Artistic Staff

J.D. Anderson
Conductor, American Youth Concert Orchestra

2011-2012 marks J. D. Anderson's eleventh season with the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras. A native of Vienna, Virginia, Mr. Anderson graduated from James Madison High School, where he performed under the baton of Carl J. Bianchi, conductor of the American Youth Symphonic Orchestra. While in high school, Mr. Anderson was a member of the Northern Virginia Youth Symphony Orchestra, the former name of the American Youth Philharmonic. Mr. Anderson received a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education from the University of Illinois and a Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership and Policy studies from Virginia Tech.  While at Illinois, Mr. Anderson was a member of the University's trombone Choir, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Symphony Orchestra.  There, he studied trombone performance with Dr. Robert Gray and conducting with Thomas Wisniewski, James Keene, and Daniel Kohut.

Mr. Anderson began his professional career teaching instrumental music in grades 5-12 in the Champaign, Illinois Unit #4 District Public Schools. Mr. Anderson returned to Virginia and served for 10 years as Music Department Chair and Director of Bands at Longfellow Middle School in Falls Church, Virginia. At Longfellow, Mr. Anderson built a band program that became recognized as one of the finest in the United States. During his tenure, the Longfellow Symphonic Band received “superior” ratings at every contest and festival in which it appeared and was invited to perform at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Virginia Music Educators Association Conference, and the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conference. Celebrating the lasting success of the Longfellow Symphonic Band, the John Philip Sousa Foundation presented Longfellow Middle School with the Sudler Silver Cup in 2000.  The Sudler Cup, established in 1985, is recognized as the highest honor a middle school band can receive. In the 25 years since the first Sudler Cup was awarded, only 40 bands have been selected for this honor.

Mr. Anderson has served on the Board of Directors for the National Band Association (NBA), the National Advisory Board for the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, and the education committee for the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Anderson has received numerous awards for his work including the NBA's "Citation of Excellence," Fairfax Symphony Education Award, Al and Winnie Hodgson Excellence in Teaching Award, and twice was selected as a finalist for the FCPS/Washington Post Agnes Meyer Teacher of the Year Award. Mr. Anderson was selected national co-winner of the American School Band Directors’ Association’s Distinguished Band Director Award and has been presented with the Diploma of the Sudler Order of Merit from the John Philip Sousa Foundation.

Photo by Steve Barrett