Youth Symphony Conductors

Henry Littich | Youth Education Director & Youth Symphony Conductor
Henry Littich began conducting the Salina Junior Youth Symphony in 2011 and was named Salina Symphony Youth Education director and Youth Symphony conductor in 2019. He has taught orchestra/strings since 1997. He was named director of orchestras for Smoky Valley Public Schools in 2009, where he teaches at Smoky Valley High School, Smoky Valley Middle School and Soderstrom Elementary School (grades 4-12). Since Littich’s arrival in Lindsborg, the Smoky Valley High School String and Symphony Orchestras have consistently earned first division superior ratings at the KSHSAA Large Ensemble Music Contest. In addition to outstanding ensemble performances, Littich’s students have earned individual accolades, earning seats in the State and District Honor Orchestras as well as high ratings at state and district solo and small ensemble music contests. The Smoky Valley High School Orchestra performed at the Kansas Music Educators Association in-service workshop in February 2015. Prior to coming to Lindsborg, Littich taught orchestra in Odessa, Tex. He holds a bachelor of music education and a master of music from Kansas State University, where he studied violin with Dr. Cora Cooper. In addition to his work in the Smoky Valley school district, Littich has served as the orchestra chair for South Central KMEA and state president of the Kansas American String Teachers Association. He and his wife, Kate, reside in Lindsborg with their children, Emma and Eddie.

Leonardo Rosario | Youth String Ensemble Conductor
Dr. Leonardo Rosario was named conductor of the Salina Symphony Youth String Ensemble in 2022. He is an active performer and educator with an extensive international and multicultural violin performance career. Currently, he serves as director of strings area and string orchestra director at Kansas Wesleyan University. He also plays first violin in the Salina Symphony and Smoky Valley Chamber Orchestra. Previously, he served for three years as assistant concertmaster of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. Rosario was the recipient of the 2016 UNCG Burlington Industries music scholarship, UNCG full graduate assistantship, and Boston Conservatory full scholarship. He was the 2008 2nd prize winner of the International Chamber Music Competition of Chamber Music Foundation of New England. As a violinist, Rosario has recorded for labels such as EMI and Naxos. His international career has included performances in Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Venezuela and Uruguay, and with conductors such as Lorin Maazel, Kurt Mazur and Gustavo Dudamel. As a researcher, Rosario is committed to uncovering or rediscovering works for the violin by diverse composers, focusing most recently on the violin music of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

Adam Keller | Youth Wind Ensemble Conductor
Adam Keller was named conductor of the Salina Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble in 2022. He has been a music educator since his graduation from Wichita State University in 2008. Keller has enjoyed working with the Smoky Valley Public Schools since 2015. He proudly leads the band program in USD 400 teaching students in grades 5-12. The Smoky Valley Viking bands have consistently earned “Superior” ratings at KSHSAA music festivals and have featured numerous KMEA all-district, all-state and NAfME all-national musicians. Prior to his arrival in the Lindsborg community, Keller worked with music departments in the Wichita and Riley County Public Schools. Throughout his post secondary education, he was privileged to study with Dr. Mark Laycock, Dr. Victor Markovich, Mr. Jeff Pelischeck and Mr. Philip Black. His studies have offered him the opportunities to perform across the country and abroad, and with amazing musicians such as Allen Vizzutti, The Dallas Brass, Jason Whitmore and Wayne Bergeron.

Michael Harbaugh | Preparatory Orchestra Conductor
Michael Harbaugh has served as conductor of the Salina Youth Symphony Preparatory Orchestra since 2018. He was the instructor of orchestra at the Beloit Jr.-Sr. High School as well as orchestra and instrumental music at the Beloit Elementary School from 1977-2022. Harbaugh also is the conductor of the Beloit Community Orchestra, an organization he helped establish in 1980. Under his direction, the Beloit High School Orchestra was selected to perform at the Kansas Music Educators In-Service Workshop in 2005 and the Beloit Community Orchestra was selected to perform at the KMEA “President’s Concert” in 2012. Harbaugh has served on the executive board of the Kansas chapter of the American String Teacher’s Association since 1992, currently serving as treasurer. He also serves as chairman of the KASTA Middle Level State Orchestra, secretary for the Western Kansas Orchestra Festival Association and is an active member of the board and staging director of the Beloit Community Concert Association. He served as manager of the KSHSAA State Music Festival for large groups in Beloit. Previously, Harbaugh served as clinician and conductor for the High Plains Music Camp Middle Level Orchestra, Salina “Strings and Things,” KSU “String Fling,” Junior Division Concert Orchestra for the Midwestern Music Camp at the University of Kansas 2000-2006, and KMEA Southeast District Mass Orchestra. He was selected as the 1999 Teacher of the Year for the Beloit Public Schools USD 273 and received the Certificate of Merit Award from the Kansas Chapter of ASTA in 2000. Harbaugh was recognized as the 2001-2002 KMEA NW District Outstanding High School Music Educator at the District Mini-Convention at FHSU in 2001 and 2010. He was honored as a finalist for the KMEA State Music Teacher of the Year representing the NW District in 2011. Harbaugh was inducted into the Kansas Chapter of the American String Teacher’s Association String Teacher’s Hall of Fame in 2014, the highest award given by KASTA. Harbaugh graduated from Hays State University in 1977, where he studied viola with KMEA Hall of Fame Member Ed Moyers and orchestra with KMEA Hall of Fame Member Lyle Dilley. Harbaugh, a violist, has been an active member of the Hays Symphony Orchestra since 1973 and occasionally performs with the Salina Symphony. Michael and his wife, DeeAnn, have two children, Alex and Alison, and one grandchild, Knox.