Artistic Staff
Louis Vitello-GBYO Music Director
Louis Vitello is in his first year as Music Director for the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra and is in his twenty-eighth year of teaching at Clarence High School where he serves as the conductor of the Wind Ensemble, AP Music Theory instructor, & 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 an enthusiastic and motivating educator and is a major supporter of music in Western New York. Mrs. Ruda has served as the Director of Orchestras at Lancaster High School since 2008. Her orchestras have performed for clinics at the Eastman School of Music, the Ithaca College School of Music, and SUNY Fredonia. She received her bachelor’s degree in Music Education and her Master's degree in Music Education with a Performance Certificate from the State University of New York at Fredonia. As an active cellist in the area, Mrs. Ruda has performed as principal cellist for the Southern Tier Symphony, Orchard Park Symphony, and Cheektowaga Symphony, and currently performs with the Western New York Chamber Orchestra and the Clarence Summer Orchestra. Mrs. Ruda enjoys playing chamber music and is an Assistant faculty member of the Bravo Chamber Music Workshop, a chamber music festival for string and piano students run by artistic director, Roman Mekinulov. She also maintains a busy teaching schedule with a full private studio.
Mrs. Ruda is an active member of the Erie County Music Educators Association, having co-chaired the Sr. High All-County Orchestra since 2011. She currently serves on the ECMEA Executive Board and is a Co-Chair of the ECMEA Instrumental Committee. She is also a member of NYSSMA and NAfME. In addition to her professional pursuits, Mrs. Ruda is Mayor of the Village of Lancaster. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Lancaster Opera House and is also an active volunteer firefighter for the Village of Lancaster, where she is proud to be the first female driver and interior firefighter in the Eagle Hose Company.
At Lancaster High School, she serves as the advisor of the First Responders Club, a club devoted to bringing first-hand First Responder experiences to high school students. She also directs the "Swingin' Strings", an extracurricular orchestra that performs non-classical styles of music. Mrs. Ruda encourages her orchestra students to give back to the community through their music and in a typical year, her students can be found performing in Village shops and Lancaster nursing homes.
Lynne was thrilled to be a finalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator of the Year 2021 and was a finalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator of the Year 2020. She was named a 2020 NYS Women of Distinction and received the 2020 Agent of Change Award from the Lancaster Chamber’s Women in Business Gala. She was the 2019 recipient of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra / Erie County Music Educators Association Award for Excellence in Music Education. In 2018, she was named “Citizen of the Year” by the Lancaster Area Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Ruda received the 2016 “Chief’s Award” from the Lancaster Fire Department and was the 2015 “Member of the Year. In 2022, Mrs. Ruda received the Buffalo, “40 under 40” award.