Mason Orchestral Conducting Symposium

Dr. Soo Han is the newly appointed Director of Orchestral Studies at the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music at George Mason University. He is also the Music Director of the Elkhart County Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Board of Directors of the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. In addition, he is a contributing editor for Hal Leonard’s Essential Elements for Strings, a D’Addario Orchestral Strings Artist, a Conn-Selmer Educational Clinician, and a program coordinator/faculty member with the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s summer Youth Orchestra program.

Prior to his appointment at George Mason University, Dr. Han served as the Director of Orchestral Studies at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music in Berea, Ohio. He conducted the Baldwin Wallace (BW) Symphony Orchestra, the BW Opera Theatre, and led a successful performance tour with the BW Symphony Orchestra in addition to maintaining an active conducting studio.

An active conductor, Dr. Soo Han has appeared with professional orchestras throughout the country in addition to directing university orchestras. He is a frequent conductor for All-State, Regional, and Honor Orchestras throughout the U.S., appearing in over 30 states. He has also conducted internationally with orchestras in Austria, China, Thailand, and Australia. Dr. Han has collaborated with numerous artists, groups, and conductors such as Lynn Harrell, David Kim, and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. He has produced multiple recordings of complete symphonies and has premiered several commissioned works for strings and full orchestras. He has presented workshops and clinics internationally and for national and state music conferences including the Australian String Teachers Conference, Maryborough National Australia Conference, Midwest Clinic, American String Teachers Association (ASTA) National Conference, NAfME National Conference, and the Ohio University Summer String Teacher Workshop.

Dr. Soo Han is a co-author, contributor, and managing editor for Teaching Music through Performance in Orchestra, Vol. 4, one of the leading orchestra pedagogical resources published by GIA. He is the past president of the Indiana chapter of the American String Teachers Association; the Indiana chapter was awarded the ‘Most Improved Chapter’ during his time as president. Having taught music in public schools for fifteen years, he is a passionate supporter of public school music programs and continues to remain active in instrumental classrooms throughout the country.

Dr. Soo Han received his Bachelor of Instrumental Music Education degree from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and studied piano with Edward Auer. He received his Master of Science in Education from Indiana University School of Education, and his Doctorate in Orchestral Conducting from the Michigan State University – College of Music where he studied with Kevin Noe.

Anthony J. Maiello is Professor of Music and University Professor at George Mason University. Professor Maiello teaches applied lessons in Conducting, Aural Skills, and classes in Instrumental Conducting. From 1996 to 2009, he conducted the Mason Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. Under his direction, the ensembles at both Crane and George Mason University commissioned new works, made numerous recordings and appeared at national and international conferences.

Professor Maiello also makes professional appearances both nationally and abroad conducting music festivals, adjudicating ensembles and presenting clinics, lectures and workshops throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas and Europe. He conducted musical activities for the Gold Medal Ceremonies at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York; served as Musical Director for Music Festivals International; was selected as President of International Association of Jazz Educators – New York State Chapter; and is a guest clinician for Yamaha Corporation and Warner Bros. Publications. In March of 2010, he was inducted into the Bands of America Hall of Fame at Music for All’s Indianapolis headquarters.

Professor Maiello’s professional recording credits include conducting the American Wind Symphony and additional studio ensembles for Alfred/Belwin Publications. Locally, Maiello has served as Associate Conductor of The McLean Orchestra, McLean, Virginia; been appointed an Honorary Conductor of The United States Navy Band, Washington, D.C.; and was a participant in the National Conducting Institute with Leonard Slatkin and the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., to which he has provided his services as a cover conductor.

Maiello received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Education from Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York in 1965 and 1967 respectively, and has extensive experience teaching in the public schools and at the university level. While at the Crane School of Music, Potsdam College of SUNY, Potsdam, New York, he served as a Professor of Music and Chairman of Performance, where he taught Advanced Instrumental Conducting, Applied Clarinet, Woodwind Techniques, Percussion Techniques and conducted the Crane Wind Ensemble.

Throughout his career, Maiello has published musical compositions for string orchestra and is the author of “Conducting Nuances” (GIA Publications, Inc.); “Conducting: A Hands-On-Approach” (Warner Bros./Alfred Publications); and co-author of “The 21st Century Band Method” (Warner Bros./Alfred Publications). In 2007, Maiello was awarded the title of “University Professor” by the GMU Board of Visitors, the highest rank given to Mason faculty members. Maestro Maiello is the founder and Conductor/Artistic Director of the American Festival Pops Orchestra, a professional ensemble in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area dedicated to promoting and performing American popular music. The American Festival Pops Orchestra’s May 14, 2022 performance marked the beloved Maestro’s final performance with the orchestra, capping off 12 years of leadership.

In addition to providing conducting feedback, Maestro Maiello will present topics on leadership and ensemble culture.

Joel Schut is the Director of the GVSU Symphony Orchestra and Assistant Professor of Music Education teaching courses in conducting and music education.

Prior to his appointment at GVSU, Schut served as Assistant Director of Orchestral Studies and Instructor of Music Education at the University of Colorado Boulder, interim Director of Orchestras at the Crane School of Music SUNY-Potsdam, led courses in String Music Education at Michigan State University, and taught for seven years in the Michigan public schools including the nationally recognized Okemos High School Orchestras. Additionally he served as director of the Denver Young Artist Conservatory Orchestra. He is an active clinician for all-state, regional, and honor orchestras, and a passionate advocate for public school music programs throughout the country.

As a conductor, he has appeared with the Crane Symphony Orchestra, Michigan State Opera Theatre, Michigan State Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Colorado Boulder Symphony, Philharmonia, and Chamber Orchestras. He served as Music Director of the Livingston Symphony Orchestra, founding director of the Detroit Medical Orchestra, and organizer of the Michigan Teachers Orchestra. He has collaborated with a range of professional artists including Andrés Cárdenas and Ralph Votapek and commissioned works for string and full orchestra.

A dedicated string educator, his research and service include work as a conductor-teacher trainer and advocate for cross-cultural music making. He has presented clinics and workshops on a range of topics and mentored young teachers nationally and internationally. He has worked with multiple engagements in Tunisia and Honduras and served as guest faculty at the Afghanistan Institute of Music. He facilitated a long standing music host exchange connecting German and American young artists and has been a featured artist faculty at the Myanmar Music Festival. A graduate of the YOA Orchestra of the Americas Global Leaders Program, he has served as a program mentor connecting innovators in youth orchestra education throughout the Americas.

Schut is past editor for the American String Teacher Journal and his publications include the Teaching Music Through Performance in Orchestra series (GIA), Southwestern Musician Magazine, and the American String Teacher Journal. He received his Doctorate in Orchestral Conducting from Michigan State University, Masters in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Colorado-Boulder and Bachelors in Violin Performance and Music Education from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance where he was awarded the Albert A. Stanley Medal, the school’s highest honor.

Violinist Karen Johnson is celebrated for her exceptional artistry as a soloist, chamber musician, musical leader, and orchestral performer. Her playing has garnered praise for its “balance and precision” and “enthusiastic showmanship of impressive energy and accuracy” (Washington Post), with performances described as “virtuosically energized and broadly lyrical” (Richmond Times-Dispatch). Her debut album with pianist Joanne Kong, released by Brioso Records, was acclaimed by the American Record Guide for its “broad and pure” tone, “flawlessly incisive” attacks, and “infallible” intonation.

Karen Johnson has graced stages across the United States and Europe, collaborating with esteemed conductors and musicians including John Williams, James DePriest, Sergiu Commissiona, Yuri Temirkanov, Victor Yampolsky, Gerard Schwarz, and Joseph Silverstein. Her tenure as Concertmaster of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra from 2002 to 2011 marked a significant chapter in her career, with additional guest concertmaster engagements with the Seattle Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, and Oregon Symphony.

Ms. Johnson began her musical journey in Gilbert, AZ, at age four. By 10, she was studying with Dr. William Magers at Arizona State University, achieving notable victories in the Corpus Christi International Young Artist Competition, the Midland-Odessa National Young Artist Competition, and the National MTNA Yamaha String Competition. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the Juilliard School, studying under Joel Smirnoff and winning several prestigious competitions, including the Juilliard Sibelius Violin Concerto Competition. Her master’s degree was completed at the University of Maryland – College Park under the mentorship of William Preucil, Concertmaster of the Cleveland Orchestra and former first violinist of the Cleveland Quartet.

In 2015, Ms. Johnson was appointed the Concertmaster of the US Marine Chamber Orchestra, the premier musical group supporting the President of the United States. While regularly performing at the White House and at other high-level national and international events, she also performs frequently as a soloist with the US Marine Chamber Orchestra and Band. In July 2023, she had the opportunity to appear along with John Williams for the Marine Band’s 225^th anniversary concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, performing the Theme from “Schindler’s List”.