Celebration of Music Musical History & Culture Along the Danube

Robert Vodnoy has enjoyed a long and illustrious career as a conductor, composer, violinist, and educator. He made his professional debut as a conductor in 1975. He is the founding music director and conductor of the Chamber Orchestra of Sarasota and is the Music Director of the Whiting Park Symphony Orchestra in Whiting, Indiana. He has been the music director of six American orchestras and has guest conducted orchestras throughout the United States, Europe, Latin America, and the Pacific Rim, including the Symphony Orchestra of the Zhejiang Song and Dance Theatre (China), Mississippi Symphony, Orchestra of the Colorado Music Festival, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Czech National Symphony, Orchestra Sinfonica de Sanremo (Italy), Maracaibo Symphony (Venezuela), National Philharmonic of Taiwan, Jonköping Symphony (Sweden), and the Seoul Philharmonic (South Korea).

Mitchell Sardou Klein brings extensive conducting orchestras and ballets in the US, Europe, Australia and Japan to his 40 years as Music Director and Conductor of the Peninsula Symphony. He founded and has recently retired as Music Director of the Peninsula Youth Orchestra, which he has taken on concert tours of Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, England, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Since 1984, he has also been Artistic Director of the Irving M. Klein International String Competition, one of the most prominent music competitions in the world.

Chelsea Gallo, a "rising star" conductor, leads orchestras with "grace and fiery command" (Michigan Daily). For 2024-25, she returns as Resident Conductor of The Florida Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor of Orlando Philharmonic, and Assistant Conductor with New York Philharmonic. A Solti Career Grant recipient, Gallo collaborates with diverse organizations like Disney, NASA, and the New York Yankees, with the pursuits to expand the reach of classical music and share its relevancy and humanity.

Bo & Danielle Warren collaborate as husband wife, performing and creating music across the United States. Bo specializes in piano and guitar. Throughout his career, he has engaged with a diverse range of musical genres and has earned degrees in music performance and theory. Danielle is a dedicated vocalist and music instructor with expertise as a performer in the operatic genre. Both engaged with music education, Bo and Danielle look to music as a universal form of expression, transcending cultural barriers. Together, the couple strive to foster musical development and cultural appreciation for music in their communities.

Known for her lush and warm voice, Ms. Thomas has performed at many of the world class opera houses and venues, such as the Metropolitan Opera and the Vienna State Opera; she has performed at prominent venues here in the US, France, Germany, Spain and England, including the Royal Albert Hall and Carnegie Hall. Among numerous top orchestras with which she has appeared are the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony and Leipzig’s Gewandhaus Orchestra – as well as leading orchestras in Paris, Spain, Brazil, the Netherlands, Japan, Finland, South Korea, Malaysia, Abu Dhabi, Boston, Cleveland and Detroit. Ms. Thomas has graced several famous music festivals in Austria, France, London and beyond.

Yamaha Performing Artist, Dr. John Bryant is a native of Asheville, NC. He began his study of the trumpet at age 10. John has performed in more than 35 US states, 10 countries, and has been streamed across the globe on HBO, NPR, and on every major music streaming service. In 2008, John won the Naumann Trumpets Award for Artistry and 1st place at the National Trumpet Competition in the Reiche Baroque Solo Division playing a replica 18th century instrument. He performs with the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra, The Atlanta Pops Orchestra, and Atlanta Ragtime Band. John has performed in every imaginable genre with such artists as T.I., Don McLean, Johnny Mathis, Sutton Foster, Leslie Odom Jr., The Temptations, Balsam Range, The Indigo Girls, Lecrae, Chris Tomlin, and many others.

Praised by the Miami Herald for “uncommonly expressive and detailed” performances, Steven Jarvi is known for his vibrant energy on the podium and his ability to make performances feel fresh, welcoming, and alive. Currently Music Director of the Dearborn Symphony, he has also held roles with the St. Louis Symphony, Toledo Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, New World Symphony, Washington National Opera and New York City Opera. Jarvi has guest conducted throughout North America and Europe with recent engagements with the Utah Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony and Nashville Symphony. Steven has also collaborated with a wide range of popular artists including Ben Folds, Idina Menzel, Common, Guster, Lyle Lovett and Kenny G. He holds degrees from the University of Michigan and Peabody Institute.

A multi-faceted musician, David Rhyne has experience as a organist and harpsichordist, conductor, teacher, and historian. David is currently the Director of Music at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Greenville, South Carolina where he serves as organist, choral director, and worship planner. Prior to coming to St. Michael, he served churches in South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

David is the Artistic Director and conductor of S.C. Bach, South Carolina’s Bach Society. As artistic director, David shapes the vision and direction of the organization and plans concerts with the assistance of the board of directors. David also leads many of S.C. Bach’s performances. His research into the music of Bach has included grants to study at the 2001 Oregon Bach Festival and at Bachfest-Leipzig in 2015 and 2019.

Additionally David was on the music faculty of the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities from 2007-2022 and led the Cantus Chamber Choir and the Governor’s School Choir. David also taught AP music theory and directed the senior level elective conducting seminars. Choirs from the Governor’s School under David’s direction performed throughout the Carolinas and in Europe. Notable performances have included those at the Southern Division of the American Choral Directors Association, Winston-Salem, NC; National Public Radio’s From the Top; Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna; St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City; and St. Thomas Church, Leipzig.

David is currently an adjunct faculty member in the Music Department of Furman University where he teaches in the history and theory departments as well as teaching organ.

David has degrees in organ performance from Lenoir-Rhyne University and the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. He holds the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in choral conducting from the Frost School of Music of the University of Miami.