Artistic Staff

New CKYO Music Director

A versatile conductor, Kayoko Dan is active in the field of orchestra, ballet, and opera.  Ms. Dan will begin her tenure as the Music Director and Conductor of the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra in 2009-10 season.  Recently, she completed her three-year tenure as the Assistant Conductor of The Phoenix Symphony.  She was named the Karajan Fellowship for the Young Conductors in 2007 and David Effron Conducting Fellowship at the Chautauqua Institute in 2003.  Ms. Dan has participated in numerous workshops including Kurt Masur Conducting Seminar, International Bartok Festival, Fondazione I Pomeriggi Musicali Conducting Workshop and National Conducting Institute.

As a strong advocate of music education, Ms. Dan has given clinics at high school, youth and regional orchestras throughout the country.  She has taught at several elementary schools including Thomas J. Pappas, school for homeless children in Arizona as an Arts Bridge Scholar.  While serving at a Graduate Teaching Assistant, her dedication and passion for music education was recognized by Graduate Teaching Excellence Award given by the Arizona State University.  In Addition, she is a frequent guest speaker at university conducting classes to encourage young conductors who are pursuing a career in music.   

Ms. Dan began her musical training in Japan at age three.  After relocating to US, she continued her musical studies with flute and received her Bachelor in Music Education at The University of Texas, and her DMA in Conducting and Master in Music education from Arizona State University.  Her principle teachers are Timothy Russell and Timothy Muffitt.  She has also studied with Kurt Masur, Leonard Slatkin, Zoltan Pesko, Jorma Panula and William Reber.