 JOHN W. STRICKLER, MUSIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR The 2001-2002 season marks the 3rd season with the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra for Dr. John Wesley Strickler. The Symphony has achieved a high degree of public awareness and positive accolades under his direction. The press has called his performances "inspired" and "superb." Strickler is spoken of as a "true master at programming," putting forth performances that contain a "judicious balance of the familiar and the progressive." Maestro Strickler received his Doctorate in Music Theory and his Master of Music in Conducting from the University of Southern California. He had also studied at the University of Wisconsin, his home state. He studied with Daniel Lewis, H. Robert Reynolds, Jon Robertson, and at the Blomstedt Institute. He participated in master classes with Leonard Slatkin, Jorge Mester, Joseph Gifford, and Kenneth Kiesler. Conducting positions included the Long Beach Community Orchestra, the Coterie Symphonique, the San Gabriel Valley Junior Symphony, and the USC Symphony and Community Orchestra, all in California. He has guest conducted in Wisconsin, Kansas, Mississippi, and Alaska. Dr. Strickler has served on the faculties of universities in Wisconsin, California, and Kansas. He currently serves as Music Director and Conductor of the Topeka Symphony, in Topeka Kansas.
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