Our people

Robert Turizziani

YOUTH ORCHESTRA

In addition to his work with the West Virginia Youth Orchestra, Mr. Turizziani founded and led the Seneca Chamber Orchestra and is currently the Music Director of both the Chicago Chamber Orchestra and the River Cities Symphony. He is the principal clarinet of the West Virginia Symphony and graduated from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music with a degree in clarinet performance. He has performed with the orchestras of Cincinnati, Columbus, Louisville, as well as the Cincinnati Pops and Opera. Under his direction, the West Virginia Youth Orchestra has made four international tours, Prague and Central Europe (2000), Italy and Austria (2006), and Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria (2012) and Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic (2017). Mr. Turizziani teaches at West Virginia Wesleyan College and West Virginia State University.

Ian Jessee

YOUTH STRINGS

Ian Jessee, an Ohio native, came to West Virginia to participate in the West Virginia Symphony Artist-in Residence program as a string instructor for the Kanawha County Schools. Mr. Jessee earned a bachelor’s degree in violin performance from Ohio State University. He performs with the West Virginia Symphony, Ohio Valley Symphony, and is concertmaster of the River Cities Symphony Orchestra. He spends summers in Austria as a violinist in the Classical Music Festival, playing in the Kismarton Quartet. He has participated in the New Hampshire Music Festival, and the Bach and Beyond Baroque Music Festival (Fredonia, NY). In 2007 and 2008, Mr. Jessee served on the faculty of the International Music Festival Akademi Datça in Turkey.

As an educator, Mr. Jessee’s public school programs have consistently received superior ratings and highest honors in regional and state competitions, and in 2011 placed 1st in the prestigious National Orchestra Festival, part of the American String Teachers Association Conference. He served from 2006-2008 as president of the West Virginia Chapter of ASTA, and currently serves as state chapter president of National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) organizing competitions and festivals . He is also a member of the Music Educators National Conference, the Ohio Music Education Association, the Conductors’ Guild, and the West Virginia Music Teachers’ Association.

Gabrielle Palfi

CADET STRINGS

Gabrielle Palfi is a cellist currently residing in Charleston, West Virginia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in cello performance from West Virginia University where she studied with Dr. Erin Ellis and a masters degree from University of Delaware where she studied with Dr. Lawrence Stomberg. Gabrielle currently works for the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra as an Artist in Residence for music education and has a growing cello studio.

Bobby Jenks

YOUTH WINDS

Bobby Jenks – Mr. William Robert (“Bobby”) Jenks is a native of McDowell County, West Virginia where he graduated from Iaeger High School. He is a graduate of Concord University with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education for grades K-12. While at Concord, Mr. Jenks studied trombone and jazz from Mr. Randy Budd. He received his Master of Arts in Music (trombone performance), from Marshall University, and studied with Dr. Michael Stroeher. He has taught in North Carolina, Virginia, and has spent most of his teaching career in West Virginia.

His Concert Bands and Jazz Ensembles have received numerous Superior Ratings both regionally and nationally. His marching bands, including The Pride of Capital High, won several Grand Championships. Mr. Jenks’ students have been members of the West Virginia All-State Band, as well as All-County, performed for Solo and Ensemble (WVMEA Solo and Ensemble), WV Youth Symphony, National Youth Symphony Orchestra, and many other additional activities.

He is a member of the National Association for Music Education and the International Trombone Association. Mr. Jenks is an active member of the Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity (President – Phi Mu Chapter) and coordinates the band director clinic for WV band directors sponsored by (WV Bandmasters Association and Phi Beta Mu). He has been very active with the West Virginia Bandmasters Association, having served as the Secretary/Treasurer, as well as the Region 4 Band Festival Chair. He is currently serving as the graded music list chair, site host for the WV All-State Band auditions, as well as Region 4 Band Representative for the WV Bandmasters Association, and is the Immediate Past President for the WVMEA Conference.

Bobby plays trombone in The Brass 5, Lead Trombone (and personnel director) for The Jewel City Jazz Orchestra, and is a substitute trombonist for the River Cities Orchestra, Huntington Symphony Orchestra, as well as a substitute for the Laundau Murphy, Jr. Band. He leads the Christ Church Brass and is a member of the Chancel Choir and Chancel Ringers at Christ Church United Methodist. He sings tenor with the West Virginia “Opus Chorale”. Mr. Jenks is a wrestling official through the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission in the Kanawha Southern Board, and previously coached wrestling for several years. He and his wife Emily, along with their twins, reside in Hurricane. Mr. Jenks is in his 26th year as a music educator. He currently instrumental music / band director at George Washington High School.

Natalie Wehrle

GENERAL MANAGER

Natalie performed as a clarinetist with the West Virginia Youth Symphony from 1996-2000. She was the winner of the 1998 concerto competition and performed as a soloist during the orchestra’s first European tour in 2000. Natalie is a graduate of WVU, where she obtained a Bachelor of Music degree for clarinet performance and studied piano technology. Her education in piano technology also includes studies with Steinway and Sons in New York. She currently resides in Charleston and has served as piano technician for the Clay Center, Culture Center, Kanawha County Schools, West Virginia State University, Marshall University, the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the Light Opera Guild, numerous churches and private clients throughout the tristate region.