clinician for the Buffet Crampon Corporation.  In 2008 Meredith Music Publications published his book, "The Woodwind Player's Cookbook:  Creative Recipes for a Successful Performance," and in 2011 the VCU School of the Arts awarded him its highest faculty honor, the Award of Excellence.

Don Brubaker, Rita M. Evans Orchestra Conductor
A native of Roanoke, Virginia, Mr. Brubaker began musical studies on the violin at the age of six and on the piano and trumpet at the age of twelve. He holds a bachelor's degree in music education from West Virginia University and a master's degree in music education from the University of Illinois. In addition to his music education studies, Mr. Brubaker holds a Master of Divinity degree from Regent University. While teaching elementary, middle, and high school level orchestra in the public schools of Northern Virginia, Mr. Brubaker conducted the Northern Virginia Junior Youth Symphony for eight seasons.  In addition, he has taught band at the elementary level, directed a private music teaching studio, and for 10 years has directed a successful exploratory violin program at both Clark and Jackson-Via Elementary Schools.  As the Director of Orchestras at Buford Middle School, Mr. Brubaker has also served as a guest conductor and adjudicator throughout Virginia. He is a published composer of school orchestra music and was the 2006 recipient of the “Arts Award for Education” from the Piedmont Council of the Arts.  In his twelfth season as Evans conductor, Don Brubaker resides in Albemarle County with his wife Gayle who teaches piano and voice.

Robert Dunnenberger, Evans Wind Coach
Robert Dunnenberger was raised in Altoona, Pennsylvania and began studying piano at age seven and percussion at age ten. He received his undergraduate degree in music education from the Pennsylvania State University and his master's degree in music education from Florida International University in Miami, where he taught music in the public schools. He has been teaching instrumental music at Walker Upper Elementary School since moving to Charlottesville in 1988.  He directs two award winning ensembles: the Walker Sixth Grade Concert Band and the Walker Jazz Band, the latter of which he founded in 2001.  Mr. Dunnenberger also maintains a studio of private piano students.  He was the recipient of the Piedmont Council of the Arts Outstanding Educator Award in 2002.

Angela Kelly, Flute Choir and Ensemble Director

Angela Kelly is a graduate of Indiana University where she studied with Peter Lloyd and James Pellerite. She won second prize in the 1996 Louise D. McMahan International Instrumental Competition and was invited to perform in the Samuel Baron Bach Area Masterclass at the 1996 National Flute Convention in New York.  Her orchestral credits include performances with the Hartford Symphony, Greenwich Symphony and Greenwich Choral Society, and she has soloed with the Lawton (OK) Philharmonic, Bach Aria Festival Orchestra, and Musica Antiqua.   She created and directed four acclaimed youth flute choirs in Connecticut before coming to Charlottesville.  She directed the YOCA Senior Flute Choir at the National Flute Convention in Washington, DC in 2002  and San Diego, Ca. in 2006. She now directs the YOCA Flute Ensemble and is a member of the Charlottesville-University Symphony Orchestra.

Margaret Newcomb, Prelude and Flute Choir Director

With degrees in music education and performance, Margaret Newcomb served as principal flute in the University of Virginia Symphony Orchestra and Lecturer in Music for 20 years.  After leaving the University, she established Studio Flauto Dolce, a private studio for flute and recorder students of all ages,  she was a co-founder of  the Shenandoah Recorder Society, and  the Blue Ridge Summer Chamber Music Camp, and  accepted an adjunct position at Charlottesville Day School where she teaches beginning piano and flute.  Her students continually distinguish themselves in local and regional competitions, and have pursued advanced studies at the Boston and Cincinnati Conservatories and the Julliard School of Music.  As an outstanding music educator, she is in great demand for private lessons and group instruction for all ages and levels of ability.

 Alicia Tobin, Junior Strings Conductor
Alicia Tobin, director of Junior Strings, has a bachelor’s degree in music education from Northern Illinois University.  She studied cello with Linc Smelser of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and with Marc Johnson of the Vermeer Quartet, and has taught cello privately since 1998. Ms. Tobin taught elementary and middle school orchestra in the Chicago area public schools for two years before moving to Charlottesville in 2005. She is currently the music teacher at Johnson Elementary and assistant director of the Charlottesville High School Orchestra.  Ms. Tobin is a member of the American String Teachers Association and the Music Educators National Conference.

James Tobin, Clarinet Ensemble Director
James Tobin is a freelance clarinetist who has performed with the Quad-Cities Symphony, the Chamber Orchestra of Southwest Virginia, the New River Chamber Winds and the Waynesboro Community Symphony. A Charlottesville native, Mr. Tobin performed with the Evans and Youth Orchestras from 1990-1994. Mr. Tobin received a Bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech and a Master's from Northern Illinois University, both in clarinet performance. Currently James teaches throughout the Charlottesville area, including Albemarle High and Burley Middle School, where he learned to play. He also teaches and directs clarinet choirs at St. Anne's-Belfield, Western Albemarle High Scool, and Monticello High School.Mr. Tobin is also the director and founder of the Charlottesville Clarinet Workshop and is presently a member of the Charlottesville-University Symphony Orchestra.

Staff

Scot Spaar Jonté, General Manager
Linda Barnes, Assistant/Bookeeper
Chris Martsolf, Librarian

Board of Directors
2011-12

Holly Hilton, President

Katie Kroloff, Vice President

Doug Hilton, Treasurer

Laura Bancroft, Secretary

Eric Gertner

Marie Jones

Andrew LaPrade

Nancy Tramontin

Eleanor Voldrich

Founding Director

Douglas Hargrave

The Board of Directors welcomes all inquiries regarding YOCA.
If you are interested in getting involved and serving on our Board,
please contact Holly Hilton or Scot Jonté at
yoca_evans@yahoo.com or call 974-7776.