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| The Maestra, a Japan-native, in rehearsal |
After a two-year search for a new Music Director, the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera has made its choice: Dr. Kayoko Dan. She recently completed her three-year tenure as the Assistant Conductor of The Phoenix Symphony before becoming the Music Director and Conductor of the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra in Lexington, KY, a position she will hold until joining the CSO in September 2011. She is the eighth Music Director of the CSO and the first female to hold the position. "Kayoko Dan began her musical training in Japan at age three. After relocating to the United States, she continued her musical studies with flute and received her Bachelor in Music Education at The University of Texas, and her DMA in Conducting and Master in Music education from Arizona State University. She was named the Karajan Fellowship for the Young Conductors in 2007 and David Effron
Conducting Fellowship at the Chautauqua Institute in 2003.Her principle teachers are Timothy Russell and Timothy Muffitt. She has also studied with Kurt Masur, Leonard Slatkin, Zoltan Pesko, Jorma Panula and William Reber. As a strong advocate of music education, Ms. Dan has given clinics at high school, youth and regional orchestras throughout the country. She has taught at several elementary schools including Thomas J. Pappas, school for homeless children in Arizona as an Arts Bridge Scholar. While serving at a Graduate Teaching Assistant, her dedication and passion for music education was recognized by Graduate Teaching Excellence Award given by the Arizona State University. In Addition, she is a frequent guest speaker at university conducting classes to encourage young conductors who are pursuing a career in music. Maestro Kayoko Dan will join the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera on a full-time basis at the start of the 2011-12 performance season in September." [Source]
