The Valley Youth Orchestra has a new conductor for the 2011-12 school year.

Debra is a California native who relocated with her family to the Western Slope of Colorado in the summer of 2005. Starting as a child under the tutelage of Elizabeth Kidwell, she went on to earn regional and even national youth-level awards before joining the award-winning Modesto (CA) Symphony Orchestra as a teen. Debra continued her studies under Mutsuko Cooper and Warren Van Bronkhurst, earning a B.A. in Musical Performance from California State University, Stanislaus. Having toured the former Soviet Union on a music exchange, she also performed at Carnegie Hall while leading a youth symphony tour through New York City.

Debra has been in demand most recently through her local “Cedar Strings” music outlet, primarily as an instructor, soloist and coordinator of chamber offerings. Debra also performs as Concertmaster with the Valley Symphony Orchestra, the GJ Rockestra and appears frequently with the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra.

She resides in Cedaredge with her husband, James, a son, Jacob and daughters Kendra and Julia. In her spare time, Debra enjoys gardening, attending family sporting events and all things horses.