About Us

Lawrence Golan is acclaimed for his vibrant performances, imaginative programming, and stylistic command across the orchestral repertoire. He currently serves as Music Director of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra (Washington) and the York Symphony Orchestra (Pennsylvania), and as conductor of the Lamont Symphony Orchestra & Opera Theatre at the University of Denver. He is Music Director Laureate of the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra and Official Conductor of the Concurso Internacional de Piano Compositores de España in Madrid.

A frequent guest conductor, Golan has led ensembles throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. Formerly an accomplished violinist, he served as Principal Second Violinist of the Honolulu Symphony and Concertmaster of the Portland Symphony before dedicating himself to conducting.

Also a respected composer, arranger, and author, Golan’s published works include reduced orchestrations of The Nutcracker, a performance edition of Bach’s solo violin works, and original pieces such as Fantasia for Orchestra and Giovanna d’Arco.

The 2024 Grand Prize Winner of the St. Cecilia International Music Competition (UK), Golan is also a 10-time ASCAP Award recipient for innovative programming and has made numerous award-winning recordings. A Chicago native, he has directed Orchestral Studies at the University of Denver since 2001.

www.lawrencegolan.com

Sam McClung, an accomplished clarinetist and orchestra administrator, holds degrees in music performance from Central Washington University and the University of New Mexico. He has performed with the Santa Fe Pro Musica Orchestra, New Mexico Philharmonic, and was a 2018 Musicfest Northwest Young Artist, which awarded him a concerto performance with the Spokane Symphony. McClung was the general manager, marketing manager, bookkeeper, and music librarian for the GRAMMY-nominated chamber orchestra Santa Fe Pro Musica before returning to Washington state in April 2025 to lead the Yakima Symphony Orchestra as their Executive Director.

Bobby Collins, Assistant Conductor

Since 2015, Bobby Collins has served as music director and co-founder for The Sound Ensemble, a Seattle-based chamber orchestra that promotes diversity and equity, while seeking to be at the forefront of what it means to be a relevant orchestra in the 21st century. He also has served as music director of Seattle Festival Orchestra since 2018, where he established the ensemble as the only orchestra in Seattle providing consistent, year-round access to great orchestral music for kids. 

​Bobby also has appeared in concert with orchestras such as St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic, Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Collaborative Orchestra, Skagit Symphony, Saratoga Orchestra, Rainier Symphony, Cascade Symphony, Thalia Symphony, Inverted Space Ensemble as well as the Ludus and Leavenworth Summer Theater’s pit orchestras. 

Concertmaster, Denise Dillenbeck

Violinist Denise Dillenbeck is celebrated for her radiant tone, artistic insight, and “superlative” solo performances (Tacoma News Tribune). Equally at home in classic repertoire and contemporary masterworks, she has appeared as soloist with orchestras across the United States, Europe, and China, and records for Albion and KOCH International. She serves as concertmaster of the Yakima Symphony, York Symphony, Lake Chelan Bach Festival, and Northwest Sinfonietta, following past posts with the Philadelphia and Oregon Symphonies, among others. A passionate chamber musician, educator, and advocate, she mentors young artists, champions new music, and enriches her community through thought-leadership and visionary arts engagement.

Lexi James, Music Librarian

Lexi James is the Music Librarian of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra. She is currently pursuing a music BA, and hopes to study musicology in the future. She was a music librarian at Central Washington University, with 3 years of previous experience.

Dan Krantz, Operations Manager

Dan Krantz grew up West of the Cascades in Stanwood, WA, but moved to Ellensburg in 2014 and has stayed in Central Washington ever since. He attended Central Washington University, graduating in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in clarinet performance. In his spare time, he teaches clarinet and saxophone lessons, and also performs with various wind bands, orchestras, and jazz bands in Yakima and the Tri-Cities.

Joe Sexton, Business Manager

Amy Stuckey, Business Development Manager

Anna Verney, Patron Services Manager

Matt Fairbank, President

Teresa Pritchard, Vice President

Doug Armstrong, Treasurer

Kimberly Ruck, Secretary

Mitzi N. Casey

Victoria Clausing

Commissioner Kyle Curtis

Patricia Dion

Jerry Gibbons

David Helseth

Tanya Knickerbocker, PhD

Jason Matson

Larry Peterson

Paul Reiss, MD

Jeffrey Schaap

Krista Dominguez, Yakima Youth Symphony Orchestra Governance Co-Chair

Aaron Julyan, Musician Representative

Amae Merrill, Yakima Youth Symphony Orchestra Governance Co-Chair

Mary Sundquist, Yakima Symphony Chorus Governance Chair

Musician Resources Folder

Steven S. Slusher, who hails from St. Louis, Missouri, received his Master of Music Degree as the choral conducting graduate assistant from Southern Illinois University. Mr. Slusher holds a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from Ohio Northern University. Mr. Slusher has conducted throughout the United States, from the Crystal Cathedral in California to Riverside Church in New York City.  He was founding conductor of Summer Dreams, a city honors choir that performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. He has been music director for many musicals, opera productions, and orchestral works.  Professor Slusher is the past assistant director and soloist of the Bach Society of St. Louis and a principal singer and soloist for the St. Louis Symphony. He also served as the director of music at Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Louis, Missouri. He was on the music faculty at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri for almost a decade teaching choir, choral arranging, private voice, opera workshop, vocal pedagogy, vocal literature and as assistant marching band director.  Currently, Mr. Slusher is tenured Associate Professor of Choral/Vocal Activities at Yakima Valley College and is an active adjudicator and soloist throughout Washington.

The Young Artist Program was established in the 2023–2024 season by Chorusmaster Steven S. Slusher to offer career-oriented singers with experiences to strengthen their development as soloists and professional choral singers.

The Young Artists gain experience covering solos in major works and attending dress rehearsals with featured artists, giving them the opportunity to observe and interact with professional soloists. Young Artists also present an annual recital and perform at other Yakima Symphony Chorus events including education concerts and fundraisers.

Learn more about the Young Artist Program and view past and present Young Artists' biographies.

With a variety of musical experiences, namely gathered in Canada, Anne married Yakima Valley farmer, Monte, in the same year of her Carnegie Hall Debut. Since then she has enjoyed being involved with Yakima music in all forms. Presently, she is the principal keyboardist with the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, organist of Grace of Christ Presbyterian Church, and voice studio accompanist at CWU.

Brian Petilo has been the director of bands at Franklin Middle School since 2014. He teaches Beginning Band, Intermediate Band, Honors Band and Jazz Band with 6th to 8th-grade students. Mr. Petilo has been an avid supporter of music education within the Yakima Valley by collaborating with colleagues around the Valley. He was a low brass coach for the A. C. Davis High School marching band for five seasons and led the pit orchestra for the A. C. Davis High School musicals for three different productions. He also has served on the Yakima Valley Music Educators board as an Instrumental Representative and recently stepped in as the interim conductor for the Yakima Youth Symphony Orchestra before accepting the role in 2023. Recent achievements include the Franklin Jazz Band’s acceptance to perform for the Washington Music Educators Conference in 2024 as well as the birth of his daughter Emilia this August!

Tim Rooney has been an avid performer and music educator throughout the Central Washington and Inland Northwest regions for the last decade. He studied viola under Claire Keeble at Holy Names Music Center in Spokane, Tim Betts at Central Washington University and Dr. Julia Salerno at Eastern Washington University, where he earned his Bachelor of Music Education. Tim directed the Gold and Debut Orchestras for the Prep Strings after-school program in Ellensburg headed by Dr. Bret Smith. He has performed in various professional ensembles, including the Coeur d’Alene Symphony, Helena Symphony, Mid-Columbia Symphony, Spokane Civic Theater Pit Orchestra, Spokane Choral Artists and Canticus Vocal Ensemble. He also served as the worship leader and collaborative pianist for Christ the Redeemer Church in Spokane for a number of years.

Tim recently directed the orchestra at Lake Samish Music Camp and accompanied their camp choirs. He also had the privilege of coaching, touring and performing with the Wyoming Ambassadors of Music this past summer throughout Austria, Slovenia and Italy. Tim currently teaches orchestra, AP music theory and ukulele at Eisenhower High School in Yakima. In his leisure time, he enjoys hiking, cooking and traveling with family and friends.

As Youth Symphony String Program Director, Mr. Rooney conducts the Yakima Ensemble for Strings (YES) and also works with YYSO string students to support their ongoing development, to maintain a consistent path for artistic growth of string students throughout the YYSO-YES program.