Conductors

DALE SWISHER is in his 13th year as musical director of the Blue Ash Youth Symphony Orchestra. During his tenure the orchestra has grown into one of the area's outstanding youth groups. Swisher was selected as Teacher of the Year in 2001 by the Ohio Orchestra and String Teachers Association. He has degrees from Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati where he served as assistant to Sigmund Effron, concert master for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Swisher is also the director of the Southwest Missouri State University Summer String Workshop and is on the faculty of the Stephen Foster Music Camp at Eastern Kentucky University

Timothy Holt begins his first year as Assistant Director of BAYSO.
Mr. Holt has taught instrumental music in the Ohio Public Schools for 32 years.

          His experience includes 21 years as high school and middle school
          band director in the Mason City School District and 10 years as high school
          band director in Williamsburg, Ohio. Since 2006 he has taught freshman band
          in the Lakota Local School District. Prior to teaching, Mr. Holt performed
          from 1970-74 as solo flutist of the United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C.

          He is originally from Roanoke, Virginia, where he was a member of the
          Roanoke Symphony and Roanoke Youth Symphony Orchestras. Mr. Holt holds the
          degrees of Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in flute
          performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

          He is an Ohio Music Education Association Solo and Ensemble, Concert
          Band, and Orchestra adjudicator, and performs with the Mason Community Band
          where he is an advocate for Ohio adult community bands.