Anna Edwards is Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Interim Music Advisor. Dr. Edwards has made a significant impact to the Seattle music scene as a performing artist, music instructor, and orchestra conductor. After performing as a professional violinist and music educator for over 25 years, Edwards shifted her focus from instrumentalist to conductor. After training with Michael Jinbo at the renowned Pierre Monteux School for three seasons, she received her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Washington. She is also the conductor, founder, and music director of the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra (SCO) and leads the Saratoga Orchestra as Music Director. The SCO and Edwards both won first prize in the 2017-2018 community division of the American Prize, a national competition. As a freelance violinist, she has performed with such groups as the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Northwest Sinfonietta, Auburn Symphony, Silsbee Piano Trio, and she taught at Roosevelt High School where she built the orchestra program into a nationally award-winning program.

Dr. Edwards is dedicated to nurturing young talent and creating musical diversity through innovative approaches to music education through creative programming and audience engagement.

Kathleen Allen has been at SYSO for six years, having first served as SYSO’s Director of Education Program and Partnerships and then promoted to Managing Director in 2017. At SYSO, Kathleen led the SYSO in the Schools program, which serves 31 Seattle-area schools. She also established partnerships with other arts and education institutions and facilitated the development of SYSO’s strategic plan. Kathleen brings to the role of SYSO’s Executive Director 26 years of experience in arts education, which includes designing, managing, evaluating and fundraising for education programs at arts institutions, school districts, public television, and universities. As a volunteer, Kathleen has served on the boards of community arts organizations and parent associations. Kathleen earned her bachelors in art history from Vassar College and a masters degree in education from Harvard University.