JSV CONDUCTOR CANDIDATE INFO
These are the candidates who have been selected to advance in our conductor search process so far, and have been interviewed by our Conductor Search Committee.
Our committee is comprised of organization Co-Founder/Board Member/General Manager Victoria Racz, and Board Members Rebecca Towers and Gloria Duarte-Rivera.
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Announcing our first candidate, Maria Choi!
Maria attended Lee University and received her BME, Music Education, and Instrumental Teaching Licensure (K-12). Her MMEd in Music Education (Instrumental/Orchestral) was received at the University of North Texas.
She has taught at Mesquite ISD, Plano ISD, Dallas School of Music, Garland Independent School District, Vancouver Public Schools, Seton Catholic College Preparatory, and most recently as the Orchestra Director at Cascade MS in Vancouver, WA.
Maria will conduct our JSV Holiday Concert on Saturday, December 12, 2026!
Thomas Taylor Dickey is our second candidate!
Thomas Taylor Dickey is an internationally active conductor and music educator recognized for his dynamic artistry, interpretive depth, and ability to build meaningful connections between orchestras and audiences. His work is marked by clarity on the podium, collaborative leadership, and a deep commitment to orchestral music as both an artistic and educational force.
Thomas has led performances with professional orchestras across North America, Europe, and Asia, including engagements with the Bucharest Symphony, Shenyang Symphony, Danube Symphony Orchestra, Belgrade Chamber Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Tulsa Symphony, and Naples Philharmonic, among others. Frequently invited by ensembles seeking both musical excellence and strong rehearsal leadership, he is known for fostering ensemble cohesion and delivering performances of energy, nuance, and expressive range.
Equally at home in the educational sphere, Thomas has conducted all-state and honors orchestras in more than 35 U.S. states, earning a national reputation as a conductor who inspires young musicians while holding ensembles to the highest artistic standards. His work bridges the professional and educational worlds, reflecting a belief that orchestral music thrives when excellence and mentorship exist side by side.
Thomas’s artistry has been recognized through several international awards, including the Gold Prize at the 2022 World Classical Music Awards and Second Prize at the 2019 Mozart & Tchaikovsky International Conducting Competition. Critics have praised his performances as “dynamic and exciting,” noting an interpretive approach imbued with aplomb, energy, and emotional depth.
In addition to his performing career, Thomas has held faculty and conducting appointments at universities across the Midwest, South, and Pacific Northwest, contributing to the training of the next generation of conductors and orchestral musicians. He holds degrees from Eastern Illinois University and Louisiana State University, and earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in orchestral conducting from the University of Georgia.
Whether on the podium, in rehearsal, or working with students, Thomas Taylor Dickey is guided by a core conviction: that orchestral music is a powerful vehicle for artistic expression, shared understanding, and lasting human connection.
