Our Team

Artistic Staff

Learn more about our conductors by clicking on their names to see their bios. Conductors may be emailed individually, or send a general message to office@eyso.org.

Matthew Sheppard

Artistic Director and Youth Symphony Conductor

Joe Beribak

Percussion Director

Ruth Cavanaugh

Flute Choir Conductor

Tracy Dullea

Primo Conductor and Starter Strings Director

Aaron Kaplan

Philharmonia Conductor

Dan Sartori

Brass Choir Conductor

Greg Schwaegler

Sinfonia Conductor

Amy Lestina Tonaki

Interim Prelude Conductor

Staff

Daniel Meyers

Executive Director

Kyla Brittain

Director of Development

Marina Akamatsu

Marketing & Communications Assistant

Ume Hashimoto-Jorgensen

Social Media Coordinator

Emily Krasinski

Director of Membership and Operations

Anaka Riani

Operations Coordinator

Thomas Rodriguez

Operations Coordinator

Board of Directors

James Allen

President
Director since 2022

Edward Snoble

BMO Private Bank

Vice president
Director since 2019

Peter Van Nortwick

Wellspring Worldwide

Treasurer
Director since 2015

Allison Winsor

Secretary
Director since 2021

Daniel Meyers

Executive Director

Director Ex-Officio since 2024

Matthew Sheppard

Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras

Artistic Director
Director Ex-Officio since 2019

Casey Clemens

Director since 2022

Grace Fernandez

Director since 2022

Jonathan Horn

Director since 2023

Simon Karkosch

Director since 2024

Neha Myers

Director since 2022

Jen Pierce

Director since 2023

Dina M. Pilipczuk

Director since 2024

Anthony Riani

Director since 2021

Sarosh Saher

Village of Lake Zurich

Director since 2018
Board of Directors, EYSO Endowment Fund

Kathryn Canny

Director since 2016

Lucas VanDeWoestyne

Apex CPA's and Consultants, Inc.

Director since 2013
Honorary Board of Directors

Gwen Armwood

Cathy Berk

Harry & Phyllis Blizzard

Cindy Bravos

Betty Brown

Bill Delp

Shelby Keith Dixon

Joyce Dlugopolski

Tana Durnbaugh

Carl Flaks

Donna & Jeff Gillen

Murna Hansemann

Rich Jacobs

Marty Jacobsen

Robert McBride

Clare Ollayos

Claire Replogle

Joann Reynolds

Dr. Pat Rieger,
President Emeritus

Tom Roeser

Andrew Sosnowski

Susan Starrett

Barbara Thomases,
Secretary Emeritus

Becky Vento

Angela Wifler