Mark Hatlestad is principal viola of Kentucky’s Owensboro Symphony and the newly named conductor of the Owensboro Symphony Youth Orchestra.
In Tuesday’s (8/22) Owensboro Times (Kentucky), Meghann Richardson writes, “Mark Hatlestad has been named the new conductor of the Owensboro Symphony Youth Orchestra (OSYO). The Symphony also announced OSYO auditions will be held next week. Hatlestad currently serves as the principal violist for the Owensboro Symphony. He said … he’s excited to get started and make an impact in the students’ lives. ‘My youth orchestra experience growing up in Minnesota with the Minnesota Youth Symphonies was a formative experience for me,’ he said. ‘I want to do my part to ensure that students in the Owensboro area have access to a great youth orchestra experience. My first goal is to get to know the students, and find ways to encourage them to grow as musicians and as self-motivated individuals …’ Symphony CEO Gwyn Payne said the appointment is a testament to Hatlestad’s musical skills and experience, as well as his passion for nurturing young talent…. Hatlestad is the principal viola in both the Evansville Philharmonic and Owensboro Symphony, and he is artist-in-residence at the University of Evansville’s Eykamp String Quartet…. The Owensboro Symphony, through its sponsorship of the Owensboro Symphony Youth Orchestra program, provides specialized training to more than 100 young musicians each year.”
