b'Yutaka KonoConductor, Vermont Youth PhilharmoniaA versatile musician, Dr. Yutaka Kono isconducting fellows to assist the Allentown a highly active conductor as the DirectorSymphony Orchestra. His recent honors of Orchestra/Associate Professor ofinclude the Third Place Winner of The Music at the University of Vermont andAmerican Prize for orchestral conducting the conductor of the Vermont Youthin the College/University Division, and Philharmonia at the Vermont Youththe finalist of the Youth and Professional Orchestra Association. He has recentlydivisions.been appointed as the Music Director ofDr. Kono has studied conducting with Jerry the Orchestra of Central Tokyo, whoseJunkin, Mark Kelly, Eugene Dowdy, Peter debut concert was postponed due toBay, and Silas Huff. He was selected to the COVID-19 outbreak. He was also theattend the Summer Conductors Institute Artistic Director of the Burlington Chamberat the Eastman School of Music, where Orchestra, a professional orchestra basedhe studied with Maestro Neil Varon and in Vermont. Before moving to Vermont,conducted the Rochester Philharmonic.He he was the Assistant Conductor of thereceived a Bachelor of Music magna cum Kingsville Symphony Orchestra (TX) whichlaude from Bowling Green State University he conducted the season-opening concertsin Ohio and a Master of Music from the from 2007-2011. Dr. Kono previously taughtUniversity of Minnesota-Twin Cities. He then at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, thebecame the first person ever to receive University of Texas at San Antonio, and thea Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Tuba University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton,Performance from the University of TexasTexas. In the summer of 2018, Maestra Dianeat Austin. Wittry chose Dr. Kono to be one of the 16 17'