Gerry (pronounced "Gary") has been the Music Director and Conductor of the Cascade Youth Symphony since 1984. He has extensive experience as an educator, performer, conductor and choir master and has conducted music seminars throughout the Northwest, Canada and England. He is on the music faculty at Seattle Pacific University. His professional activities include conducting orchestras at Western Washington University, Pacific Lutheran University and various community orchestras. Gerry is frequently involved as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator for music competitions and festivals in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Mr. Marsh has received numerous composition awards and commissions and is a published composer and arranger. He has also received awards and citations from the Seattle Music and Arts Foundation and the Edmonds Music and Arts Club for his work in music and with young people.
Todd Mahaffey has been an active member of the Cascade Youth Symphony organization since 1989. He started with the organization by playing trumpet in the Youth Symphony and has continued by serving as brass coach for all four levels of the Cascade Orchestras and by coaching and conducting at Summer Sounds. Prior to conducting Junior Symphony, Todd conducted the Premiere Orchestra for two years. A graduate of the University of Washington in 1996, he is currently the Band Director at Chinook Middle School in Bellevue, WA. Todd also continues to play the trumpet as a freelance musician in the Seattle area and is a regular member of the Lake Union Civic Orchestra and Cambalache Salsa.
Tam Osborne, Associate Conductor, is a graduate of the University of Washington where he earned degrees in Music and Music Education, studied violin with Vilem Sokol and performed in the University Orchestra, Opera Orchestras and Contemporary String Quartet. After graduating in 1980, he taught for seven years as a string specialist in the Shoreline School District where he was the conductor of the Kellogg Middle School and Shorecrest High School orchestras from 1983 through 1990. While serving as the String Curriculum Officer of the Washington Music Educators' Association (WMEA), he also participated in the coordination of All-State orchestras and All-State solo and ensemble festivals for the State of Washington. Mr. Osborne began his affiliation with the Cascade Youth Symphony in 1984 as the Associate Conductor of the Youth Symphony, a position he still maintains and in 1986 became the principal conductor of the Cascade Junior Symphony. A popular guest conductor, adjudicator and clinician throughout the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Osborne received his Masters in Administration from Seattle Pacific University in 1990 and is currently Director of Certificated Staffing for the Edmonds School District in Edmonds, Washington.
Daniel Wing entered teaching following fifteen years as a professional orchestra musician. He holds a B.A. Music degree from W.S.U. and an M.M. in viola performance, "With Highest Distinction", from Indiana University. Mr. Wing lived in Germany for six years, and has performed throughout Europe, appearing with the orchestras of Radio Luxembourg and West German Radio (Cologne), among others. He has served as Principal Violist in the orchestras of Heidelberg (Germany), the Spoleto Festival (Italy), Sacramento (CA), Evansville (IN) and Charlotte (NC). Mr. Wing joined the Shoreline School District in 1988. His Shorewood orchestras have produced many All-State musicians and state champions, garnered numerous awards from the Northwest Orchestra Festival, and have twice performed at New York's Carnegie Hall. Mr. Wing has served as President of the Washington String Teachers Association (ASTA), has been group manager for several All-State and All-Northwest Orchestras, and currently serves on the Executive Board of Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA). In 2008, he was inducted into the WMEA Hall of Fame, was named ASTA-Washington "Outstanding String Educator", and was named Shoreline School District "Teacher of the Year". He and his wife Diane have three children, Nick, Ben, and Chelsea.
Karen Helseth has been co-conductor of the Sinfonette Orchestra since 2002. She holds BA and BMus degrees in cello performance from the University of Washington, and a MM in Music Education at the University of Massachusetts. Since 2001, Karen has been the director of orchestras at Edmonds Woodway High School. Karen was the group manager for the All-State Symphony Orchestra in 2008, and is currently serving on the WMEA executive board as orchestra curriculum officer. She is a member of ASTA and MENC, and was a 2006 recipient a fellowship for professional development abroad from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Karen frequently adjudicates, presents clinics, and performs around the Seattle area. She resides in Seattle with her husband, Danny. In her spare time, Karen enjoys bicycling, rock climbing, and going to the opera.
Eileen received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in N.J. with a major in Music Education. She then received a Master of Arts degree from Lesley College in Massachusetts with a focus on Creative Arts in Learning. She has played violin with the Bellevue Philharmonic and currently performs locally in churches and for small parties. She has been a Music Specialist for the Northshore School District since 1979 where she teaches classroom music as well as elementary string orchestra. In addition, Eileen has often been asked to conduct the Northshore School District Elementary Honor Orchestra. Eileen lives in Kirkland with her husband, George, and 3 daughters, Bree, Mandy and Carrie.
Vicki earned her Bachelor of Music degree from University of Puget Sound and Masters in Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley College. She has worked freelance as both a violinist and violist in orchestras, chamber ensembles and musical productions. Vicki also plays electric violin, keyboards, guitar, and sings. She has toured in rock and country-rock bands in Germany, Spain, Italy, Canada, Alaska, and throughout the Pacific Northwest. In 1990, Vicki joined the music faculty of the Shoreline School District, where she currently teaches 5th and 6th grade orchestra classes. Vicki thoroughly enjoys working with young musicians in Shoreline Schools and in CYSO Preparatory Strings, and she continues to perform on 5 string electric violin in a local jazz/fusion band and in a local rock band.
