About the Conductor

The Oak Ridge Youth Symphony Orchestra (ORYSO) has a new conductor for the 2011-2012 season. Preston Davis, former conductor of the Junior Orchestra (which has been replaced with Kids with Strings Attached), is the music director and conductor of ORYSO, which comprises students in middle school and high school in Anderson, Roane, and other counties. 

Preston Davis completed a master of music education degree at the University of Tennessee, where he earned a B.A. degree in music performance and served as the principal string bass in the UT Symphony Orchestra. As a teacher, he works with music arts programs in Oak Ridge to instruct local students on how to play the string bass and cello. As a performer, he performs locally, nationally, and abroad for orchestras, churches, and jazz and pop groups. He is a staff member of the Oak Ridge Summer Music Conservancy, which was held July 11-17 this year.