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JACK TAYLOR, MUSIC DIRECTOR,
PYSO
 Mr. Taylor, a former member of PYSO, is now recognized
as one of the top music educators in Southern California. He holds a
Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Southern California and
a Master of Science in Music Education from Southern Oregon University.
His background of excellence in music training and his passion for
teaching students provides a well-balanced approach for music education.
Mr. Taylor has taught music in Temple City for eight
years at the elementary and intermediate school levels. His groups
consistently receive superior ratings at area music festivals. In
addition to his groups at Temple City, Mr. Taylor serves as the
conductor of the Pasadena City College Community Concert Band and the
Pasadena Summer Youth Chamber Orchestra.
“Prelude Strings is a terrific ensemble in its own
right, as well as a vital training ground for musicians about to enter
PYSO” says Taylor. “This year our musicians can look forward to more
performance opportunities and involvement with PYSO – and the Pasadena
Symphony. The 2006-2007 season is going to be our most rewarding year
yet.”
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JEAN
SEVERSON, General Manager, PYSO
Jean Severson, a gifted mezzo-soprano and respected producer, has worked
in both the creative and production sides of the entertainment industry
since her teens, when she moved to California from her native Wisconsin.
She began her career on the opera stage, performing in solo roles and in
concert with such noted opera companies as the Los Angeles Opera, the
Long Beach Opera and the West Coast Opera. After 10 years on stage,
Severson decided to shift her focus to behind-the-scenes. Since then,
she has worked with some of the entertainment world’s leading players.
Her credits include working with producer Steven Bochco, the producer of
such television milestones as “Hill Street Blues,” “LA Law” and “NYPD
Blue.” She then joined Universal Studios to serve on the conceptual
design team for the company’s new theme park, “Universal’s Islands of
Adventure,” which opened in Orlando in 1999.
Following the completion of the theme park project and inspired, once
again, by the lively arts, Severson was recruited by special events
producer Don Mischer to help produce Hong Kong ’97 Spectacular, a
complex, one-time, live production in Hong Kong to commemorate the
city’s handover to China. Severson produced the show’s musical
soundtrack, which was heard around the world, and coordinated a
simulcast concert debuting “Symphony 1997,” an original orchestral work
written for the occasion by renowned Chinese composer Tan Dun, featuring
internationally renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
Severson subsequently served on the production teams for a wide variety
of shows, working with such talents as Barbra Streisand, N’Sync, B.B.
King, Marc Anthony, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Gloria Estefan, and
many more. Additionally, she acted as Script Coordinator for 5 seasons
on the hit ABC television show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” starring Drew
Carey. Her favorite project, however, will always be the eight years she
spent as Associate Producer of “New Year’s Jazz at Indian Wells,” one of
the nation’s largest 3-day jazz and blues festivals.
Ultimately Severson’s heart is with the lively arts, and in 2002 she
joined the staff of The Pasadena Symphony as Director of Orchestra
Operations. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to manage both the
Pasadena Symphony and the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra. “PYSO has an extraordinary group of young artists,”
says Severson. “We accomplished a great deal last season, and I know
this year we will take the Youth
Symphony to new heights!”
Ria kubota,
CONDUCTOR, Prelude Strings
Ria Kubota is currently in her 4th year with the
Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra. She has served as the Prelude Strings
Assistant Manager since 2002 and is currently the Prelude Strings
Co-Conductor. She has been teaching in the Monrovia School District for
six years and has directed band, orchestra, choir, and general music at
Clifton Middle School. Under the dynamic leadership of Mrs. Kubota, the
membership of Clifton Middle School’s music program has increased from
88 to 200 musicians. Clifton Middle School and the district’s elementary
schools will share her musical energies this year.
Mrs. Kubota attended the University of Southern California receiving a
Bachelor of Music in Music Education in 1998, and a Master of Music
Education in 2004. While at USC she was fortunate to study percussion
under Dale Anderson, as well as perform with the USC Trojan Marching
Band. Mrs. Kubota has been seen performing in the Trojan Marching Band
with Fleetwood Mac, as well as under the baton of composer John Williams
at the premiere of his 1996 Olympic Theme “Summon the Heroes.”
She has enjoyed mentor relationships with Jack Taylor, Richard Meyer
(past PYSO conductor), and Bert Ferntheil. Kubota, 28, is married and
has a toddling daughter.
Dear PYSO, Prelude Strings family,
I look forward to continuing my work with you as Co-Conductor of the Prelude Strings. I’m excited to watch
our young musician’s talent grow, and witness their developing
maturity as they work toward each concert. This season we will remain
dedicated to continuing the tradition of excellence begun by Jack
Taylor and past conductors. As we progress through our rehearsals I
will be dedicated to challenging each student to realize his/her
musical potential through focused practice, and performance. By way of
a nurturing environment, I hope to promote a lifetime of music loving
and learning for you. I hope you are as excited as I am about our
retreat as well as an assortment of great new
music. Remember that music makes you smarter!
Sincerely, Ria Kubota
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aNNA
lIM,
CONDUCTOR, Prelude Strings
Anna began her musical career as a violinist. Her studies began at the
Colburn School of Performing Arts where she worked extensively with
Margaret Shimizu. This led her to the University of California, Santa
Barbara, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin
Performance under the tutelage of Hichiro Ohyama.
Today, Ms. Lim is Director of Instrumental Music at San Gabriel
Christian School. A Suzuki-trained violinist who received Suzuki Teacher
Training from such renowned instructors as Michelle Higa, Lorraine Fink,
Susan Kempter and Liz Arbus, Lim also teaches both private and group
classes at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music. She has previously been a
member of the faculty at the University of Redlands, CSMA program, and
coached and mentored a number of young musicians throughout the San
Gabriel Unified School District.
Like Jack Taylor, Music Director of Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra,
Ms. Lim performed with PYSO as a young violinist. She was also a member
of Pasadena Young Musicians Orchestra, Orchestra Da Camera and the
American Youth Symphony.
“The time I spent in PYSO was invaluable to me as a musician,” Lim
remembers. “I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to help young
musicians in turn.”
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Victor Auguilar ,
CONDUCTOR, WIND ENSEMBLE
Wind Ensemble Conductor, Pasadena Youth Wind Ensemble, Adjunct Professor in Music Education, California State University, Los Angeles and Instrumental Music Teacher in the Alhambra Unified School District, Dr. Victor Aguilar holds the Master and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Wind Conducting from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Previous to joining the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra’s family of ensembles, Dr. Aguilar held the position of Wind Ensemble Conductor at the University of California, Irvine where he founded and raised the level of performance. In addition to his appointment at UCI, he held the position of Director of Bands at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach Unified School District where his ensembles received unanimous superior ratings both at the district and regional levels and praised for their level of musical performance.
As a native Texan, Dr. Aguilar graduated from UTSA in 1993 where he was principal trumpet in the wind ensemble, orchestra, and brass quintet. Following his undergraduate studies, Dr. Aguilar taught high school band in the Houston, Pasadena, San Antonio, and Dallas/Ft. Worth areas. Throughout his teaching tenure in Texas, his bands received numerous University Interscholastic League sweepstake awards, were Texas State Area Marching Champions, and were grand champions at statewide and national concert music festivals. Dr. Aguilar has also been an active adjudicator, clinician, and conductor throughout the states of California, Tennessee, and Texas. Such professional appearances include guest conductor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville All-Area High School Band, guest conductor for the Houston Independent School District All-City Band, guest clinician/conductor for the Houston ISD Summer Band Academy, guest clinician for numerous school districts, guest adjudicator for Music America Festivals, and guest adjudicator for numerous region band and statewide marching and concert/sight-reading contests.
Professional memberships include College Band Directors Association, Music Educators National Conference, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association, National Bandmasters Association, Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association, California Band Directors Association and the California Music Educators Association.
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Victor Auguilar , CONDUCTOR, WIND ENSEMBLE
ANDREA
WALZER, Production Coordinator
BEVERLY
WALTERBEEK, ASSISTANT MANAGER
JACK DURAN,
STAGE MANAGER
LEO
KITAJIMA, VIOLIN COACH
ESTHER
MINWARY, VIOLA COACH
RYAN
SWEENEY, CELLO COACH
HANK MOU,
BASS COACH
DAVID
MILLER, WOODWIND COACH
PHIL BAILY,
BRASS COACH
JEFFREY
OLSEN, PERCUSSION COACH
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