Deborah R. Silverstein, Woodwind Coordinator

Mrs. Silverstein earned a Bachelor of Music Education at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, and a Master of Music in flute at Ithaca College. Deb performed as Principal Flutist for the Pittsfield (MA) Symphony Orchestra, is past president of the Pittsburgh Flute Club, founder and artistic director of the Beaver County Flute Choirs, and is sometime lecturer in Flute at Geneva College. Mrs. Silverstein is currently the instrumental and elementary vocal teacher at Rhema Christian School, and is the proud mother to three musically talented children. Mrs. Silverstein is proud to serve as the Woodwind Coach for the Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra.

Bruce Lazier, Brass Coordinator

Mr. Lazier has been a professional trombonist and music educator for over thirty five years. His performance experiences include such notable artists as Sammy Davis, Jr., Lisa Minnelli and Joel Gray, Gladys Knight and the Pips and the Temptations. He has performed in "pops" orchestras backing such entertainers as Andy Williams and Ella Fitzgerald. John Williams and Aaron Copland are two of the composer / conductors under which Mr. Lazier has performed. Mr. Lazier's education credentials include a Masters Degree in classical trombone performance from Yale University. He also spent a summer in Banff, Alberta, Canada studying with the Canadian Brass at the Banff Centre for the Arts. He is currently the owner of Lazier's Harmony Music Studios in Harmony, PA. At the studio Mr. Lazier teaches the low brass students in one-on-one sessions. In addition, he coaches his students in chamber music groups on a regular basis. Mr. Lazier has past students currently in the West Point Band, the Colorado Symphony and the Pacific Symphony in California. Though in recent years he has considered himself primarily a music educator, Mr. Lazier spends many weekends performing with brass ensembles and other ensembles based in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio.

Mario Butera, Percussion Coordinator

Mr. Butera holds a Bachelor's Degree in Performance Arts from Youngstown State University. During his tenure at YSU, Mr. Butera has performed with the Dana Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble and Symphonic Wind Ensemble. He has assisted in the management of projects such as the PAS Ohio Day of Percussion and the recent commissioning of a percussion and saxophone piece by composer John Hollenbeck. Being a member of the S'mosa Percussion Quartet, an in-resident group at Youngstown State has given Mr. Butera the wonderful opportunity to be a part of performances and instructional clinics at various K-12 schools throughout Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. Mr. Butera teaches privately, in addition to holding teaching positions in the West Allegheny Marching Pride and West Allegheny Percussion Ensemble, and the Henry H. Stambaugh Yough Concert Band. In addition to acting as the Percussion Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Youth Pops Orchestra, he also acts as the Orchestra Librarian.