Conductors
Conrad Dunn
NUYS (2013)
Conrad started his musical career at age four as he sat on the front row at the concert of world-renowned violinist Zino Franciscotti; his little heart was touched forever.
Inspiration, determination, dedication and hard work carried him through a fascinating career of teaching and performing. Playing with groups, and performances too numerous to mention, have filled his life and dreams. Years playing with the Osmonds have been some of the special highlights along the way.
He has spent over 30 years in the field of education. His passion is sharing his knowledge with the youth and instilling a love for music in their lives. He has been teaching orchestra at the Thomas Edison Charter Schools in Cache Valley for the last thirteen years, and has been the conductor of our Northern Utah Youth Symphony for nine years.
Dr. Ghyas Zeidieh
NUYCO (2023)
Syrian conductor and cellist, Dr. Ghyas Zeidieh is an active musician and educator coming from the Iowa and Illinois
region. Previously he served as the Assistant Professor of Orchestral Studies at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA. In
addition, Zeidieh serves as the music director at the Cedar Rapids Community Orchestra (IA) and is on the faculty at
Utah State University in the string department. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts and master’s degree from the
University of Iowa, and degrees in Music and Dentistry from the Damascus Conservatory and University.
A passionate educator for all ages, Zeidieh has served as Instructor of Cello at Western Illinois University and was a
member of the faculty Julstrom String Quartet. He has completed training in the Suzuki Association method in
addition to teaching Orchestra in the Iowa City (IA) Community School District. Zeidieh is the former Program
Coordinator at the Harmony School of Music, an El Sistema program in Iowa, and has also served as the Music
Director for the Dubuque (IA) Symphony Youth String Ensemble and Philharmonia from 2019-2022. An active
orchestral musician, Ghyas has played with many orchestras in the Middle East, including the National Syrian
Orchestra, Syrian Philharmonic Orchestra, the Arab Youth Orchestra, and the Euro-Med Orchestra, can be heard on
several Syrian film scores, and is a member of the Dubuque Symphony cello section. He has performed with
numerous American ensembles including the National Geographic Midwestern Tour (MN and IL), Revival Theater
Company (IA), Theater Cedar Rapids, Quincy Symphony (IL), and the Dirt Road Ensemble (NH). Since 2010, he has
been involved with the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music in NH, serving as a Playing for Peace participant,
counselor, and camp director.
For more information, please visit www.g-zeidieh.com
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Abigail Erickson
NUYWE (2022)
Brass Specialist, NUYSO (2021)
Abby Erickson started working with the Northern Utah Youth Symphony in 2021. She is the current band and orchestra teacher at Joel P. Jensen Middle School in West Jordan, Utah. This will be her fourth year of teaching music since graduating with her bachelors in music education from Utah State University in December 2018 as valedictorian for the Caine College of the Arts.
Abby is an active performer and plays with many groups including the Salt Lake Symphonic Winds, the American Festival Chorus and Orchestra, and Music Theatre West.
She loves teaching and performing with her husband, Kresten Erickson, and spending time snuggling with her cats Sophie and Cora.
Abby looks forward to another year working with the Northern Utah Youth Symphony, and spearheading the program’s newest group for young musicians; the Northern Utah Youth Wind Ensemble.
Elizabeth Marsh
NUYPS (2022)
Elizabeth Marsh began her musical studies at the age of two. She holds a bachelor’s degree in cello performance from the University of Southern California, where she studied with Eleonore Schoenfeld and Peter Stumpf. Elizabeth earned her master’s degree in cello performance from the University of Michigan where she studied with Richard Aaron and Amir Eldan.
Ms. Marsh has enjoyed a fulfilling career as a cellist, concertizing with professional and volunteer orchestras, and as a soloist, chamber, and freelance musician. She has won concerto competitions on the national level and soloed with symphonies locally and throughout the western states.
Elizabeth has taught hundreds of cellists of all ages and authored and published Scale Trail Challenge and Up to the Bridge for young cellists. She is currently the Camp Director and an Associate Conductor at the Vivace Family Camp in Sandy, Utah. One of her favorite musical experiences is performing in the Orchestra at Temple Square. Elizabeth has played in the section and as principal cello for a number of years, and is grateful for this special opportunity to combine her spiritual conviction with her love of music.
Elizabeth and her husband, Gregory, have eight young children.
Staff
Heather Lyman
NUYS Managing Director (2024)
Josie Anderson
NUYCO Managing Director (2020)
Josie has always loved music, and began private lessons when she was six years old! She enjoys playing the violin, piano, and organ, and has occasionally dabbled in singing and playing the viola.
She performed in the Northern Utah Youth Symphony for two years and then joined the Lake Bonneville Symphonic Society Board of Directors to continue to stay involved in NUYS and NUYCO. She has loved being the managing director of NUYCO!
She teaches at Harmony Arts and Music Academy in Tremonton and feels so blessed to love what she gets paid to do! She also enjoys gardening, sewing, cooking, and spending time with her family.
Kresten Erickson
Woodwinds Specialist, NUYS (2022)
Managing Director, NUYWE (2023)
Kresten Erickson is the band teacher at Box Elder Middle School. He graduated from Utah State University with a bachelors in Music Education in 2021 after student teaching with the highly regarded South Davis Junior High band program.
While at USU, he played clarinet in the Wind Orchestra, the Aggie Marching Band, Caine Woodwind Quintet, and Symphony Orchestra. Kresten currently plays clarinet with the Salt Lake Symphonic Winds and teaches multiple private students.
This will be his second year working with the Northern Utah Youth Symphony, and he ejoys working with his wife Abby as part of the wind specialist team.
Dirk Pace
Cello Specialist (2023)
Dirk Pace started his musical training on cello in 4th grade, adding string bass and baritone to his instrumental lineup in Jr. High. He continued with multiple performance groups on these instruments through High School and college, naturally leading to a Bachelor of Music degree in Education from Brigham Young University and many fond memories of performances in various renowned venues, including but not limited to the Rose Bowl (Los Angeles), the Cotton Bowl (Dallas), Sun Devil Stadium (Tempe), and Romney Stadium (Logan).
After some time teaching band in Ely, NV and orchestra in Fayetteville, NC his career took him away from public education but not from community performing. I have continued performing on the cello with various groups in Cumberland County, NC, Salt Lake and Cache Counties, UT.
Board of Directors
Doris D’Asto - Chairman, Grant Manager
Heather Lyman - NUYS Manager
Josie Anderson - Secretary, NUYCO Manager, Asst. to Managing Directors, Librarian
Kresten Erickson - NUYWE Manager
Cathy Prows - Bookkeeper
Naomi Miles - Grocery Card Fundraiser
Sarina Pace - Board Member, Parent Council
Kathryn Bodrero - Board Member, Website Administrator