OUR DIRECTORS






David E. Leithmann
Conductor and Music Director
Youth Symphony Orchestra

David E. Leithmann has been an orchestra director and string teacher for over 35 years, and his distinguished and dedicated service to music education has encompassed the public schools, the collegiate level, the community and professional organizations. Orchestra director and string teacher in the Hempfield School District for thirty years, he developed the Hempfield High School Orchestra into one of the best in Pennsylvania. In 1992, Mr. Leithmann was presented the "Outstanding School Educator Award" by the Pennsylvania/Delaware String Teachers Association.

Since 1974 he has served on the faculty of Eliizabethtown College. During that time, he has been conductor of the College-Community Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra, Adjunct Professor of Violin and Viola, and String Ensemble Director.

The Lancaster County Youth Symphony appointed him Conductor and Music Director in 1985. In 1989, the orchestra was presented the "Citation of Excellence" by the National Federation of Music Clubs. In 1993 Mr. Leithmann was presented the "Keystone Salute," by the Pennsylvania Federation of Music Clubs, for his "distinguished service to music and outstanding contribution to the civic and cultural life of our great city, state and nation." He has been honored to be elected as President of the Pennsylvania/Delaware String Teachers Association, and the Lancaster-Lebanon Counties Music Educators Association.

Mr. Leithmann is also Director of the Lancaster County Music Camp at Elizabethtown College, and also appears frequently as a guest conductor, string clinician, and festival adjudicator. He was recently appointed Director of the "Music in the Schools Program" and he is the Music Director of the Sinfonietta of Lancaster, as well as a faculty member of the Lancaster Conservatory of Music. Mr. Leithmann was honored as "Outstanding String Educator" in 1992 by PADESTA.

A native Philadelphian, he holds B.S. and M. Ed. degrees from West Chester University and Peabody Institute. He is a member of the Pennsylvania-Delaware String Teachers Association, the National School Orchestra Association, the Music Educators National Conference, the American Association of University Professors, and the American Federation of Musicians, Local 294.





Mr. Terry Guidetti
Wind Ensemble Director

Terry Guidetti retired from his 37 year tenure as Professor of Conducting and Clarinet from West Chester University in May 2003. Professor Guidetti is widely recognized as a conductor, having been a student of Richard Lert, Wolfgang Vacano, and Elizabeth A. H. Green.   He has served as Assistant Conductor of the Colorado Philharmonic and for eight years was the conductor of the Kennett Symphony.  He was conductor of the West Chester University Symphony Orchestra and also their Symphonic Band for many years.  Professor Guidetti is a frequent adjudicator and conductor of orchestra and band festivals. 

Originally from Joliet, Illinois, Professor Guidetti is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he studied with Jerome Stowell. A former student of Harold Wright, John McCaw, and Kalmen Opperman, he is Principal Clarinetist of the Pennsylvania Sinfonia, former Principal Clarinetist for many other orchestras including the Delaware Symphony, Colorado Philharmonic, and Opera Delaware. Mr. Guidetti is also the founder, conductor, and clarinetist for the chamber music organization Tutti!





Ellen S. Eager
Conductor
Junior Orchestra


Mrs. Eager holds a B.S. in music education and a M.M. in music performance from Mansfield University and the University of Illinois.  She has been a teacher with the University of Illinois as a graduate assistant, Lebanon Valley College as a cello instructor, the Carlisle Area School District, the Williamsport Area School District, the School District of Lancaster, and presently the Southern York County School District as an orchestra director.  She spends her summers with the Lancaster County Music Camp as an orchestra conductor an the Strings Excell Elementary String Day Camp as its director and orchestra conductor.

Several of her musical groups were selected to perform for the PMEA Conference including the Lancaster County Junior Orchestra.  She has been their conductor and musical director since 1990.  She has also guest conducted several orchestra festivals in Pennsylvania.  She performs regularly as a cellist and has played with numerous orchestras and chamber music ensembles including the Harrisburg Symphony, the Lancaster Symphony, the Elizabethtown College Trio and Quatricelli.

In 1998 Ellen Eager received the Outstanding String Teachers Award from PADESTA (PA/DEL String Teachers Association).
  
Her most influential teacher who taught her that superb musical training, patience and kindness can go hand-in-hand was Gabriel Maygar, cellist with the Hungarian String Quartet and professor of cello at the University of Illinois.
 
Her professional memberships include the American Strings Teachers Association, Music Educators National Conference, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, National Education Association and American Federation of Musicians.  She lives with her husband, Hal.








Dr. Otis D. Kitchen
Conductor Emeritus
Youth Symphony and Wind Ensemble

Dr. Otis D. Kitchen of Elizabethtown is the Conductor Emeritus for the Lancaster County Youth Symphony and also the Wind Ensemble, of which he was founder. Dr. Kitchen was Professor of Music at Elizabethtown College frp, 1965-1996, where he conducted the College Concert Band and also founded the jazz band, among his many accomplishments. He also founded the annual Lancaster County Music Camp at Elizabethtown, and served as its director for many years. He has received the Citation of Excellence award from the National Band Association.

Dr. Kitchen has an international reputation as a music director, conductor, performer and adjudicator. He has served as Coordinator of the Vienna Music New Year's Eve Festival, and is a music director for the Invitational Mexican Music Festival in Mexico City.