ABOUT
Conductor Biographies
Daniel Stevens, conductor and violist, is associate professor of music/director of instrumental activities, and the Mazie Barnett Kilmer Chair for String Education. He is a graduate of the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, Oklahoma State University, and the University of North Texas. He is conductor and artistic director of the South Kansas Symphony at Southwestern College, coach of the Williams String Quartet, and teacher of applied violin and viola, as well as teaching music department courses. Daniel founded the Southwestern College Youth Symphony in 2006 with a group of 25 young musicians and this fall the group has expanded to two ensembles. Daniel has been guest clinician at the Northeast Oklahoma All-District Honors Orchestra and the Tulsa Metro Honors Orchestra and in December will conduct the North Central Kansas All-District Orchestra. He has judged Kansas large group and solo and small ensemble contests. Daniel is a violist with the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra and has played with the Wichita Grand Opera, Tulsa Philharmonic, the Tulsa Opera Orchestra, Canton Symphony Orchestra, and Akron Symphony. He performed a 2010 viola duo recital with Phillip Stevens and pianist Timothy Shook in Carnegie Hall. In the October Kaleidoscope performance, Daniel will be soloist on Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante.
Travis Hale is director of instrumental music at Wichita South High School. He oversees band and orchestra programs that include chamber orchestra, string orchestra, marching band, jazz band, concert band, and wind ensemble. In addition, Travis has developed an alternative music curriculum for commercial music. Travis earned degrees from Emporia State University and from Wichita State University. He is an avid saxophone player ad performs in jazz ensembles and bands. He has served as a clinician and judge for honor groups and festivals in Kansas, and is currently the orchestra chair for the South Central District of Kansas Music Educators Association.
Ismail “Ish” Farid, SCYS Assistant, is originally from Singapore. Ish and his family moved to the USA in 2000 and settled in Winfield in 2002. A professional musician since age 23, Ish started playing the piano at the age of six and was trained under the London Royal School of Music program. After active duty in the Singapore Armed Forces, Ish performed as a restaurant pianist, then moved on to perform with jazz combos and show bands. He was formally trained by members of the BBC as a television presenter with the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation. He is currently the Asst. Director of Orchestras for USD 465 (Winfield), and teaches jazz and pop piano privately.
South Kansas Symphony Advisory Board:
- Vicky Rockhill, president
- Thane Rockhill
- Dari Trout
- Dianna Thompson
- Rae Lynne Baker
- John Baker
- Daniel Stevens, conductor
- Linda Newby
Symphony on the Prairie Board:
- Julie Headrick, director
- Mary Jarvis
- Phil Jarvis
- Marv Estes
- Wendy Estes
- Vicky Rockhill
- Thane Rockhill
- Ken Norland
- Madeline Norland
- Daniel Stevens, conductor
Office Staff:
- Travis Hale — Youth Symphony Orchestra Assistant Conductor
- Ismail Farid — Youth Symphony Executive Assistant
- Rose Hanna — SC Faculty Administrative Assistant
- Linda Newby — South Kansas Symphony Personnel Manager
- Lael Porter — Stage Manager
- Erin Buster — South Kansas Symphony Student Librarian
- Nathan Johnson — South Kansas Symphony and Concert Orchestra Student Stage Manager
- Tiffany Rea — Youth Symphony Student Librarian
- Amber Hart — Youth Symphony Student Stage Manager
Contact Information:
Snail Mail: SKS, Rose Hanna, 100 College St., Winfield, KS 67156
Phone: 800-843-1546 extension 6272
Email: Daniel Stevens—-Daniel.Stevens@sckans.edu