On Saturday, April 19, GNOYO Symphony members enjoyed working with Dr. William LaRue Jones, one of the most active and versatile symphonic conductors in America today.

His conducting schedule includes a wide array of professional, festival, collegiate and student ensembles throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia, ranging from the Minnesota Orchestra and the Minneapolis Pops to the Penang (Malaysia) Symphony, the Antofagasta (Chili) Symphony to the Symphony Orchestra of Lucerne (Switzerland). Engagements for 2006/7 included return performances with the Penang (Malaysia) Symphony and Kobe (Japan) plus concerts in Wisconsin, North Carolina, New York, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Nevada, Texas, Rhode Island and Virginia.

Jones has conducted over 80 All-State orchestras with additional festival/clinics in most of the 50 states and Canadian provinces. He has served extended conducting residencies at the North Carolina School for the Arts, the University of Miami, Interlochen Academy for the Arts and Kansas City Conservatory.

Dr. Jones has some interesting ties to GNOYO. In addition to teaching GNOYO Sinfonia conductor Dr. Jensen when HE was in youth orchestra, Dr. Jones taught GNOYO Artistic Director Dr. Montes while he was completing his doctoral degree. GNOYO is grateful to Dr. Jones for sharing his Saturday afternoon with the Symphony.