Leslie Stewart, Music Director
Leslie Stewart has been Music Director of the Health and Wellness Community Orchestra since it was founded at Poudre Valley Hospital in 2008. In 2013 she was honored with the “Outstanding Service Award” by the CSU College of Liberal Arts for her work with this ensemble and her accomplishments as Director of CSU’s Summer Master of Music Education degree with a Specialization in Conducting. In addition, Ms. Stewart is Director of the CSU String Pedagogy Program and conducts the CSU Concert Orchestra. She also plays violin in a number of faculty chamber ensembles, including the Verdoro String Trio with Professors Margaret Miller and Barbara Thiem.
A graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, Ms. Stewart holds Bachelor and Masters degrees in Music
Performance from the University of Southern California. She was a violinist with the Puerto Rico Symphony and Alabama Symphony before moving to Northern California in 1989 to conduct the Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra and direct the Marin Symphony’s Youth Programs. Beginning in 1998, she served as Music Director and Conductor of the Bay Youth Orchestra of Virginia culminating in the Bay Youth Symphony’s performance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2006. Ms. Stewart has guest conducted honor orchestras, youth symphonies, and community orchestras throughout the United States and in Germany and Brazil.
The orchestra's 10th anniversary was recognized by the Mayor and City Council of Ft. Collins when it proclaimed February 20, 2018 as "Leslie Stewart Day"
A graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, Ms. Stewart holds Bachelor and Masters degrees in Music
Performance from the University of Southern California. She was a violinist with the Puerto Rico Symphony and Alabama Symphony before moving to Northern California in 1989 to conduct the Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra and direct the Marin Symphony’s Youth Programs. Beginning in 1998, she served as Music Director and Conductor of the Bay Youth Orchestra of Virginia culminating in the Bay Youth Symphony’s performance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2006. Ms. Stewart has guest conducted honor orchestras, youth symphonies, and community orchestras throughout the United States and in Germany and Brazil.
The orchestra's 10th anniversary was recognized by the Mayor and City Council of Ft. Collins when it proclaimed February 20, 2018 as "Leslie Stewart Day"
Andrew Mendizabal, Assistant Conductor
Andrew (Drew) Mendizabal was named Assistant Conductor of the Health & Wellness Community Orchestra in 2021. Drew also works as a conductor and educator for musicians in Northern Colorado. He joined the Northern Colorado Youth Orchestra director team last fall. Their chamber orchestra traveled to and placed 3rd place at the 2022 ASTA National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. In April, Drew was hired to join the music team as Orchestra Director for the new Timnath Middle-High School.
Drew is a native of Las Vegas, Nevada and received his Bachelor of Music Education at the University of Nevada, Reno in 2019, where he studied clarinet and conducting under the direction of Dr. Reed Chamberlin and Dr. Jason Altieri. He received awards for his leadership, academics and musicianship for his involvement within the UNR music department and with the university bands.
A student of Wes Kenney, Drew finished his Master of Music at Colorado State University in
conducting. At CSU, Drew had many opportunities to conduct both the CSU Symphony and
Concert Orchestra. In 2021, he participated in a conducting workshop with Marin Alsop,
conductor Laureate of the Baltimore Symphony and Music Director of the Vienna Radio
Symphony.
Drew is a native of Las Vegas, Nevada and received his Bachelor of Music Education at the University of Nevada, Reno in 2019, where he studied clarinet and conducting under the direction of Dr. Reed Chamberlin and Dr. Jason Altieri. He received awards for his leadership, academics and musicianship for his involvement within the UNR music department and with the university bands.
A student of Wes Kenney, Drew finished his Master of Music at Colorado State University in
conducting. At CSU, Drew had many opportunities to conduct both the CSU Symphony and
Concert Orchestra. In 2021, he participated in a conducting workshop with Marin Alsop,
conductor Laureate of the Baltimore Symphony and Music Director of the Vienna Radio
Symphony.
Adam Torres, Guest Conductor
For conductor Adam A Torres, music offers more than entertainment: it provides insights to the greatest aspects of humanity. Torres’ belief in the transformative power of music emanates in everything he does, on the podium, behind a piano, in his private studio, and in lecture halls. His passion and musical expression help him maintain an active profile across the United States and beyond, and his work is heard by tens of thousands of patrons annually. Beginning in the 2022-2023 Season, Adam will begin his new appointments as Music Director of Stratus Chamber Orchestra and Artistic Director of the Colorado Springs Chorale alongside his work as Senior Instructor at Colorado State University and Music Director and Organist of St. Timothy's Episcopal Centennial.
Recent positions for Torres, a Denver-based artist, include Principal Conductor for Loveland Opera Theatre and Hyperprism Music, and other conducting engagements include work with St. Louis Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Denver Young Artists Orchestra, Fort Collins Symphony, Cheyenne Symphony, Boulder Chamber Orchestra, Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, Chamber Orchestra of the Rockies, and the Colorado Pops Orchestra. Professional opera work includes appearances with Opera Fort Collins, Opera Steamboat, Opera Orvieto (Orvieto, Italy). Adam recently completed a trip to Paris and Köln to apprentice with conductor Cristian Măcelaru, the Orchestre National de France, and WDR Sinfonieorchester, and will travel with the Colorado Springs Chorale in June 2022 for performances in Normandy, France as the official choir of the ceremonies commemorating D-Day.
Advancing the joy of music for students and enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds is a priority for Maestro Torres. In addition to serving on the faculty of Colorado State University, he has assisted with community programs such as El Sistema Colorado and served as a clinician in public schools in Colorado and Texas. Other community and student engagement projects include work with ensembles such as the Alpharetta Symphony, Fort Collins’ Health and Wellness Orchestra, Bas Bleu Theatre, San Angelo Symphony Chorus, Colorado State University Orchestra and CSU Opera, Angelo State University Wind Ensemble, and Angelo Civic Theater. Torres has also ventured into popular music styles, performing with groups such as Nashville’s Absinthe Junk and “The Superheroes” Rock Band of the Colorado Pops Orchestra.
The great masters of the past and brilliant musical minds of today offer audiences everywhere the opportunity to experience joy, laughter, sorrow, sadness, doubt, hope, and more – for Adam, having the opportunity to be a part of this profound art form is an honor and privilege.
Click here to see Adam's upcoming engagements.
Recent positions for Torres, a Denver-based artist, include Principal Conductor for Loveland Opera Theatre and Hyperprism Music, and other conducting engagements include work with St. Louis Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Denver Young Artists Orchestra, Fort Collins Symphony, Cheyenne Symphony, Boulder Chamber Orchestra, Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, Chamber Orchestra of the Rockies, and the Colorado Pops Orchestra. Professional opera work includes appearances with Opera Fort Collins, Opera Steamboat, Opera Orvieto (Orvieto, Italy). Adam recently completed a trip to Paris and Köln to apprentice with conductor Cristian Măcelaru, the Orchestre National de France, and WDR Sinfonieorchester, and will travel with the Colorado Springs Chorale in June 2022 for performances in Normandy, France as the official choir of the ceremonies commemorating D-Day.
Advancing the joy of music for students and enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds is a priority for Maestro Torres. In addition to serving on the faculty of Colorado State University, he has assisted with community programs such as El Sistema Colorado and served as a clinician in public schools in Colorado and Texas. Other community and student engagement projects include work with ensembles such as the Alpharetta Symphony, Fort Collins’ Health and Wellness Orchestra, Bas Bleu Theatre, San Angelo Symphony Chorus, Colorado State University Orchestra and CSU Opera, Angelo State University Wind Ensemble, and Angelo Civic Theater. Torres has also ventured into popular music styles, performing with groups such as Nashville’s Absinthe Junk and “The Superheroes” Rock Band of the Colorado Pops Orchestra.
The great masters of the past and brilliant musical minds of today offer audiences everywhere the opportunity to experience joy, laughter, sorrow, sadness, doubt, hope, and more – for Adam, having the opportunity to be a part of this profound art form is an honor and privilege.
Click here to see Adam's upcoming engagements.
