STAFF

Deberah Haferkamp
Director
Alton Youth Symphony

Adam Wheeler
Director
Alton Junior Youth Symphony		 Caitlin Peach
Manager
Alton Youth Symphony
Director
AYS Chamber Group

Deberah Haferkamp retired from Hazelwood Schools in 2002 where she taught instrumental music, primarily orchestra, for over 25 years. She is currently adjunct professor of music at Webster University and Lewis and Clark Community Collegewhere she teaches string pedagogy and violin. Her degrees are B. Music Education from University of Evansville Indianaand M. Music/Music Education from SIU-Edwardsville, Illinois.
Her numerous awards and accomplishments include the Merit Award from the St. Louis Suburban Music Educators and position of President of the American String Teachers Association-Missouri Chapter. She has been a board member of the St. Louis Suburban Music Educators and the Missouri MENC.
As a professional musician she is concertmaster and assistant conductor for both the Alton Symphony and Florissant Valley Community Orchestra. She serves as principal violin in the St. Louis Philharmonic and Gateway Festival Orchestra and violist in the Landolfi String Quartet. Since her retirement from public schools, she has been the music director and conductor of the Lionsgate String Ensemble for amateur adult string players. Her interest in working with young musicians has continued through Lessons Unlimited for elementary children and director of strings for Lutheran High School. She has been the music director for the Alton Youth Symphony, a full orchestra for grades 5-8, since the beginning of the 07-08 season.

 Adam received his Bachelor of Music in Cello performance from the University of Connecticut in 2008 and Master of Music from Miami University in 2010. As an educator, Adam has been teaching private lessons and
sectionals for the past seven years. He is certified in Suzuki books 1-2 as well as the Orff Schuelwerk.
As a performer, Adam has been an active soloist and ensemble player. He has participated and won awards such as the Arion Award in 2003, the Marie Stillwell Young Artist Compeition in 2005, and was selected as a
University of Connecticut Concerto Competition Winner in 2008. As a
chamber musician, Adam's chamber ensemble won the Mark's Outreach
Competition in 2007, and has performed in many chamber master
classes with pedagogues such as Ik-Wan Bae, James Dunham, Ida Kavafien, Stephen Tenenbaum, the Arianna String Quartet, and Aspen ensemble. Adam has also participated in a number of summer music festivals such as Banff, Marrowstone, Orford, Innsbrook, Southern Illinois String Quiartet, and Csehy.
The 2011/2012 Season  is Adam’s first year with the Alton Junior Youth Symphony.		 Caitlin Peach has been a violinist for 17 years and violist for 14 years. She studied with Larry Crabbs, Victoria Brannan, Elizabeth Jankowski, Elizabeth Aquila, Julieta Mihai, Kenneth Martinson and Istvan Szabo. Ms. Peach graduated from Western Illinois University in 2008 with a Bachelors degree in Music Business and minor in Marketing and is currently finishing a masters degree in Music Education from Lindenwood University.  Caitlin teaches private violin and viola lessons. She is a member of the Inaugural Class of the Riverbend's Top 20 under 40 in 2011,  the owner and violist for Afterglow Strings,  a violist for the Gateway String Quartet and a Board member of the Greater Alton Concert Association. Caitlin often volunteers at music events for the Jacoby Arts Center.