Ms. Bennett is the Music Director for the Las Vegas Youth Ensemble.   A native of Las Vegas, she graduated from Rancho High School (class of 1990), and is a student alumna of the Las Vegas Youth Orchestras.   Ms. Bennett earned her Bachelors Degree in Music Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in 1995, and began teaching at K.O. Knudson Middle School that same year. She later obtained her Masters Degree in Music Education from UNLV in 2003. 

As a pioneer for a cutting-edge, middle school magnet program for Creative Arts and Languages, Ms. Bennett played a major role in creating one of the largest middle school orchestra programs in the district. A milestone in her career was the achievement of her orchestra being invited to perform at the Midwest Clinic in December of 2003.  K.O. Knudson was the only middle school level program performing at this prestigious national conference.

Ms. Bennett’s professional affiliations include membership with ASTA (American String Teachers Association).  Her philosophy on music education is the belief that it provides youths with many opportunities, and opens doors to higher education in a way that no other activity can accomplish.

Mr. Dudder, the Music Director of the Las Vegas Youth Sinfonia, is a graduate of the University of Portland (1997) where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree. Upon graduation he accepted a teaching position with the Pendleton School District 16R, in Oregon, as Director of String Orchestras. By his fourth year teaching, the high school orchestra had qualified to participate in the state competition for orchestras, which it had not done in a number of years. In addition to his teaching duties he conducted the Oregon East Symphony Youth Orchestra. Mr. Dudder was also an active musician within the community and neighboring areas. He served as principal double bass for the Oregon East Symphony as well as stage manager, and was an active member in the bass section for the Walla Walla Symphony and Grande Ronde Symphony.

Brian Downey is entering his sixth year with the Las Vegas Youth Orchestras Program, as Co-Director of the Youth Symphony. He is currently a music teacher at the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Visual, and Performing Arts. His responsibilities there include teaching the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Brass Chamber Class, Chamber Music, and Co-Director of the Las Vegas Academy-Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Downey is a graduate from the University of New Mexico where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. He recently earned a Masters in Arts from Southern Oregon University in 2005 through the ABC program offered in the summer. While earning his undergraduate degree he was Bass Trombonist in the Santa Fe Symphony for three years, first call substitute for the New Mexico Symphony, as well as playing many other jobs on call. Mr. Downey has been a high school band director for twelve years. He has taught in El Paso, Texas; Rio Rancho New Mexico; and Las Vegas, Nevada. His groups have consistently received high ratings and awards in marching, concert, and jazz performances.
Along with his directing responsibilities, Mr. Downey was the Clark County Band Director Association’s President from 2001-2003. At present, he is the immediate Past-President for the Nevada Music Educators Association (NMEA). He was also a member of the Las Vegas Brass Band, and a member of the National Curriculum Development Committee for the AGEHR (American Guild of English Handbell Ringers). He has been a clinician for AGEHR at youth and adult festivals in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and California.

Mr. Neuman begins his 5th season as Co-Director of the Las Vegas Youth Symphony. He studied at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he received both his Bachelors and Masters Degrees (in Music Education). Mr. Neuman is also the Orchestra Director at Green Valley High School in Henderson, Nevada. In April of 2006 The Green Valley High School Symphony Orchestra performed at Carnegie Hall under his direction. Green Valley High School was named the National GRAMMY Signature School for the 2000-2001 school year. Green Valley High School’s Music Department has also been named a *GRAMMY Signature School numerous times. Mr. Neuman has taken his students on tours to Florida, California and Europe to perform. In January 2008 he will conduct the Green Valley High School Symphony Orchestra in Rome, Italy.
In addition to teaching and conducting, Mr. Neuman is known as a versatile bassist as he plays both electric and acoustic bass in jazz, classical, rock and other music situations. He has been a member of the Las Vegas Philharmonic string bass section since the orchestra’s inception. He also performs in a jazz trio with pianist John Matteson and drummer Barry Farley. They have recently recorded their first CD titled “Live at Osaka Japanese Bistro”, where they perform each week. He is also a member of “Quintessence” led by drummer John Nasshan. Mr. Neuman has also had the opportunity to perform with various artists ranging from Joe Williams, Eric Marienthal and Walt Blanton to celebrities such as Elton John, Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli and the late Luciano Pavarotti. Earlier in his career, he performed in a jazz/fusion group that shared the stage with Chick Corea’s Elektric Band, Yellowjackets, Stanley Jordan, Scott Henderson’s Tribal Tech and others. He has also performed at The Village Vanguard, Jazz @ Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center.

* Presented by 7 UP, the GRAMMY Signature Schools program was created in 1998 to recognize top U.S. public high schools that are making an outstanding commitment to music education during an academic school year.

is the Music Director for the Youth Philharmonic. Mr. Jackson is originally from New York. His credentials include: a Bachelor of Music Degree in Tuba Performance from the University of Northern Colorado, an Education Certification from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, and a Masters of Education degree from the University of Phoenix. Currently, Mr. Jackson is the Director of Orchestras at Silverado High School and was past Director of Orchestras and Performing Arts Chairman at Durango High School. In his time with the Clark County School District, he has consistently received Superior Ratings at district music festivals and has commissioned six works for chamber orchestra. Previous to his selection as the Youth Philharmonic Director, Mr. Jackson was the Music Director of the Las Vegas Brass Band. During this time, he nurtured the growth of the band's musical and technical abilities. He also noticed the phenomena of a remarkable increase in music audience in both Nevada and Utah. From a diverse background, Mr. Jackson is an 11-year veteran of the United States Army Band System, and has served as a Senior Instrumentalist, Soloist, and Staff Arranger with bands in Atlanta, Fort Monroe, VA, and Seoul, Korea. He is a contributing editor for the ITEA Journal for reviews of new music and recorded performances. He has also served as weekend host for Classical 89.7, KCNV, Las Vegas, and Classical 89.5, KCME in Colorado Springs, CO. Mr. Jackson has also served as Principal Tuba with the Las Vegas Music Festival, Williamsburg Sinfonia, Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Virginia Opera Association, Virginia Beach Pops, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Spartanburg, SC, Symphony Orchestras and has also been a Staff Musician with Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus World, and Walt Disney World. He has taught tuba at the Armed Forces School of Music and Old Dominion University.