Dr. Alison Gaines - Conductor Fall 2024
Dr. Alison GainesAlison Gaines holds a Doctoral degree in conducting from the University of Kansas, Lawrence and a Master’s degree from U.S.C., Los Angeles in bass performance and one in conducting from the University of Tulsa. Her musical activities as bassist and conductor have taken her across the continental U.S., and to Italy, Austria, Germany. Her academic conducting experience includes a year as interim Director of Orchestra at Iowa State and for Rock Valley College, IL and for 4 years as conductor of the chamber orchestra at Illinois’ largest community college, the College of DuPage.
Her professional conducting experience includes positions as music director, assistant conductor, cover conductor, director of youth symphonies and guest conductor of various professional, community and student groups. This includes 10 years as conductor of Brass Night for the Breckenridge, CO Music Festival and music director of both the Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City and the Atchison, KS Symphony. She has also served as Assistant Conductor for Elmhurst, IL Symphony, cover conductor of Orchestra Iowa and as guest conductor of Rockford, IL Symphony (on four occasions), Lawrence, KS Chamber Orchestra, Central Iowa Symphony, Chicago Youth Symphony and Fordham University’s Lincoln Center Chamber Players and Rose Hill Orchestra in New York city. In addition, she has served as a conductor and clinician for music education associations in Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas, Illinois and Wisconsin.
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Her professional conducting experience includes positions as music director, assistant conductor, cover conductor, director of youth symphonies and guest conductor of various professional, community and student groups. This includes 10 years as conductor of Brass Night for the Breckenridge, CO Music Festival and music director of both the Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City and the Atchison, KS Symphony. She has also served as Assistant Conductor for Elmhurst, IL Symphony, cover conductor of Orchestra Iowa and as guest conductor of Rockford, IL Symphony (on four occasions), Lawrence, KS Chamber Orchestra, Central Iowa Symphony, Chicago Youth Symphony and Fordham University’s Lincoln Center Chamber Players and Rose Hill Orchestra in New York city. In addition, she has served as a conductor and clinician for music education associations in Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas, Illinois and Wisconsin.
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Sam Cooper - Assistant Conductor Fall 2024
Sam Cooper is currently acting as Assistant Conductor of the Health and Wellness Community Orchestra. He studied violin with Dr. Philip Ficsor and Dr. Emily Ondracek-Peterson at MSU Denver, where he earned degrees in music performance and music education in December 2023. He has been involved with various musical groups, including the Aurora Symphony and Empire Lyric Players, and held the roles of concertmaster and assistant conductor with the MSU Denver Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Brandon Stephen Matthews. Sam is also the founder and violinist of the Apollo String Quartet. Currently, he is pursuing his master’s in instrumental conducting at Colorado State University with Dr. Rachel Waddell - where he also serves as Assistant Conductor of Orchestras. In his free time, Sam enjoys having deep discussions with his loved ones and cuddling with his adorable cat, Charlie.
Andrew Mendizabal - Assistant Conductor Spring 2024, Conductor Fall 2023
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.
Noelle Bauman-Stucky - Conductor Spring 2025 concert
Noelle Bauman-Stucky is a musician who serves the communities of the Front Range through music education, performing, and conducting. Originally from the Western Slope of Colorado, Noelle has resided in Fort Collins for over a decade. Her love for the town grew as she completed her undergraduate degree at CSU, gaining a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. After teaching in Fruita, CO, Noelle returned to CSU to study under Maestro Wes Kenney, and received her Master’s of Music in Performance with an emphasis in Conducting from Colorado State University.
After earning her master’s degree Noelle went directly into teaching along the front range. She applies her specialty of instructing instrumental and choral music by teaching in public schools. When Noelle is not teaching, she has spent additional time collaborating with professional communities such as Boulder Chamber Orchestra, Front Range Chamber Players, Greeley Chamber Orchestra, Health and Wellness Orchestra, Larimer Chorale, The Loveland Orchestra, and most recently, Loveland Opera Theatre.
Currently, Noelle is the Orchestra Director at Webber Middle School, and the Assistant Music Director and Children’s Music Director at Zion Lutheran Church in Loveland. Noelle enjoys the amenities Fort Collins has to offer, including the fantastic health care system, the talents of the local brewers, and the world-class mountain bike trails offered by the Colorado Front Range.
After earning her master’s degree Noelle went directly into teaching along the front range. She applies her specialty of instructing instrumental and choral music by teaching in public schools. When Noelle is not teaching, she has spent additional time collaborating with professional communities such as Boulder Chamber Orchestra, Front Range Chamber Players, Greeley Chamber Orchestra, Health and Wellness Orchestra, Larimer Chorale, The Loveland Orchestra, and most recently, Loveland Opera Theatre.
Currently, Noelle is the Orchestra Director at Webber Middle School, and the Assistant Music Director and Children’s Music Director at Zion Lutheran Church in Loveland. Noelle enjoys the amenities Fort Collins has to offer, including the fantastic health care system, the talents of the local brewers, and the world-class mountain bike trails offered by the Colorado Front Range.
Dr. Cayla Bellamy - Summer 2025
Dr. Cayla Bellamy is a performer, collaborator, and pedagogue dedicated to advancing the music field through redefining standard practices in the bassoon studio and chamber ensemble settings. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of Bassoon at Colorado State University, where she teaches applied bassoon, chamber music, and instrumental and virtual pedagogy, in addition to performing regularly with the Colorado Bach Ensemble and Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra. As a bassoonist and advocate for new music, she most recently completed a performance series presenting modern concerti by Joan Tower, Libby Larsen, James Stephenson, Mathieu Lussier, and Dana Wilson.
Cayla holds a Doctor of Music degree in Bassoon Performance and Literature from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, in addition to Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Music Education and Bassoon Performance from the University of Georgia, where she was distinguished as a National Presser Scholar. Her primary teachers include William Ludwig, Amy Pollard, and William Davis, with additional studies with Nancy Goeres and Per Hannevold at the Aspen Music Festival and School. In addition to professional affiliations with the National Association for Music Education, College Music Society, and as state chairperson for the National Association of Wind and Percussion Instructors, she serves currently on the staff of the International Double Reed Society as Communications Coordinator and was previously on the conducting faculties of the New York Summer School of the Arts and Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra.
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Cayla holds a Doctor of Music degree in Bassoon Performance and Literature from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, in addition to Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Music Education and Bassoon Performance from the University of Georgia, where she was distinguished as a National Presser Scholar. Her primary teachers include William Ludwig, Amy Pollard, and William Davis, with additional studies with Nancy Goeres and Per Hannevold at the Aspen Music Festival and School. In addition to professional affiliations with the National Association for Music Education, College Music Society, and as state chairperson for the National Association of Wind and Percussion Instructors, she serves currently on the staff of the International Double Reed Society as Communications Coordinator and was previously on the conducting faculties of the New York Summer School of the Arts and Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra.
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