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Brian Worsdale (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is the music director of Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras and professor of conducting at Duquesne University.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Worsdale attended public schools, the Manhattan School of Music (MSM) Pre-College Division, and received formal music training as a trombone student of David Finlayson (member of the New York Philharmonic). Worsdale is a conducting protégé of the late Maestro Jonathan Strasser (formerly on faculty at the Manhattan School of Music). Worsdale continued his professional studies working with Larry Livingston (faculty at the University of Southern California) and Anthony Maiello (faculty of George Mason University) and has recently returned to MSM as the Pre-College Division Symphony Orchestra conductor.
Worsdale’s work as a guest clinician and adjudicator has brought him to cities throughout the United States, conducting at Texas’ Region 23 Orchestra, The Southeastern Regional Orchestra for the State of Virginia, and many other honor bands and orchestras. Worsdale is a Senior Teaching Artist and consultant for The New York Pops and serves as Director of their Kids on Stage program.
Most importantly, Worsdale’s commitment to education shines brightest through his entrepreneurial efforts to build stronger wind band programs throughout New York City. The award-winning “InterSchool Orchestra of New York” Symphonic Band, one of the only private youth wind ensembles in the Metropolitan New York area, is an ensemble he began over two decades ago. Worsdale is a champion of emerging composers, commissioning works by Michael Markowski, Kelijah Dunton, and others.
During the summer months, you will find Worsdale at the French Woods Festival of The Performing Arts, where he is the Artistic Director and principal conductor, leading the symphony orchestra and pit orchestras while overseeing one of the largest comprehensive performing arts camps in the United States.
From Behind the Scenes to the Podium