San Diego Young Artists Symphony Louis Campiglia, Founding Director   San Diego Young Artists Symphony: Artistic Director, 1995-2004 San Diego Youth Symphony: Music Director, 1965-1993     In the year 1995, Maestro Louis Campiglia formed the San Diego Young Artist Symphony Orchestra to offer young dedicated musicians an opportunity for artistic and personal growth. His classical training program fortified music education from early entry to an advanced conservatory level. In addition to the accomplished Young Artists orchestra is the Fiddle ‘n’ Bow ensemble serving elementary string musicians conducted by Mary Gerard. This beginning stage was designed to introduce basic music elements together with responsibility and an enhanced concentration—all required for performance. Given time and maturity, Fiddle ‘n’ Bow musicians graduate to the Young Artists orchestra. With City, State and Education's diminished offerings to the Arts, Campiglia's vision for music continues to serve San Diego's community with a masterful plan.     The YAS was developed as an independent nonprofit organization with its own board of directors and parent auxiliary. May 2004, Campiglia announced his resignation, introducing Matthew Garbutt as Music Director. In honor of Campiglia's distinguished tenure, the board of directors established the existing Concertmaster's Chair to that of The Louis Campiglia Founder's Chair.     Campiglia began his musical career as a trumpeter and studied under Harry Glantz, principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic and NBC Symphony Orchestra; Harold Mitchell of MGM Studios in Hollywood; and Robert Duvall of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Serving with the Navy 1951-1955 brought him to San Diego where he earned his master's degree in music performance at San Diego State College. He played professionally with the San Diego Symphony, the Starlight Theatre Orchestra and the San Diego Opera. He turned to conducting with mentors Ingolf Dahl, composer-conductor at the University of Southern California, and Richard Lert, conductor of the Berlin State Opera. He attended the International Course for Conductors at Monte Carlo, studying under Igor Markevitch and Herbert Blomstedt. At that time he conducted the National Opera Orchestra of Monte Carlo where he received the High Achievement Award from Prince Rainier.     Campiglia served five years as resident conductor for American Youth Performs, a program sponsored by American Airlines. He assisted with the formation of youth symphonies in San Antonio, El Paso, Detroit and Chicago, cities the airline serviced—cities that had never experienced the wonders and possibilities of a youth orchestra. He was also invited to guest conduct existing national youth symphonies within American Airlines' destinations. As part of American Youth Performs, Campiglia annually auditioned musicians from various youth orchestras and prepared them for concert tours. These orchestras performed at the Kennedy Music Center, Carnegie Hall, and Washington D.C.'s Constitution Hall, where Campiglia shared the podium with eminent conductors Leopold Stokowski, Morton Gould, Carmen Dragon, and Walter Susskind. American Airlines received the prestigious Business Achievement Award on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange for its sponsorship to American Youth Performs, and for its national contribution towards our youths' music education and cultural achievements.     Louis Campiglia had a long association with ballet. While music director of the San Diego Ballet Company, his tenure included world premieres of works by Eugene Loring and Richard Carter. He also conducted for California Ballet, La Jolla Festival Ballet, and City Ballet in San Diego.     Campiglia was music director and conductor of the San Diego Youth Symphony, expanding its repertoire and building that orchestra to international stature over a twenty-eight-year period. In 1995, he founded the San Diego Young Artists Symphony.     Throughout his career, Campiglia enjoyed countless successes. He conducted twelve young artist international tours, performing concerts in nineteen countries. His concert tour to China was the first cultural telecast via satellite from China to the United States. Another highlight occurred when his young musicians opened the world-famous Edinburgh Festival at St. Giles Cathedral by invitation of the Lord Provost of Edinburgh.     Maestro Campiglia's passion for music direction was best expressed in this comment: "Working with this wonderful group of musicians (YAS) gives me the chance to share with them how music in its wisdom can govern the way a person lives. Learning to strive for uncompromising standards in music can make them discriminating in everything they do." A number of his former orchestra students became professional orchestral musicians performing with the San Diego Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Atlanta Symphony, Utah Symphony, and the Duisburg Symphony.     Campiglia performed as a guest conductor of professional orchestras as well as an adjudicator at international music festivals.