YOUNGSTOWN, OH (November 8, 2024): Sergey Bogza, Music Director of the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra (YSO) since July 1, 2024, has resigned as of November 7, 2024, due to “personal, health, and family reasons”. Matt Pagac, CEO of the Youngstown Symphony Society, stated that “though Sergey’s circumstances prevent him from serving as the YSO Music Director, we are grateful to have met and engaged with him for a short time. We wish him well.”

Guest conductors have been secured for Ballet Western Reserve’s Nutcracker, for which the Youngstown Symphony provides the orchestra, and for The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, holiday concert on December 21.

Dean Buck will conduct for the Ballet Western Reserve (BWR) production of The Nutcracker on December 7 and 8 in Powers Auditorium at the DeYor Performing Arts Center. Maestro Buck has conducted the YSO for the BWR production for the past two years (2022 and 2023). Buck is a Cleveland-based conductor who serves as the Assistant Conductor and Chorus Master with Opera Western Reserve. He has also worked with Cleveland Opera Theater on
their productions of “La Bohème,” “La Traviata, “Madama Butterfly,” “Il Barbiere di Siviglia,” and “The Threepenny Opera.” He holds a masters degree in orchestral conducting from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Edward Leonard will lead your Youngstown Symphony Orchestra for the December 21 concert, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Maestro Leonard first appeared with your YSO on October 5 for “Rhapsody Royale”. Residing in Pittsburgh, Leonard holds a Bachelor’s in Piano Performance from the College of Charleston and a Master’s in Orchestral Conducting from Carnegie Mellon University. He conducts various ensembles, including: the Pittsburgh Philharmonic, the Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, and The Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh. Leonard is also active with various youth orchestras, including the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Youth Chamber Connection at Chautauqua Institute.

Your Youngstown Symphony Orchestra’s season will continue in 2025 with concerts on January 19, February 15, 2 and March 2, which will now feature guest conductors.

For more information about the 24/25 YSO season, please visit youngstownsymphony.com or call the YourArts box
office at 330-259-9651.