ABOUT
The SYMPHONY
Nittany Valley Symphony is a full-sized symphony orchestra based in Central Pennsylvania established in 1967. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, NVS is committed to inspiring and enriching our diverse community through live concerts of the highest caliber symphonic music performed by professional and amateur musicians.
Our PEOPLE
Nittany Valley Symphony is a full-sized symphony orchestra based in Central Pennsylvania established in 1967. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, NVS is committed to inspiring and enriching our diverse community through live concerts of the highest caliber symphonic music performed by professional and amateur musicians.
Principal Musicians
Violin 1 - Sally Williams- Minnich
Viola - Matt Kumjian
Flute - Cathy Herrera
Oboe - Barry Kroeker
Clarinet - Brandy Davis
Bassoon - Trina Gallup
French Horn - Kathryn Beck
Trumpet - Herb McKinstry
Trombone - Bob LaBarca
Timpani - Kyle Haust
Percussion - Carol Lindsay
Music director: Timothy Farrand
After serving as guest conductor last season, Timothy Farrand has joined the Nittany Valley Symphony (NVS) as its permanent musical director and conductor.
“Tim brought new life and energy to us as our guest conductor last season, and so we are delighted to introduce him to you as our new music director and conductor,” said Elinor Lewis, president of the NVS board of directors and a violinist in the orchestra.
“I am excited to be a part of this next chapter with NVS as we begin our work together. I believe that the arts serve as the glue that holds communities together by shaping our cultural dynamic. As a community orchestra, NVS has a long tradition of being an artistic leader of Central PA and I look forward to continuing the orchestra's mission ‘to inspire and enrich our diverse community’ through live performances. This season we are proud to present programs that celebrate humanity's shared experiences and that highlight the role we play in the life of our society.”
Farrand, a conductor, pianist and writer, has served as the music director of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Orchestra and the Penn State Campus Orchestra, and worked for five years as the assistant conductor of the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra (PCO) under Music Director Yaniv Attar. In 2022, he returned to PCO as a guest conductor.
Additionally, Farrand has appeared as guest conductor with the Altoona Symphony Orchestra, and cover conductor with the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra (WSO). He returned to the WSO as a guest conductor in 2023.
He has held roles as the assistant conductor of the Penns Woods Musical Festival, Penn State University Orchestras, and spent five years as the conducting assistant to Maestra Teresa Cheung at the Altoona Symphony Orchestra.
In 20I9, Farrand made his operatic debut as the music director for the world premiere of the opera Leavings, which included performances at the Penns Woods Music Festival and Penn State Opera Theatre.
Starting his conducting studies at an early age, Farrand has participated in several workshops and festivals in the United States and abroad where he had the privilege of working with conductors Harold Farberman, Mark Gibson, Apo Hsu, Donald Portnoy, Maurice Peress, and Paul Vermel among many others. He spent two summers studying at the International Conducting Workshop and Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria, where he was mentored by Larry Rachleff and Donald Schleicher.
For the past four years, Farrand has been an adjunct professor at Penn State University in the Music Theory Department. He also maintains a piano studio in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. As a teacher, he strives to create a supportive atmosphere where students can develop their creativity and discover new avenues for expression.
In the Spring of 2021, Farrand founded Arts Undivided LLC, which advocates for active “exploration of the arts fueled by curiosity.” Through Arts Undivided, he produces content pertaining to a variety of art forms and artists with a focus on finding the connections that transcend boundaries, and advocating for the development of an open acceptance of ideas from across the spectrum of human experience.
Farrand received a bachelor of music degree in piano performance from Penn State, studying with Dr. Timothy Shafer. He continued his studies at Penn State as a graduate teaching assistant, where he received a master of music degree in orchestral conducting under the mentorship of Gerardo Edelstein, as well as a master of arts degree in music theory and music history.
He currently resides in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and maintains an active teaching and performing schedule centered on the use of the arts to strengthen our communities.
Executive Director: Rebecca Richards
The Nittany Valley Symphony has a new executive director with a background in both nonprofit development and music.
Rebecca Richards has been selected by the community orchestra’s board to succeed Gabriel Herrera, who left to pursue a doctorate in music at the University of Miami after less than a year in the role.
Richards holds a master of public administration with an emphasis in nonprofit management and a bachelor’s degree in human resources, both from Brigham Young University.
“We are excited to begin working with Rebecca. She literally went to school to study how to be an executive director at a nonprofit organization such as ours,” board President Lisa A. Schroeder said in a statement. “She impressed the interview committee with her thorough knowledge of the fundraising process and relationship management, her experience working with nonprofit boards of various sizes, her organizational skills and her savvy when it comes to marketing through social media and the website.”
Richards worked as a development assistant for the Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics at BYU, where she worked on a $16.5 million fundraising campaign and supported the development team in closing a $250,000 gift.
She also has experience at Grantwell, a program that offers consulting services to nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, where she led teams managing fundraising, grantmaking and program evaluation projects and advising $500,000 in philanthropic funds.
Richards is also harpist who runs her own business providing elegant harp music for luxury weddings and events
“I’m honored to join the Nittany Valley Symphony as its next executive director,” Richards said in a statement. “As a harpist with 18 years of experience, I’ve had the privilege of performing with orchestras throughout my career and have developed a deep love and respect for classical music.”
Richards role includes cultivating sources of support for the symphony, managing the office and the organization’s budget and maintaining the symphony’s social media and website presence.
She will work closely with Music Director and Conductor Timothy Farrand in the planning and preparation of each concert season.
“Rebecca brings a remarkable blend of energy, insight and organizational skill to her new role,” Farrand said in a statement. “Her background and previous successes reflect a clear sense of care and dedication to her work, and I’m excited to collaborate with Rebecca as we continue to grow and strengthen the Nittany Valley Symphony. Her vision and enthusiasm will be an asset as we enter a new chapter of creative possibility.”