Lauded for his approach to rehearsals, audience engagement, versatility in programming, and probative performances, Brian Worsdale is recognized as an important voice in music and education. Now in his fifth season as the Popkin Wolchok Music Director of the Three Rivers Young People’s Orchestra, Brian calls Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania home. In five years, which include the COVID-19 pandemic, Brian has helped grow the organization from two ensembles to six and grow membership by 50 percent, perform at the legendary Carnegie Hall of New York City, and work with a wide array of artists and musical genres. With professional and pedagogical engagements among his credits, Brian’s musical universe creates the harmony that is a huge commodity in a world that serves various musical experiences.
Brian’s professional conducting credits include the Youngstown Symphony, The New York Pops, The Williamsburg Consort, and countless New York City contract ensembles.
Brian has worked with a wide array of artists including David Robertson, Manfred Honeck, John Storgards, James Gaffigan, John Morris Russell, Julie Wilson, Jim Caruso, Klea Blackhurst, Max von Essen, Susie Mosher, Kevin Meaney, Norm Lewis, Caesar Samoya, Ryan Silverman, Jelani Remy and Jane Krakowski.
An exponent of new music and celebration of diversity in music, Brian has championed and promoted the works and commissioned music by Viet Cuong, Valerie Coleman, Omar Thomas, Michael Markowski, Kelijah Dunton, Joanne Harris, Gala Flagello. As a proponent of new music, Brian champions the composers of our time through expanded programming, commissions, and premieres.
Perhaps most importantly, Mr. Worsdale’s commitment to education shines brightest through his entrepreneurial efforts to build stronger wind band programs in New York City. The award-winning “InterSchool Orchestra of New York” Symphonic Band, which is one of the only private youth wind ensembles in the Metropolitan New York area, is an ensemble he envisioned 30 ago and now is celebrating its 29th year. He served on the faculty of the prestigious Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division, where he taught conducting and led the Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras. He concluded a 27-year relationship with The InterSchool Orchestras of New York as Music Director and Conductor of The ISO Symphony in the 2017-2018 season. He currently serves on the faculty of Duquesne University where he teaches conducting. At the New York Pops, he serves as director and conductor of the Kids on Stage, established more than 30 years ago by the late Skitch Henderson. He has led district and regional, state-level orchestras and will conduct the 2025 Utah All-State Symphony Orchestra. He is a clinician and education consultant for Music For All, World Projects, Perform America, and Distinguished Concerts International New York. He appears frequently at Carnegie Hall as a guest conductor/clinician.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Mr. Worsdale attended public schools, the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Division, and received his formal music training as a trombone student of David Finlayson (New York Philharmonic). He is a conducting protégé of the late Maestro Jonathan Strasser (former faculty of Manhattan School of Music) and he was a part of the conducting apprenticeship program with the New York Philharmonic under the leadership of then-music director Kurt Masur, and has continued his professional studies working with Larry Livingston (on faculty of University of Southern California) and Anthony Maiello (on faculty of George Mason University).
Brian’s longest professional relationship has been with the acclaimed performing arts camp, French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts. Entering his 31st year on the staff there, he serves as the camp’s chief artistic officer and director of its music program. There he leads the symphony orchestra, conducts premieres of new staged works, and oversees one of the largest comprehensive summer arts programs in the United States. He has fostered relationships with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, The New York Pops, and the New York Philharmonic, which bring members of their ensembles to French Woods for master classes, clinics, and side-by-side performances.