Personnel
Daniel Black
Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra Conductor
Photo courtesy of Yawen Wu
Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra conductor Daniel Black has a strong connection to the rich Russian tradition of the St. Petersburg (Russia) Conservatory. Since joining the RSYO in 2009 he has guided the youth orchestra to a Second Place finish in the American Prize Competition for Excellence in Orchestral Performance and led the orchestra in an invitational
performance at the Great Lakes Music Festival 2010. He has added Chamber Orchestra, Brass Choir, and Woodwind Quintet ensembles to the orchestra during his tenure. Mr. Black also conducts the University of Illinois - Chicago String Orchestra and the summertime Hamilton Wings SCORE youth opera project. He was a conducting fellow at the 2011 Aspen Music Festival.
Mr. Black has served as guest conductor for orchestras including the RSO and Champaign/Urbana Symphony Orchestra in what was described as a “tour de force” performance, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, St. Petersburg State Academic Symphony Orchestra, and the St. Petersburg Symphony “Classica.” He has been assistant conductor of the Elmhurst Symphony and cover conductor of the Northwest Indiana Symphony.
He has enjoyed success in international competitions, both as a conductor and composer. He was a finalist and diploma winner of the International Prokofiev Composition Contest in April 2008, and in September of 2008 he advanced to the second round of the Antonio Pedrotti International Conducting Competition.
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Eastman School of Music, and the St. Petersburg Conservatory, Mr. Black is a doctoral candidate in orchestral conducting as a student of Victor Yampolsky at Northwestern University. In addition, he has studied composition privately with internationally-renown composer Richard Danielpour.
Brass Choir Coach
Vicki received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from California State University, Chico, in trumpet performance. She completed three years of doctoral studies at Indiana University School of Music while teaching as an Associate Instructor of Trumpet, and performed as principal trumpet of the Philharmonic Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra, and as lead trumpet of David Baker’s Jazz Ensemble. Her performance experience also includes positions in the Sacramento Symphony Orchestra, the Columbus Philharmonic, the California Brass Choir, and the Embassy Brass Quintet. She currently performs with the Rockford Wind Ensemble, the Rockford Jazz Ensemble, and is a freelance trumpet player throughout the Stateline area. Vicki is in her 5th year as Director of Bands at Rockford Christian Schools.
Sterling String Quartet Coach
Originally from Korea, Young-Shin Yi holds a bachelor of music and a master of music in violin performance and music education from the Eastman School of Music. Young studied the violin with Kwang-Ho Lee and Charles Castleman, and music education with Richard Grunow, Louis Bergonzi and Christopher Azzara. Young previously served as a faculty member of the David Hochstein Memorial Music School and at the Community Education Division of Eastman School of Music. She was also a tenured orchestra director of the Webster Central School District and the Pittsford School District prior to her move to Rockford in 2008. Young currently teaches at the Beloit College and the Rockvalley community college. She also coaches the honors quartet of Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra and has a private studio. In addition to being a music lover and a teacher, Young enjoys being a mother of two very active children and is thankful for her supportive husband, Andy.
Woodwind Quintet Coach
Scott Metlicka is a member of the Elgin, Rockford, Illinois, and South Bend Symphonies. Other orchestral engagements include Chicago Opera Theater, Grant Park Symphony, Fulcrum Point New Music Ensemble, Joffrey Ballet, Chicago Sinfonietta, and the Green Bay and Northwest Indiana Symphonies. At DePaul University, Scott teaches flute method classes for music education majors. He is on the faculty of Elgin Community College and Stevenson High School as a private instructor. Scott received two degrees in flute performance: a Bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University and a Master’s degree from Northwestern University.
As a performer, Scott has played in master classes with James Galway, Jeanne Baxtresser, Keith Underwood, and Donald Peck; he has studied privately with Walfrid Kujala, Mary Stolper, Peter Middleton, and Mary Louise Poor. Chamber music performances include collaborations with Sonic Inertia Performance Group, Fifth House Ensemble, Quintet Attacca, Barossa Quintet, and James Street Players. In addition to performing and teaching, Scott has served as president and membership chair of the Chicago Flute Club. Last summer, Scott was a sub for the show “Wicked” in Chicago.
RSO Education & Community Engagement Director
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