ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Alexandra Keegan is the co-founder and Executive Director of the East County Youth Symphony, and Artistic Director/conductor for the Pacific Lyric Association Opera.

Ms. Keegan obtained her DMA in Music in Eastern Europe. During her conducting career she worked with professional, semi-professional and youth orchestras including the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Ukrainian National Radio Company.

Over the past nine years, under Ms. Keegan's direction ECYS students have performed more than sixty public concerts with programs that include N.Rimski-Korsakov's "Scheherazade", L. van Beethoven's Symphonies No. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7, P. Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5, 6, A.Dvorak's Symphonies No. 8 and 9, C. Frank's Symphony in D, S. Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3, J.Brahms's Symhpny No.3, S.Rachmaninov's opera "ALEKO", and many other original orchestra works.

ECYS Alumni inspired and trained by Ms. Keegan have been accepted to Eastman School of Music, Berklee College of Music, Cincinnati Conservatory, Oberlin Conservatory, New England Conservatory, Curtis Institute of Music, University of North Texas, Paris Conservatory, and other top music schools in United States and abroad.

PRE-ORCHESTRA DIVISION DIRECTOR

Irie Morales is Program Director for the ECYS Pre-Orchestra Division, and a chamber ensemble instructor. Ms. Morales has ten years of experience teaching violin, music theory, and string ensemble/orchestra, and is well-known as a passionate musician, and outstanding educator. Most of her ECYS students hold the position of Principal Violin in their school orchestras, and demonstrate fast and consistent progress.

Ms. Morales is also an active member of San Diego's music community and performs with San Diego Philharmonic, Grossmont Symphony, PLA Opera, City Ballet, community theaters, numerous community groups, and string ensembles including quintets, quartets, and trios.

INSTRUCTOR

Diego Guerra Diego Guerra of Monterrey, Mexico, is a violist and conductor based in San Diego. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in viola performance at San Diego State University. Guerra stays active locally as assistant conductor with the City Ballet of San Diego and co-founder of the San Diego Philharmonic. Most recently, he conducted the SDSU production of Peri/Gluck Euridice operas.

INSTRUCTOR

Oksana Semyrozum Oksana Semyrozum is the East County Youth Symphony’s Music Theory, Tonal Harmony, and Piano Instructor. She also maintains a private piano studio. Ms. Semyrozum holds a Master’s Degree in Music Education and brings 35 years of teaching experience to her work with students of all ages and levels. A native Ukrainian speaker, she offers instruction in both Ukrainian and English.