Our History
In 1997 Judy Call, Sue Miller, Carson Wong and Linda Seaman set out to provide greater musical opportunities for talented students in the Magic Valley. Since that time hundreds of talented musicians have participated in the Magic Valley Youth Orchestra.
Our Past Presidents, Conductors and Coaches
Ted Hadley
Youth Orchestra Conductor,
retired
THEODORE ANCHOR HADLEY
Ted Hadley holds bachelor's and master's degrees in music from the University of Idaho. He retired in 2014 after 40 years of teaching band, orchestra and guitar students at Canyon Ridge High School and Robert Stuart Middle School in Twin Falls. In 2017 He retired from 40 years as director of the Twin Falls Municipal Band; he enjoyed playing cornet with the group this summer! Hadley has been Music Director and Conductor of the Magic Valley Symphony for 29 years. He plays piano for vocal lessons at CSI and is helping TFPS instrumental teachers to organize their music libraries.
His work with the Magic Valley Youth Orchestra is especially rewarding, working with developing musicians and challenging them to new levels of knowledge, achievement and expression.
Ted serves as publications chairman for the Idaho Music Educators Association, for whom he has also served as president. He was honored by that organization as Idaho Music Educator of the Year in 1992. In 1996 he was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Twin Falls Rotary Club, and has received the MV Arts Council Biennial Mayor’s Award for Arts Community Leadership. He has been recognized as a Mentor Teacher of the Year by the BSU Department of Education. In September of 2012 he was awarded a Governor's Award in the Arts for Support of Arts Education. He enjoys playing French horn in the CSI Symphonic Band.
Hadley is a member of Gideons International and serves in several capacities with the congregation of Community Christian Church.
Carson Wong
Carson Wong
Carson Wong has directed the Magic Valley Chorale, Magic Valley Symphony, Boise Master Chorale, Magic Valley Chamber Orchestra, Burley Magic Philharmonic and the Magic Valley Youth Orchestra. Carson has also served as clinician and adjudicator for high school clinics and festivals.
Carson was born in Hong Kong. He received his M. A. degree from San Jose State College in Conducting and his B. A. degree from University of California at Berkeley in Economics. He taught choral music at Jerome High School (1966-1978); Caldwell High School (1978-1980); and has been teaching at College of Southern Idaho ever since.
Chamber Ensemble Conductor,
retired
Joe Casperson
Joe Casperson
Joe Casperson has been the director for Twin Falls High School show choir JIVE for many years. He has also been conducting the orchestra at Robert Stuart Middle School for the past 3 years. Mr. Casperson conducted Rising Strings and Sinfonietta Strings from Fall 2019 until Fall 2021. He brought great enthusiasm to our string ensembles. Thank you, Joe for your great support.
Sinfonietta Strings Conductor,
retired
Lori Casperson - 1st Violin coach for Chamber Ensemble and Full Orchestra
Max Hollomon - Viola coach for Chamber Ensemble and Full Orchestra
Elizabeth Thomsen - Winds, Brass, Percussion coach and assistant conductor for Full Orchestra
Erin Johnson - 2nd Violin coach for Chamber Ensemble and Full Orchestra
Jess Nelson - Violin coach for Rising Strings and Sinfonietta Strings
Nicole Gravelle - Cello coach for Rising Strings and Sinfonietta Strings