St. Charles Youth Orchestra Conductors
Dr. David Wacyk
Symphony Orchestra Conductor
DR. DAVID WACYK serves as Director of Instrumental Ensembles and Assistant Teaching Professor of Music at University of Missouri- St. Louis where he conducts the UMSL Orchestra, UMSL Wind Ensemble, chamber ensembles, and coordinates the “Triton Sound” Pep band.
Prior to his arrival at UMSL, David was Director of Instrumental Music at Saint Martin’s University, and previously taught instrumental conducting at Towson University, and Band and Orchestra in the Harford County Public Schools (Maryland).
David’s scholarship focuses on modernist and avant-garde wind music of Twentieth-century composers, including Igor Stravinsky, Edgard Varese, and Ida Gotkovsky.
Additionally, David has led discussions related to re-evaluating existing systems of concertizing and programming and addressing systemic inadequacies in the field of wind bands. Recently he has accepted invitations to present at CBDNA, IGEB, WMEA, MMEA, and DNMC. “The Wind Music of Ida Gotkovksy” was also a featured lecture for AFEEV at the CRR (conservatory) in Paris, France, and presented as a national webinar by CBDNA. David has been recognized by the American Prize in Conducting, winning in both the Orchestral and Wind conducting categories.
David holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree and Master of Music degree in Conducting from University of Maryland, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Western Michigan University. David maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States and also serves as a conductor at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. He resides in Clayton, MO with his wife Laurel, and son Roger.
Daniel Mieloch was born in Philadelphia and began Suzuki violin lessons by the age of two. He earned undergraduate degrees in Violin Performance and Music Education from Lebanon Valley College (Pennsylvania) before moving to Edwardsville, IL, to study orchestral conducting with Dr. Michael Mishra on his way to obtaining his Masters in Orchestral Conducting from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Mr. Mieloch also had the distinct privilege of studying with Maestro Otto Werner-Mueller and conducting the Filharmonie Bohuslav Martinu in Zlin, Czech Republic, during an intensive workshop focusing on the works of Igor Stravinsky and Richard Strauss.
Mr. Mieloch has been honored to work with the Webster Community Music School as conductor for the fifth St. Looey Chamber Blitz and first Concerto Competition Festival, and as a guest coach for chamber music ensembles. In addition to his orchestra experiences, he has collaborated as orchestra director with DanceSTL for their revival of the ballet Heyoka at the Touhill.
Returning to his alma mater and Suzuki roots, he has held the director post of the Edwardsville Youth Orchestra in conjunction with the SIUE Suzuki program for ten years. He lives in O’Fallon and teaches the orchestras at Fort Zumwalt West High School, where his orchestras consistently earn top ratings at state competitions and have performed in New York City, Nashville, New Orleans, Chicago, Kansas City, and Branson. In his spare time, he enjoys composing (both in the classical and pop genres) and traveling home to PA to visit family and any other fun, adventurous locations.
Daniel Mieloch
Cadenza Orchestra Conductor
Leanna Conrad
Primo Strings Conductor
Leanna Conrad attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), where she received her Bachelor’s in Music Education. While earning her degree, she studied under a talented faculty, including Dr. Lenora-Marya Anop in violin studies and participated in the SIUE symphony orchestra directed by Dr. Michael Mishra.
Currently, Leanna serves as the Fort Zumwalt North Middle and High School orchestra director. Before her time at North, she directed the orchestras at Ritenour High School, assisted with Nipher Middle School Orchestras in the Kirkwood School District, and served as a middle school orchestra director in the Ferguson-Florissant school district where she resided for three years. She also served as a violin/viola sectional coach for the Alton Youth Symphony orchestra during this time period.
A firm believer of being a life-long learner and practicing what you teach, Miss Conrad continues to pursue her craft outside the school day. She is an active community musician in the SIUE Symphony Orchestra and the Edwardsville Symphony Orchestra, teaches private lessons in the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon area, and plays for various productions around the St. Louis Metro area.