Artistic Staff
Louis Vitello-GBYO Music Director
Louis Vitello is in his third year as Music Director for the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra and is currently on the faculty at the University at Fredonia School of Music teaching undergraduate instrumental conducting classes as well asserving as the conductor for the Wind Symphony. In July 2025, Mr. Vitello retired from public school education after twenty-nine successful years of teaching at Clarence High School where he served as the conductor of the Wind Ensemble, AP Music Theory instructor, and Chairman of the Clarence Central School District Music Department.
Mr. Vitello received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education and his master’s degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University at Buffalo. While pursuing his master’s degree, he was a teaching assistant for the UB music department, which included serving as an associate conductor for university ensembles. In addition, he was a staff assistant conductor for the former Greater Buffalo Opera Company, was co-founder and director of the Western New York Youth Wind Ensemble, and has guest conducted all-county honor ensembles in the Western New York area and across New York State. His conducting teachers have included Charles Peltz, Sarah McKoin, Gary Burgess, Harold Farberman (Conductor’s Institute), and William Silvester.
Ensembles under Mr. Vitello’s direction have performed at the Erie County Music Educators Association Conference (2024), the New York State School Music Association Conference (2022), the American Concert Band Association Annual Conference (2018), the New York State Band Director’s Association Annual Symposium (2014 & 2010), presented clinics at the New York State School Music Association Conference (2000) and the New York State Band Director’s Association Regional Workshop (2012). Additionally, Mr. Vitello has commissioned and/or premiered new compositions. These pieces include Persis Parshall Vehar’s Pan American Overture (2001), Stephen Melillo’s 21: Won Way (2011), Michael Vertoske’s Madrid (2011), David Maslanka’s Hymn for World Peace (2015), and Stephen Mellilo's Ark of the Covenant and In the Darkest Darkness (2018).
In 2019, Mr. Vitello was honored by receiving the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra/Erie County Music Educators Association Award for Excellence in Music Education, and in 2023 he was appointed to a position on the BPO education committee.
Mr. Vitello is a member of the International Conductors Guild, National Association for Music Education, New York State School Music Association, Erie County Music Educators Association, Who’s Who Among American Teachers, New York State Band Directors Association, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, and is an honorary member of the Kappa Kappa Psi National Band Fraternity.
Lynne Ruda-GBYSO Conductor
Lynne Ruda is a passionate educator and a leading advocate for music in Western New York. A two-time GRAMMY Music Educator Award nominee, she currently serves as Director of Orchestras at Lancaster High School. Under her direction, the school’s ensembles have performed at institutions such as the Eastman School of Music, Ithaca College, and SUNY Fredonia.
Ms. Ruda holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Music Education, along with a Performance Certificate, from the State University College at Fredonia. An active cellist and proud member of the Buffalo Musicians’ Union (Local 92), she has performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Clarence Summer Orchestra, and shared the stage with legendary artists including The Who, The Eagles, and Smokey Robinson. She also serves as Assistant Faculty for the Bravo Workshop, a chamber music festival for string and piano students and is in her 10th year as conductor of the Greater Buffalo Youth String Orchestra.
Beyond her musical accomplishments, Lynne is deeply engaged in public service. She made history as the youngest and first female Mayor of the Village of Lancaster, where she helped secure over $25 million in local, state, and federal grants and played a key role in the village’s revitalization efforts. She now continues her service as Executive Director of the Trinity Food Pantry of Lancaster, supporting hundreds of families in need, and has been a dedicated volunteer firefighter—the first female interior firefighter and driver for Eagle Hose Company.
Ms. Ruda has received numerous honors, including Buffalo Business First's “40 Under 40,” the NYS Woman of Distinction Award, and the Lancaster Area Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year and Agent of Change Awards. She was also a two time finalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator of the Year and received the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra/ECMEA Award for Excellence in Music Education..
Emily Greetham-Prima Strings Conductor
Emily Greetham, M.M., is a violinist and music educator from Amherst, New York. She graduated from Amherst Central High School before pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. After graduating from Jacobs School of Music, Ms. Greetham returned to Buffalo to teach at Buffalo Suzuki Strings and completed training for Suzuki Violin books 1-4.
Ms. Greetham began her public school teaching career in Fredonia, New York. She spent three years teaching 4th through 8th grade orchestra in the Fredonia Central School District while completing her Master of Music degree in Violin Performance at SUNY Fredonia. Ms. Greetham then moved back to Erie County to teach 6th grade orchestra at Clarence Middle School and became a Teaching Artist at Buffalo String Works. Ms. Greetham presently teaches 4th and 5th grade orchestra at Eggert Elementary and Ellicott Elementary in the Orchard Park Central School District.
Ms. Greetham is actively involved in music organizations throughout Western New York. She has served as a chairperson for the Chautauqua County Music Teachers Association All-County Orchestra, and as an adjudicator for the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra. She is currently a co-chair of the Erie County Music Educators Association Elementary All-County Orchestra, and in 2024 conducted the Niagara County Music Educators Association Junior High/Senior High All-County Orchestra. She is a member of the Buffalo Musicians’ Union, Erie County Music Educators Association, and New York State School Music Association.
Ms. Greetham is an accomplished violinist and performs with Buffalo Opera Unlimited, Westminster Chamber Orchestra, and Clarence Summer Orchestra. She was previously a violinist and board member for the Western New York Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Greetham maintains a private violin studio in the City of Buffalo and performs as the first violinist in her string quartet. She will be the first conductor of the newly founded Prima Strings Orchestra.