STEVE SWEETSIR
Music Director

Steve received a Bachelor of Music degree from New England Conservatory and a Master of Music degree from Ithaca College. He is a former member of the United States Coast Guard Band. Steve plays French horn and has played in the Portland Symphony, Corning Philharmonic, Delaware Valley Philharmonic, Greater Trenton Orchestra, Bucks county Symphony and many other ensembles. He is the founding director and conductor of Fanfare Winds, the premier wind ensemble of the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County (YOBC).

COLLEEN SWEETSIR
Associate Conductor

Colleen Sweetsir is an active musician and proponent of the arts.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York at Cortland where she graduated summa cum laude in 1984. From 1974-1977 she was honored to serve our country as a member of the United States Coast Guard Band. For the past 31 years helping students become better musicians has been central to her life. In 1997 she became involved with the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County (YOBC), an organization devoted to creating classical music opportunities for young musicians. She served as the conductor of YOBC’s Wind Symphony for 18 years. In 1997, she was appointed the executive director of YOBC, a position she currently holds. Under her leadership the organization has grown to include over 16 ensembles, including orchestras, bands and chamber groups for student musicians of varied ages and abilities. Colleen is a frequent guest clinician at area schools including Central Bucks, Council Rock and Bensalem School Districts, presenting master classes on the study of French horn. She has served as the guest conductor of the Bristol Township Honors Band Festival. Colleen reviews grants for the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, maintains an active French horn teaching studio and serves as a music adjudicator for many area organizations. She serves on the Board of Directors of Csehy Summer School of Music and the Delaware Valley Wind Symphony, of which she is a founding member. Colleen is thankful for her adventurous husband, Steve, and proud of her four wonderful children and three incredibly cute grandchildren..

SAM D’AVERSA
Associate Conductor

Sam D’Aversa graduated from Penn State University in December of 1974 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music education. One month later he began the first of his 40-year instrumental music teaching career in the Pennsbury School District. He earned a Master of Arts Degree in Conducting from The College of New Jersey. Sam is an active player in the Delaware Valley Wind Symphony saxophone section. Sam has performed in various musical groups in our area and can be heard occasionally performing on woodwind instruments with the Newtown Arts Company musical productions and the Paul Morris Big Band.