Camp Conductors

Camp Conductors

Amir Kats (Symphony, Orchestra, Philharmonic) is a familiar figure in the youth orchestra world. Currently Artistic Director of the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, he previously conducted the Albuquerque Youth Symphony and the Santa Fe Youth Symphony in New Mexico, and the Gemini Youth Orchestras in Long Island, New York. While in New York Mr. Kats was the assistant conductor of the New York Youth Symphony, and served on the faculty of The Juilliard School where he worked with the Music Advancement Program, serving inner-city public school students. He has also been associated with the Philadelphia Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra and the orchestra of the Rockland Summer Institute. Mr Kats spent the summer of 2005 on the conducting faculty of the internationally-renowned Interlochen Arts Camp.

A conductor of orchestral and chamber music with an extensive background as a clarinetist and music educator, he has appeared in such venues as Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, the Carlsbad Performing Arts Center, and Fort Worth's Orchestra Hall. Mr. Kats holds Bachelor of Music degrees in clarinet and music theory from the University of Michigan, Master of Music degrees in conducting and clarinet from Florida State University, and an Artist Diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he held a Leopold Stokowski Fellowship and studied conducting with Otto-Werner Mueller. A native of Haifa, Israel, he was raised in the United States in a musical family, the son and grandson of pianists.

Barbara Flooding (Symphony) is currently on the conducting staff of the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies (GTCYS) and teaches orchestra at Valley View Middle School in Edina. She also performs as a violinist with Allegro Sinfonia. Ms. Flooding's teaching career began at St. Cloud Apollo High school and North Junior High School, where she directed the Apollo Symphony, Chamber Orchestra and Sinfonia, as well as two junior high orchestras. Under her direction the Apollo Symphony appeared in New York's Carnegie Hall Youth Debut Music Series and at several conventions of the Minnesota Music Educators Association. While in the St. Cloud area Ms. Flooding was a violinist with the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra and the Amadeus Chamber Symphony. She holds a Master's degree in Orchestral Conducting and a Master's degree in String Development from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Marlene Pauley's (Symphony, Orchestra, Philharmonic) passion for music education is palpable in the concerts she has designed and conducted for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra's nationally recognized CONNECT Education Program. In 1999, she was asked to create a series of Family concerts for the SPCO and within two years it became their best-selling series. Ms. Pauley's innovative programming, commanding stage presence, and excellent rapport with young people have made her a favorite with audiences and musicians alike. In May, 2007 she conducted the premiere of Pocahontas, an opera written to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown. This season, Ms. Pauley continues her work with the SPCO and will conduct family and education concerts for the Naples (Fl) Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic (NY), Grand Teton Music Festival and other orchestras.

After receiving a Bachelor's degree in music from St. Olaf College and a Master's degree from Michigan State University, Ms. Pauley toured with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra as clarinet soloist and assistant conductor. At the invitation of Prime Minister Edward Seaga, she established and was conductor of the National Youth Orchestra of Jamaica. As clarinet soloist and clinician, Ms. Pauley has presented recitals and master classes throughout the country and premiered works by Libby Larsen, Henk Badings and Gregory Sanders. She is founder and conductor of the Halama Wind Octet, an ensemble of professional musicians whose mission is to perform concerts, enrich and encourage young musicians through a one-of-a-kind high school residency program, and commission new works for wind octet. Ms. Pauley was clarinetist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra for twenty-two years before leaving in 2002 to pursue conducting full-time. She has also performed and recorded with the Minnesota Orchestra and has been principal clarinetist of Minnesota Opera Orchestra. Ms. Pauley's performances have been heard on many NPR broadcasts. She has held faculty positions at Crane School of Music, Arkansas State University, Jamaica School of Music and the College of St. Benedict.

William Stuber (Philharmonic, Allegro Con Brio) is a passionate proponent of orchestras and is widely recognized for his creative programming and imaginative concert presentations. As founder and Artistic Director of ALLEGRO, he believes in the power of live orchestra music to heal and transform lives. Mr. Stuber currently conducts Allegro Con Brio, an innovative professional orchestra comprised of members of the Minnesota Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Opera and freelance musicians. He also conducts Allegro Sinfonia, a highly accomplished orchestra that performs a concert series throughout the year. As conductor Mr. Stuber has worked with many soloists who hold principal positions with the Chicago Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Orchestra, and with internationally renowned soloists as well. He has also conducted several orchestras around the country, including the San Diego Symphony, Chautauqua Symphony, Oberlin Chamber Orchestra, and University of Minnesota Symphony Orchestra, as well as various orchestras throughout Minnesota.

Stuber spent the early part of his career as a clarinetist, having served as principal with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, Las Vegas Symphony, and Chautauqua Festival Orchestra. As clarinetist he has participated in the Tanglewood and Chautauqua music festivals, and has won several awards including top prize at concerto competitions at the Oberlin Conservatory and Chautauqua Music Festival, and the Grand Prize at several music competitions in the Los Angeles area. Mr. Stuber's solo work has been heard on classical radio stations across the country. He received a Bachelor's degree in Clarinet Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and a Master's degree in Clarinet Performance from The Juilliard School. Mr. Stuber was awarded a Conducting Fellowship at the University of Minnesota where he studied with William Eddins and Mark Russell Smith.