Youth Symphony String Program Director & Yakima Ensemble for Strings (YES!) Conductor: Tim Rooney has been an avid performer and music educator throughout the Central Washington and Inland Northwest regions for the last decade. He studied viola under Claire Keeble at Holy Names Music Center in Spokane, Tim Betts at Central Washington University and Dr. Julia Salerno at Eastern Washington University, where he earned his Bachelor of Music Education. Tim directed the Gold and Debut Orchestras for the Prep Strings after-school program in Ellensburg headed by Dr. Bret Smith. He has performed in various professional ensembles, including the Coeur d’Alene Symphony, Helena Symphony, Mid-Columbia Symphony, Spokane Civic Theater Pit Orchestra, Spokane Choral Artists and Canticus Vocal Ensemble. He also served as the worship leader and collaborative pianist for Christ the Redeemer Church in Spokane for a number of years. 

Tim recently directed the orchestra at Lake Samish Music Camp and accompanied their camp choirs. He also had the privilege of coaching, touring and performing with the Wyoming Ambassadors of Music this past summer throughout Austria, Slovenia and Italy. Tim currently teaches orchestra, AP music theory and ukulele at Eisenhower High School in Yakima. In his leisure time, he enjoys hiking, cooking and traveling with family and friends.

As Youth Symphony String Program Director, Mr. Rooney conducts the Yakima Ensemble for Strings (YES) and also works with YYSO string students to support their ongoing development, to maintain a consistent path for artistic growth of string students throughout the YYSO-YES program.