DOUGLAS BAYDA, Director, Akron Youth Philharmonic

Douglas Bayda has been the conductor of the Greater Akron Youth Philharmonic since 2012.  A native of Canton, Ohio, Mr. Bayda graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education where he served as principal clarinet for both the orchestra, under the direction of Robert Spano and Grzegorz Nowak, and the Symphonic Band, under the direction of Mark S. Kelly.  He also earned a Master of Music in Wind Instrument Performance from The University of Michigan where he studied with Fred Ormand as a fellowship student performing in both the Symphonic Band and the orchestras.  

Currently, Mr. Bayda is the Director of Orchestras at Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts in Akron.  In 2013, he was awarded Teacher of the Year for Miller South and was a finalist for the Secondary Division Teacher of the Year for the Akron Public Schools.  Before returning to Northeast Ohio, Doug taught both band and orchestra for the Princeton City Schools in Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as schools in Kentucky and Michigan.  An active member of the Ohio Music Education Association, Mr. Bayda serves as an adjudicator and chaired the 2015 All-State Orchestra.  In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Doug tries to find opportunities to perform as a woodwind doubler in various productions throughout the area.  He and his wife, Beth, reside in Medina and have three grown children.