Roger Tabler, Music Director

Conductor, educator, author and pianist, Roger Tabler is a versatile musician. Currently a Doctoral candidate in Conducting at West Virginia University, he also holds a Master's in Piano from Duquesne University and has a Bachelor's in Music Education with concentrations in horn and piano from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, Mr. Tabler has studied at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and at the international Conductor's Institute in Columbia, South Carolina, where he was chosen from fifty participants as one of six outstanding conductors. Among the many composers he has conducted for are Karel Husa, Libby Larsen, Samuel Jones, and Alastair Stout.

Mr. Tabler is Music Director of the Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, an organization he founded in 1993. The Youth Philharmonic was the nation's first youth-pops orchestra, though their award-winning programming now ranges from the baroque through the contemporary. In the summer of 2007 Roger led PYPO in a performing tour of Germany and Austria, and that orchestra is in preparation for a summer 2010 tour of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary.

Mr. Tabler served as the conductor and artistic leader of the Pittsburgh Philharmonic from 1996 through August 2009. Along with conducting over a hundred concerts during that tenure, he also authored five theatrical concerts premiered by the Philharmonic: Sound & Sorcery: The Music and Magic of Halloween (a WQED-FM "Classical Pick of the Week"); Lincoln and Lee: The Music of the Civil War; The Greatest Music: A Tribute to the WWII Generation; All Aboard! A Musical Train Ride; and 1957.

At the helm of the McKeesport Symphony Orchestra from 2003-2005, he also was Music Director of the San Damiano Consort for two seasons. Besides maintaining these directorships, Mr. Tabler has guest conducted the Butler Symphony, the Edgewood Symphony, the Duquesne University Chamber Orchestra, the Choirs of the Community College of Allegheny County, the Three Rivers Choral Society, West Virginia University Choirs and several Pennsylvania Music Educator's Festivals. Along with serving for two seasons as Assistant Conductor of the Slippery Rock University Orchestra, he has served on the music faculty of the Mt. Lebanon School District since 1991, and twice served on the faculty of the Pennsylvania's Governor's School for the Arts. In 2006 Mr. Tabler was highlighted by Pittsburgh Magazine as one of the top 40 under-40 leaders in Pittsburgh.

Away from music, Roger is an avid antique and book collector. The father of four, his spare time is fairly tight!

George Lepsch, Assistant Conductor

George is a graduate of Duquesne University where he earned a Master of Music in Euphonium performance as well as a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. George spent the majority of his teaching career as Director of Bands at McKeesport Area High School. He also has considerable experience as an orchestral conductor, choral conductor, and private brass instructor.

More recently, George serves in his current position of Guidance Counselor at McKeesport Area High School. He holds a Master of Education in Secondary Guidance from California University of Pennsylvania.

Beyond his career as an educator, George has been a member of the Barbershop harmony Society for 34 years. He is the music director of the Steel City Harmonizers barbershop chorus and has sung with quartets at international competitions.

In 2004, George played the role of Olin Britt, bass singer of the "School Board" quartet, in the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera production of The Music Man. He also served as coach for the Gene Kelly Award-winning Music Man quartet from McKeesport Area High School in 2002.

George and his wife, Nancy, live in McKeesport.

PYPSE Conductor

Ms. Pierce attended Oberlin conservatory as a viola performance and music education major. She holds a Master of Teaching as well as a Master of Arts in Writing from Chatham College. Erika also holds Suzuki, Montessori, and Music Together certifications. She has considerable experience with coaching and conducting string ensembles, teaching theory, and private string instruction. Ms. Pierce was a National Solo Competition Semi-Finalist in 1992, and has held numerous principal Viola positions. She has played under the direction of Leonard Slatkin, David Lobel, and Kirk Muspratt. Ms. Pierce has also studied with Thomas Dumm and Jeff Irvine. Currently, she is Principal Violist with the Pittsburgh Philharmonic, and is a violist for the Three Rivers String Quartet. Ms. Pierce is currently on faculty of The Glenn Montessori School as a string, piano, and music teacher. In addition, she enjoys working with her extensive studio of private Violin and Viola students.