Peter J, Brye, Music Director -
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 his 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. There he received the Master of Music degree in cello
performance. Mr. Brye has completed
additional studies at the Peabody Conservatory, Temple University,
University of Michigan, Hartt School of Music, and the Conductors
Institute - University of
South Carolina. He joined the music faculty of Millersville University
in 1981
where he served as professor of cello, conducting, music history and
conductor of the Millersville University Orchestra.
Mr. Brye is in high demand as a festival conductor and has appeared
frequently throughout the northeast. Most recently, his conducting has
taken him to Boston, the greater Philadelphia area, and the state of
New York, with numerous appearances throughout Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. Mr. Brye appears frequently as a cello recitalist, orchestra
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 conductor for
Beethoven's
Symphony No. 9. He is presently on the conducting staff and is the
principal
cellist with the RSO. Mr Brye has served as the Music Director of the Reading Symphony Youth
Orchestra since the inception of the orchestra in 1989.
Brian Mishler, RSYO Conductor - Philharmonia
-
A 2003 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, Mr. Mishler
graduated with highest honors and a B.S. in music education and 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,
serving on the faculty of Exeter Senior High School as the director of
orchestra studies and teacher of music theory. He performed as
Assistant
Principal Cellist
of the Altoona Symphony Orchestra, Schuylkill Symphony Orchestra,
Chamber Orchestra of the Allegehenies, Reading Civic Theater, Altoona
Community Theater,
and Dave Stahl Orchestra.
He also enjoys playing in a variety of chamber ensembles.
Richard Ney, RSJSO
conductor - Mr. Ney is in his 11th season as
conductor of the Reading Symphony Junior String Orchestra and is the string
teacher and orchestra director in the Ephrata Area School District Middle and
High Schools. In 2007, Mr. Ney embarked
on a performance tour with his HS String Orchestra to London, England
where they participated in a master class at the Royal College of Music. Mr. Ney is also the former Adjunct Professor
of Violin and Viola at Elizabethtown
College. He is a 1996 graduate of Temple University
with a Bachelor’s Degree in both viola performance and music education. In December 2001, he graduated with a
Master’s Degree in viola performance from West Chester University. Mr. Ney is a member of the viola section in
the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra and performs during the summer months as a
violist with Allegro: The Chamber Orchestra of Lancaster. Mr. Ney is also a freelance violist and
private viola/violin instructor in the Lancaster
and Lebanon
area. Mr. Ney also participates as a
conductor and chamber music coach at the Strings Excel Summer program that is
held at Elizabethtown
College. In 1999, Mr. Ney was selected to conduct at
the PMEA District 7 Elementary String Festival and in 2002 , 2009 and 2010
conducted at the LLMEA County Orchestra Festival. Mr. Ney resides in Lebanon with
his wife Debra, and children, Madeleine, Ryan and Andrew.