The PYO Preparatory Orchestras Staff

from left: Peter Thielen, Don Couch, Sara Salsbury, Troy Davis.

Sara Salsbury was for many years a member of the Redwood City School District Instrumental Music Team. She has been string specialist for the Mountain View CSMA, the Sunnyvale and Mountain View School Districts, and the El Camino Youth Symphony. Sara conducts the PYO Preparatory Orchestras. She received her BA Degree in Violin Performance from DePauw University and her MA Degree in Music Education from Stanford University. Sara is the the 1994 CAPA Arts Award (Council for the Arts of Palo Alto) recipient for her dedication to music education and youth orchestra work. Sara also serves on the ACSO Board of Directors.

Troy Davis is the Director of Bands at Aragon High School, where he conducts five instrumental ensembles. Mr. Davis earned his Bachelor's Degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and his Master's Degree in Music Education from Notre Dame de Namur University. He has taught many summer music programs including Summer Music at Stanley and San Mateo Youth Arts Camp and is guest conductor of the Holy Names Concerto Festival and Cazadero Performing Arts Camp. In addition to teaching and conducting, Mr. Davis is a professional oboist and his principal instructors were John deLancie, former Principal Oboist of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Pamela Smith, Oboist with the San Francisco Symphony. He has performed as a soloist with the Napa Valley Symphony, Gold Rush Chamber Orchestra, and the Aragon Wind Ensemble in addition to having performed with numerous celebrated artists including Robin Williams, The Grateful Dead, The Drifters, Michael Tilson Thomas, and The San Francisco Symphony. He has been the woodwind coach for the PYO Preparatory Orchestras since 2004.

Peter Thielen, Percussion Director, is currently a percussionist with the Symphony Silicon Valley and timpanist in the Monterey Symphony Orchestra. He has performed with the San Francisco Ballet and Opera Orchestras, San Francisco Symphony and the Sacramento and Marin Symphonies. Peter teaches instrumental music at Ralston Middle School in Belmont. He also maintains a studio of private students and coaches all PYO percussionists. Peter is a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Don Couch, our Brass specialist, is a professional trombonist who has appeared with the San Francisco Opera, San Jose Symphony and Symphony Silicon Valley. He is a staff trombonist for the San Jose Light Civic Opera. Don also maintains a studio of private students. Don coaches the brass sections of the PYO and Preparatory Orchestras. Don is a graduate of USC, has played under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas in the Los Angeles-based Debut Orchestra of Young Musicians, and was principal trombone of with the Symphony Orchestra of the State of Mexico for four years.

Stacy Brubaker coaches the PYO Chamber Flutes. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the Crane School of Music (NY), and a Master of Music degree from DePaul University, where she studied with Donald Peck, former principal flutist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. After graduating, Stacy lived in her home state of Vermont where she maintained a flute studio for four years. At that time she was also a chamber music coach for the Vermont Youth Orchestra, adjunct faculty at the University of Vermont, and played with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. Currently Stacy teaches privately in San Francisco and the Palo Alto area. She has been coach and conductor of the Peninsula Youth Orchestra Chamber Flutes since 2003 and has also been on the faculty of the PYO Chamber Music Camp. In addition, she free-lances with orchestras such as the Sacramento Philharmonic and the Napa Valley Symphony

Barbara Bateman, professional bassoonist, is our Woodwind Specialist Emeritus. She has served as Wind Specialist for the Palo Alto Unified School District and the El Camino Youth Symphony. She played bassoon in the Peninsula Symphony for 30 years, and enjoys teaching private bassoon lessons and coaching woodwind chamber music ensembles. Barbara received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from San Jose State University and her Master's Degree in Music Education from Columbia University. She studied bassoon with Simon Kovar at the Juilliard School of Music.