Andrew Lane

Music Director, Symphonic Orchestra Conductor

As resident and principal pops conductor of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Maestro Lane conducts dozens of concerts each season in the Orlando area. His pops concerts have included Branford Marsalis, Deborah Gibson, Peter Schickele, Arturo Sandoval, Roy Scheider, Doc Severinsen and Broadway star Davis Gaines as well as many other renowned artists. In October of 2006, Mr. Lane conducted members of the Chicago Symphony featuring Greek tenor Mario Frangoulis at Orchestra Hall in Chicago. Mr. Lane has also been featured as conductor in 25 CD recordings produced by Madacy Entertainment Group of Quebec, Canada.

A dynamic and popular pops conductor, Maestro Lane has been named Pops Conductor of the Florida West Coast Symphony and has been a featured guest conductor with the Florida Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic, and San Antonio Symphony.

Mr. Lane has been a driving force in music education in Orlando since 1994. He launched the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra's Young People's concerts and conducts the Darden Family Concert Series, where his unique programming created a concert experience that awakens curiosity and awareness of orchestral music.

John Dupuis

Philharmonia Conductor

John Dupuis is currently Conductor for the Florida West Coast Symphony Youth Orchestra, Philharmonia Conductor for the Florida Symphony Youth Orhestra and Director of Bands at Howard Blake High School for the Performing Arts, where his ensembles have consistently received superior ratings. Mr. Dupuis received his Bachelor's degree in Music Education and Music Composition and his Masters of Conducting and Music Composition from the University of South Florida.

Mr. Dupuis' orchestral compositions have been commissioned and performed by various ensembles throughout the United States, including the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, the Florida Orchestra, the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Tampa Bay Youth Orchestra, the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, and many others. His band/orchestra compositions/arrangements have been performed by University of South Florida Wind Ensemble, and numerous high school concert and marching bands throughout Florida. His music has also been featured at Universal Studios 'Islands of Adventure'.

Elizabeth Hicklin

Prelude Orchestra Conductor

Elizabeth Napier Hicklin, alum of the program, is in her 7th season conducting for FSYO. Mrs Hicklin began her tenure as Overture Strings conductor and in 2003, the program expanded and the Prelude Orchestra was born.

Mrs Hicklin received her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Stetson University where she studied with Dr. Alvaro Gomez. While studying at Stetson, she was also co-concertmaster of the Stetson Orchestra, taught privately and assisted with the Stetson Youth Orchestra.

In 2000, Mrs Hicklin returned to Orlando for a teaching internship at Winter Park High School under Todd Doan and in the fall, she accepted the challenge of starting a new string program at Liberty Middle School in east Orange County. While teaching in the public school system, Mrs Hicklin was District chair of the Florida Orchestra Association, judged solo and ensemble competitions and ranked festivals throughout the state.

From August 2004 to 2006, Mrs Hicklin was the Education and Operations Manager for the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. Currently, she works as a pharmacy software trainer in her free time from FSYO.

Jessica Talbott

Overture Strings Conductor, Cello Choir Conductor

Jessica Talbott, a product of the Palm Coast Youth Symphony Orchestra in Ft. Myers, is a graduate of Florida State University where she majored in Music Education and Cello Performance. There she studied with Lubomir Georgieve and Michael Allen.

In 2003 Jessica started teaching beginning strings to 4th and 5th grade students in various elementary schools in Orange County. Currently she is teaching three levels of orchestra at Liberty Middle School. She has been teaching privately for the past 11 years and consistently has students in the All-County and All-State Orchestras.

Jessica is a past District 8 chair for Florida Orchestra Association, past President of the Florida Chapter of the American String Teachers Association, and department head for her school. She has served as All-County chair for Orange County and also judges FOA Music Performance Assessments.