Brenden McCauley (Fall 2023)

Brenden McCauley is a 26-year-old musician whose life revolves around the enchanting world of music. At the tender age of 5, Brenden embarked on a musical journey, starting with piano lessons that sparked their love for this expressive art form. At a young age, Brenden's interest in jazz led them to discover the trombone, and from that point on, they knew they wanted to explore the depths of low brass. Taking the plunge in 7th grade, they embraced the tuba, knowing that this commitment would lead to a lifelong passion.

For over 13 years, Brenden has embraced the tuba with unwavering dedication, playing it with heart and soul. Their musical journey led them to pursue not one but two bachelor's degrees, one in Tuba Performance and the other in Composition. Their thirst for knowledge and growth persisted, eventually culminating in a Master's degree in Orchestral Conducting, a fascination they had nurtured since their youth. Throughout their musical career, Brenden has collaborated with numerous local orchestras, sharing their passion for all genres of music with enthusiastic audiences. As an aspiring conductor, they have embraced this role with fervor and finesse, leading orchestras with grace and precision. Brenden's unwavering love for music continues to shape their path, and they eagerly anticipate the future that holds countless possibilities in the realm of music. With each note they play and every baton they wield, Brenden leaves an indelible mark on the world of music, driven by their unyielding passion and dedication to their craft.

Past Music Directors

Robert Bott (Spring 2021-Spring 2023)

Robert is a recent graduate of the University of North Texas, where he earned his DMA in Orchestral Conducting under David Itkin. He currently serves as Music Director of the West Jordan Symphony, and has previously held positions as Assistant Conductor of the Lewisville Lake Symphony, Music Director of the Davis County Celebration Orchestra, Music Director of the Northern Utah Youth Symphony, and Assistant Conductor of the Salt Lake Pops Orchestra. Robert also served as an interim conductor of the Salt Lake Choral Artists Men’s Choir in 2013. He has guest conducted with the Salt Lake Symphony, the Utah Composer’s Forum, and the Summer Choral Institute.

Robert has been invited to workshops around the United States as a full Participant, including the International Conductors Workshop and Competition, International Conducting Institute, California Conducting Institute, and Conductors Retreat at Medomak. His conducting teachers have included David Itkin, Kenneth Kiesler, Kirk Trevor, Adrian Gnam, Vladimir Kulenovic, David Cho, Robert Baldwin, Clay Couturiaux, Jane Fjeldsted, and Brady Allred.

In addition to his conducting activities, Robert is an enthusiastic music educator and scholar. He has taught at the collegiate level, and in 2016 the journal Harmonia published his musicological article, "The Affect Effect: Key Characteristics in Così fan tutte." He has been the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, including the John Giordano Conducting Scholarship, the Euline and Horace Brock Merit Scholarship, the Toulouse Graduate School Academic Achievement Scholarship, and advanced to the semifinals for the National 2021 American Prize in Conducting. Robert has also been inducted as a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society as well as the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective multidisciplinary collegiate honor society.

A native of Salt Lake City, Robert holds degrees from the University of Utah in composition and instrumental conducting. In addition to conducting, composition, theory, and musicology, Robert has studied the saxophone, clarinet, and voice. He has had the privilege of playing in numerous instrumental ensembles, touring England and France with the University of Utah Singers, and winning four first-prizes with the Salt Lake Vocal Artists in the Tolosa International Choral Competition. In his spare time Robert enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, reading, tinkering with computers, and watching football.

Denisse Vallecillos (Fall 2018 - Winter 2020)

A native of Arizona, Denisse began studies on the violin at the age of nine continually participating in her school's orchestras and other youth ensembles through high school. Her constant passion for music and desire to teach lead her to pursue a higher education in the field earning her a B.M. in music education from Arizona State University. A second passion, conducting, was discovered while at Arizona State. After a year of private lessons, she knew she wanted to officially specialize in this area and received an M.M. in orchestral conducting from Brigham Young University.

Denisse Vallecillos is currently the Director of Orchestras at Juan Diego Catholic Schools which includes the High School, Middle School, and Elementary School orchestras as well as a Chamber Orchestra. She is honored to join the West Jordan Symphony as Music Director this season and is thrilled to work with such dedicated musicians.

She keeps busy teaching private lessons and playing violin whenever possible including with the Utah Millennial Choirs and Orchestras, recording gigs, small chamber groups, and quartets.

Shane Mickelsen (Winter 2015 - Spring 2018)

Shane attributes his love of music to his mother, who was both his piano and music theory teacher. In middle and high school, he nurtured his love for choral and instrumental music simultaneously by singing with the madrigals while serving as drum major of the marching band. Seeing a brighter future for himself in vocal music, he pursued operatic singing at Utah State University where he met his wife Kacee, now an award-winning soprano and sought-after teacher. At age 18, Shane conducted and music-directed the premier of his one-act opera: The Wolf and the Seven Kids, which he composed on commission from the School of Music.

After completing a Bachelor's of Music in Vocal Performance, and subsequently serving an LDS mission in Italy, Shane earned a Master's Degree from the University of Utah in Music Composition. Feeling a great desire to actively participate in orchestral music, he spent the next two years with the Utah Philharmonic Orchestra serving as bass clarinetist, artistic director, and associate conductor. Shane is now very pleased be with the West Jordan Symphony and is grateful to associate with its members. He considers himself an active clarinetist, composer, voice teacher, schoolteacher, conductor, husband, and father.

Larry White (2003 - Winter 2015)