Altoona Symphony Orchestra
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  • H O M E
    • => Contact Us
  • Our Concerts
    • Next Concert
    • Tickets & Subscriptions
    • Special Guest Performers
  • YOUR ASO
    • Maestra Teresa Cheung
    • Principal Pops Conductor, Nick Palmer
    • Concertmaster Genaro Medina
    • ASO Musicians Highlights
    • Performance Venues
    • P I C T U R E S
  • Outreach
    • Education & Community Overview
    • School Programs
    • ASO Youth Programs
    • Family Programs
    • Nursing Home Shows
  • About Us
    • ASO History
    • Administrative Staff
    • Board of Trustees
    • Symphony League
    • Contact Us
  • Support the ASO
    • Luncheon with Maestra Teresa Cheung
    • Become a Sponsor
    • ASO at the Mishler
    • Donate
    • Symphony League
    • Gala
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Teresa Cheung,
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​Musical Director and Conductor

Currently in her 10th season as Music Director
of the Altoona Symphony Orchestra ...,
​Maestra Cheung is in frequent demand for symphonic, choral, operatic and balletic productions throughout the United States and Canada.
​
Click here for bio ...

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Pamela Snyder Etters, Executive Director

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Pamela started working with the ASO in July of 2012. She obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts (Drawing and Painting) from Penn State University in 2003. Pam has a passion for all art forms.
She was an All-region French Horn player in high school and performed with a local German marching band and brass ensemble. She was also a member of the Horseshoe Curve National Railroad band before turning her focus to the visual arts in college.Prior to her time with the ASO, Snyder Etters worked exclusively as a mural artist within community revitalization efforts in towns across PA.

Making her mark in the Pennsylvania arts scene since 2005, Snyder (Etters) has earned several awards and honors for her work.
In 2009 she was selected to receive Rotary International's Award for Family and Community Service for her extensive mural work in Milton, PA. Continuing her work in Milton she was once again recognized and featured in Inside Pennsylvania Magazine as one of Pennsylvania's up and coming muralists in 2011. The article, Murals: Vivid History Without Words,  states that they choose to highlight the areas muralists and murals 
"because they are constantly helping change — and improve — our communities."
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(Article can be found online at http://www.insidepamagazine.com/pdf/summer11.pdf  pages 46-49)
Following her time in Milton, Snyder Etters returned to Altoona, PA in order to start a family and continue following her passions.
Along with her full time position here at the ASO, Pam is also the founder of the Murals Talk initiative using murals to connect children across state and even continental borders. She has focused on the idea of cultural submersion, and does her best to share her experiences with local youth. In 2013, after spearheading a mural exchange between Juniata Gap Elementary School, Altoona, PA and Tangier Smith Elementary School, Long Island, NY, Snyder Etters was honored by her high school alma mater (Altoona Area School District ) for her Service to Education, an award received by only 100 people since its inception more than 30 years ago. Since then she has facilitated and executed mural/ cultural exchanges between Juniata Gap Elementary 6th graders and schools in San Jose, Costa Rica and Waterhouse, Kingston, Jamaica. She is also the current Head Women's Soccer coach at Penn State University's Altoona Campus, and Head Coach
​for the HSA U-18 girls Premiere Program. She resides in Altoona with her husband, Travis and their daughters Emma and Tobin. 

Melissa Andre, Office Manager

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Having joined the ASO in 2017, Office Manager Melissa Andre presents a high standard for office organization, attention to detail, and professional socialization.
Though she had been out of the mainstream workforce for a while, she manages a household of 8 every day! Though not an artist herself, she enjoys the arts, and appreciates their contribution to the quality of life they provide to her family, and our region.


​Sandra Woodward, Musician Manager & Librarian 

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Sandy has been the Musician Manager and Librarian with the ASO since 1994. She also performs with the Symphony as a member of the French Horn section, and is responsible for locating, rostering and ultimately hiring our fantastic musicians. She works closely with Maestra Cheung to locate, secure, and distribute music to the musicians for upcoming performances.
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​Sandy Woodward is a native of Penn Hills, PA. She earned a BFA-Honors from Carnegie-Mellon studying horn with Forrest Standley.
Sandy also earned a MBA from West Virginia University. While in the Pittsburgh area she performed with the River City Brass Band, Pittsburgh Opera, Altoona Symphony, McKeesport Symphony, Westmoreland Symphony, Johnstown Symphony and The Windsor Brass Quintet. Sandy also was the manager of the Westmoreland Youth Symphony for several seasons.
​Currently living in New Jersey, Sandy is a member of the ASO horn section and serves as the ASO personnel manager and librarian.

Bruce Brower, Accountant 

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Bruce has been the ASO accountant since 1998. He is a 1961 Graduate of the Central Pennsylvania Business College with a degree in Higher Accounting. Bruce is now retired from his position as President/ General Manager of ABC Mack Trucking and enjoying his freelance accounting work.
​He is also a member of the Shriner's, AMBUCS, Altoona Horseshoe Chorus, and a barber shop quartet. 

Valerie Stratton, Production Manager

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Valerie has been a Production Manager for the ASO since 2010. Valerie is a retired psychology professor from Penn State Altoona.  She began her involvement with theatre in high school in New Jersey,
performing in every production during her four years there.  In college she focused on her major in psychology, but got re-involved with theater after settling in Altoona.  
She now has had 25 years of experience with Altoona Community Theatre and Cresson Lake Playhouse
​as an actor, stage manager, production manager, and costume and props person.
She is a Founder and Co-Artistic Director with Things Unseen Theatre.

Travis Etters, Stage and Equipment Manager

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Travis is the husband of Executive Director, Pam Etters, and joined the production team in the fall of 2017. He is responsible for Moving equipment, Stage set-up, and some back stage production assistance as needed. Travis also has experience as a stage hand with Allegheny Ballet Company. 
Travis has always wanted to experience the show from 'back stage' and enjoys witnessing all the moving parts that make a production so enjoyable for the audience. 
Travis will also be taking over the Production Manager duties in 2019-20 season.

Harald Dertinger, ASO Photography, Web Content & Social Media

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Harald has become the Altoona Symphony Orchestra's resident photographer. You may have caught glimpses of him crouching in aisles, perching in balconies, and snapping from backstage. One thing is certain, Harald has a great love for the orchestra, appreciation for music, and passion to share it with others through his lens.

A native of Würzburg, Germany Harald was introduced to -and came to love- Classic Music by his mother, going to Mozart-Festival concerts at the local Baroque Palace or Classic performances at various churches, but also operettas and some opera at Würzburg Stadt-Theater.

Harald is now responsible for nearly all of the ASO's publication photography, and has inspired the creative minds of other artists with his work.

Enjoy Harald's ASO-pictures through regular ASO Facebook-page posts, as well as our Symphony-website. Harald regularly volunteers his time keeping it up-to-date, useful ,and interesting to ASO-fans, with information and pictures on upcoming -or past- events.


​Finding the ASO-Office:
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