Artistic Staff
Paul Bryan
Music Director
Artists Summer Program at Curtis Summerfest, Music Director of the Symphony in C Summer Camp, and a faculty member at Temple University and the Curtis Institute of Music.
Described by composer Eric Ewazen as a “stunning” interpreter producing performances with “riveting momentum and heartfelt lyricism,” Paul has led concerts with a variety of groups including the wind and brass ensembles of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Rodney Mack Philadelphia Big Brass, and Boyz II Men.
Sought after for his ability to train gifted instrumentalists, Paul pushes his groups to take risks and to make music as opposed to just playing it. Past positions have included Conductor of the Drexel University Orchestra, Conductor of the Philadelphia All-City High School Concert Band, and appearances with the ensembles of the New York Summer Music Festival, Play On, Philly!, and numerous honor groups in the Delaware Valley.
A respected member of the Philadelphia area’s musical community, Paul serves as Dean of Faculty and Students at the Curtis Institute of Music where he directs the educational programming and curricular life of one of the world’s foremost conservatories.
Music Director of the Philadelphia Wind Symphony, Paul Bryan leads a distinguished career as both performer and educator. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and Temple University where he studied trombone with Glenn Dodson and Eric Carlson and conducting with David Hayes, Arthur Chodoroff, and Lawrence Wagner, Paul currently serves as Director and Conductor of Bravo Brass – the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra brass ensemble, Head Conductor of the Young
Michael W. Pettis
Assistant Conductor/
General Manager
Michael W. Pettis is a passionate musician, composer, arranger, and educator whose life’s work is to inspire creativity, growth, and understanding through music. Michael has earned his Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Theory and Composition from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. At West Chester University Michael studied composition with Larry Nelson, Andrew Yozviak, Mark Rimple,
Van Stiefel, Adam Silverman, and Robert Maggio. Michael also studied tuba under the guidance of Jonathan Fowler during his undergraduate career.
Continuing his education, Michael is currently pursuing his Masters in Music Performance on Tuba, at Rutgers University. Michael studies tuba with Alan Bear, Principal Tuba of the New York Philharmonic, and Brass Department Chair at Rutgers University. As a performer, Michael has had the pleasure of playing alongside various artists such as Canadian Brass, Tine Thing Helseth, and Michael Truesdell.
Michael is currently an active member of Rutgers University Brass Ensemble, and Graduate Brass Quintet, and the Philadelphia Wind Symphony. Michael has participated in multiple recording sessions as can be heard on the following albums; Borrowed Inspirations, Reanimations, and Like a Flame to a Moth.
Dr. Virginia Allen
Artistic Director Emerita
Virginia Allen has conducted ensembles on stages around the U.S. and in Europe, South America, and Asia. As a pioneer for women in military bands, she was the first woman conductor of The U.S. Army Field Band and The Soldiers' Chorus in Washington, D.C., The U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point, The U.S. Army Forces Command Band in Atlanta, and the West Point Glee Club.
She is founder and Artistic Director Emeritus of the Philadelphia Wind Symphony, and founded and conducted the Sun Valley Youth Orchestra in Idaho.
Dr. Allen previously served as the Associate Dean for Administration and the Assistant Dean for Orchestral Studies at The Juilliard School, where she was the Artistic Director of the Conducting Workshop for Music Educators. A former conducting faculty member at Juilliard, The Curtis Institute of Music, and University of the Arts, Dr. Allen continues to teach conducting lessons online for Teachers College, Columbia University.
As a composer and arranger, Dr. Allen’s music has been premiered, performed and recorded by members of the Chicago Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, the Washington Opera Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony, the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra, The Juilliard Trombone Choir, The U.S. Army Band, The U.S. Army Field Band, and The U.S. Military Academy Band. Her music has been published by Carl Fischer, Theodore Presser, Keyboard Percussion Publications, Alessi Publications, Southern Music, Ludwig Music, and TRN Music. A member of ASCAP, she is a former board member for the Conductors Guild and the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE).
Dr. Allen studied French horn and conducting and earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree and a Master of Music degree in Performance from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and a Diploma in Wind Conducting from the University of Calgary. She received a Doctor of Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, where her dissertation topic was Developing Expertise in Professional American Orchestra Conductors.