Meet the Orchestra

David Stewart Wiley

Music Director & Conductor

The RSO board has announced the extension of Maestro David Stewart Wiley’s contract for another four years, which will make him the longest-tenured Music Director & Conductor in our storied 71-year history. Our Maestro has conducted such distinguished symphonies as Atlanta, Buffalo, Cincinnati, San Francisco, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Minnesota, Saint Louis, Oregon, Hawaii, and Utah, as well as in dozens of countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe.  Wiley enjoys a multi-faceted and in-demand career as an orchestra builder, guest conductor, arranger, educator, and chamber music collaborator, and inspires and engages both orchestras and audiences.  Wiley made his triple debut with the Boston Pops as conductor, composer, and piano soloist in Boston’s historic Symphony Hall.

Under his direction since 1996, the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra (RSO) in Virginia has experienced continued artistic growth, program innovation and expansion, and increased financial stability. His tenure with the RSO is a remarkable success story, with consistently stellar reviews, a diverse and impressive list of guest artists and composers, and innovative commissions of new music. Wiley is an engaged and active community partner and recognized celebrity, having been named Roanoke’s “Citizen of the Year” for his outstanding service and outreach.  David was part of the leadership team who travelled to Denver as Roanoke received its unprecedented 7th “All-American City” award. Wiley actively partners with schools and numerous arts and civic organizations, and the RSO & Wiley received a prestigious Distinguished Music Educator Award from Yale University for its partnership with city schools. The produced its first live TV broadcast, and collaborates with WVTF public radio to broadcast many of its concerts. His energetic work bringing classical music to youth in our minority communities has been steadfast, and he was honored by the NAACP as Citizen of the Year in the Arts for his service.  He and his wife Leah were honored at the MS Society’s “Dinner of Champions” for their leadership, and Maestro Wiley was honored during his 25th season by the governor and a joint bipartisan resolution in the Virginia house and senate.

As a solo pianist with diverse classical, pops, and chamber music experience, Wiley has performed with numerous orchestras in the United States including Boston, Minnesota, Indianapolis, Oregon, Honolulu, Wheeling, and West Virginia, performing major concerti by Baroque to contemporary, often conducting from the piano.  He has appeared in recital and chamber music appearances in China, Russia, Romania, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Bulgaria.  Numerous opera and ballet performances include the Aspen Opera Theater, IU Opera Theater, and the Moscow Ballet.  As an experienced leader, Wiley plans and facilitates an innovative experience with business executives and musicians together on stage titled “Conducting Change” which helps executives to model leadership skills in a fun and engaging atmosphere with a live orchestra.

Summer engagements include the Aspen Music Festival, Brevard Music Center, Garth Newel, Wintergreen, Park City (Utah), Minnesota Orchestra Summerfest, Sitka (Alaska) and Prince Albert (Hawaii) summer music festivals.  From 1999 until 2006 Wiley was the Artistic Director & Conductor of the Wintergreen Summer Music Festival, where he founded and built the festival orchestra, created the student academy, and led the festival to remarkable artistic growth in seven years, tripling the balanced budget.

Wiley’s CDs include an album of French Cello Concerti with Zuill Bailey & the Roanoke Symphony on Delos International, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 “Choral” with the RSO & Choruses, American Piano Concertos with Norman Krieger & the RSO on Artisie 4 which includes Wiley’s third piano concerto. He has released Wiley & Friends: Classical Jazz, American Trumpet Concertos with the Slovak Radio Symphony/Neebe, and violin/piano duo CD Preludes & Lullabies with Akemi Takayama, Sempre Libera with soprano Adelaide Trombetta, a solo piano CD with all original compositions Full Circle, and Piano Bells.  As a composer, he wrote symphonic music for the film “Lake Effects”, which featured a symphonic soundtrack performed by the RSO, Wiley conducting, with original music by Boyle and Wiley.

David Stewart Wiley won the Aspen Conducting Prize, was Assistant Conductor for the Aspen Music Festival, and was awarded a Conducting Fellowship at Tanglewood.  Wiley holds both a Doctor and Master of Music in Conducting from Indiana University, a degree in Piano Performance with honors from the New England Conservatory of Music, and a degree in Religion, summa cum laude, from Tufts University.  He is a recipient of the Perry F. Kendig Prize for service to the arts and is a Paul Harris Fellow from Rotary International. David and Leah have two sons both currently in college here in the Commonwealth.  www.davidstewartwiley.com