Peter Brye, Music Director RSYO
Originally from Corvallis, Oregon, Peter Brye began his musical studies at the age of six with his father, Joseph C. Brye. By the age of eight he was playing the ‘cello. He continued his studies and eventually earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Oregon as a ‘cello performance major under the guidance of Robert Hladky. He was also a conducting student of Robert Wagner.
His studies continued at the Pennsylvania State University as a ‘cello student of Leonard Feldman and a conducting student of Dr. D. Douglas Miller where he received the Master of Music degree in ‘cello performance. Mr. Brye has completed additional studies at Peabody Conservatory, Temple University, University of Michigan, Hartt School of Music, and at theConductors Institute - University of South Carolina. He joined the music faculty of Millersville University in 1981where served as a professor of ‘cello, conducting, music history, and conductor of the Millersville University Orchestra.
He currently serves as the Conductor and Music Director of the Reading Symphony Youth Orchestra, a position he has held since the inception of the orchestra in 1989. The RSYO enjoys a reputation as one of the leading youth orchestras in Pennsylvania and has toured extensively, including performances in Boston, Toronto, a 2001 tour of the United Kingdom, and a 2003 tour of French Canada. The RSYO has had three tours of Europe since 2004 with performances in Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, Budapest, Asiago (Italy), Montecatini Terme (Italy), and Florence. The Reading Symphony Youth Orchestra was also invited to perform at the 2000 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association In-Service Conference.
Mr. Brye continues to be in high demand as a festival conductor and has appeared frequently throughout the northeast. He has conducted the all-state orchestra festivals for Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey in addition to numerous festivals at the county, district and regional levels including appearances in Boston and New York State. Mr. Brye appears frequently as a ‘cello recitalist, orchestral soloist, and chamber musician and has been a member of the Reading Symphony Orchestra since 1976 where he has served on occasion as assistant conductor, including an October 2004 performance as an emergency replacement conductor for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. He is presently on the conducting staff and is the assistant principal ‘cellist with the RSO.
Janifer Dixon, Assistant Conductor RSYO
Janifer Dixon is a native of Reading, PA. As a junior at Reading High School she was honored to perform a cello solo with the Reading Symphony as a Youth Audition winner. She received a Bachelor of Music Education degree with a concentration in cello from Indiana University, Bloomington Indiana. She received her Master of Music degree from West Chester University. She has been the orchestra director and string teacher at Norristown Area School District, Exeter Township School District and Governor Mifflin School District from which she retired in June 2010. While at Governor Mifflin, she conducted the Governor Mifflin Senior High Orchestra in a concert at the Pennsylvania Music Educators’ State convention. She is a member of the cello section of the Reading Symphony, the Reading Pops and the Pottstown Symphony. She has been a soloist with the Ambler Symphony and is the cellist for the Reading Quartet . She frequently performs throughout southeastern Pennsylvania with numerous ensembles.
Brian Mishler, Conductor RSJSO
A 2003 graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, Brian Mishler graduated with highest honors and a B.S. in Music Education and a Cello performance certificate, while studying with Kim Cook. Mr. Mishler holds a M.M. degree from Northwestern University, where he studied with Paula Kosower, James Kjelland, Robert Hasty, Victor Yampolsky, and Jon Pegis, with an emphasis in Cello Performance and String Pedagogy. Mr. Mishler has also studied with renowned cellist Yumi Kendall, of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He is currently in his sixth year of teaching, where he serves on the faculty as the Director of Orchestral Studies at Exeter Senior High School and teaches Music Theory. He has performed as Assistant Principal Cellist of the Altoona Symphony, with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, Reading Pops Orchestra, Reading Symphony Orchestra, Schuylkill Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of the Allegehenies, Reading Civic Theater, and Dave Stahl Orchestra. He also enjoys playing in a variety of chamber ensembles.