Meet the Staff
Meet the Staff
Rebecca Pantano
Conductor, Alton Youth Symphony
Rebecca Pantano has been at Parkway West Middle for 27 years, where she has directed choirs and orchestras, leading them consistently to top honors. Rebecca has conducted the St. Louis Suburban 6th Grade Orchestra, served as SLSMEA Orchestra VP, and as Fine Arts Chair for over 20 years.
In 2023- 2024, she co-directed Credo St. Louis, which develops young musicians musically, personally, and spiritually, to lead lives of music and service.
Rebecca is an active adjudicator and has maintained a successful private studio for over 27 years, where her students have earned top ratings and placed in orchestras such as SLSYO, Missouri All State, and YPSO. Many continue to enjoy music in their lives.
Rebecca lives in Webster Groves with her husband and her children, Isabella and Gianni.
Marie Brown
Conductor, Junior Youth Symphony
Marie Brown is an active cellist within the St. Louis area. Her studies started at the age of nine in Alton, Illinois under the teachings of Larry Crabbs, Victoria Voumard, Kim Shelley and Laura Plummer. Through part of middle school and all of her high school career, Ms. Brown studied privately under the direction of Mrs. Fariga Drayton- Conway. Ms. Brown graduated in 2015 with two bachelor’s degrees in Music Education and Music Performance at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, studying under Marta Simidtchieva, Michael Mishra and Lenora Anop. She has been on the faculty with Edwardsville School district and worked for Parkway Schools. Marie also has a large private studio that spans the Greater St. Louis area as well as teaching for Halpin Music Company. She is a member of the Landolfi string quartet, the Keough String quartet and a founding member of the Eads String Quartet. Ms. Brown has collaborated with several theater companies in the area including, Act Two Theater Co, Vivre, Curtains Up, Take Two Productions, and many others. Marie serves as principal cellist for Forte Chamber Orchestra St. Louis. Currently Ms. Brown teaches 5th grade Orchestra for Kirkwood School District, and is the vice president of the organization MIMAC, a non-profit that provides a platform for emerging and established musicians in the area. At present, Marie is working on the completion of her Book 3 Suzuki certification. As well as being a board member, Ms. Brown is the current cello sectional coach for the Alton Junior Youth Symphony and the Alton Youth Symphony. Previously, Marie was the guest conductor for the Alton Junior Symphony. She is delighted to be reprising her role for this spring 2022 season.
Ann Geiler
Director, Chamber Ensemble
Ann Geiler earned her BME from Lindenwood University and her MME from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She was public school string teacher who taught strings from grades 4 through Jr. College for 30 years and retired in 2017. Ann has been active in professional music organizations throughout Missouri and the US, which promote music education. She remains active in promoting string education in her retirement and is currently on the Adjudicator Committee for the Missouri State High School Activities Association. Ms. Geiler is Past-President of the Missouri Chapter of the American String Teachers Association and has been MMEA Orchestra Vice-President, has coordinated the Missouri All-Collegiate and High School Orchestras, been a member of the Mo-ASTA board, and served as Middle School Orchestra Vice-President, treasurer, and President of the St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association. Ann is a trained adjudicator for the Solo & Small Ensemble and Large Group Festivals and travels throughout the state evaluating and encouraging string students. Ms. Geiler is a professional cellist who plays in Quartet Brioso as well as various orchestras in Missouri and Illinois. She has received numerous awards for her work in Music Education. Ann is a member of Mu Phi Epsilon Professional Music Fraternity. She is the 3rd Vice-President Alumni Advisor, president of the St. Louis Alumni Chapter, and the Final Notes Contributor for The Triangle the official magazine of Mu Phi Epsilon.
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Abigail Knoche
Conductor, Riverbend Community Orchestra.
Abigail Knoche is an alumn of the Alton Youth Symphony and was the founding cellist of the Alton Youth Symphony Chamber Group. Mrs. Knoche attended Illinois State University, where she earned her bachelor’s in Music Education and the University of Illinois, Springfield where she earned her masters in Educational Leadership. Abigail is a cellist who has studied under Mr. Larry Crabbs, Dr. Marta Simidtchieva, and Dr. Adriana Ransom. Abigail teaches private lessons on cello and bass and plays handbells with the Upper Alton Christian Handbell Ensemble. She currently teaches orchestra in the Alton Public School District having previously taught in the Ritenour School District and Hazelwood School District.
Jessica Poddig
Manager, All Ensembles
Jessica Poddig is a musician of the greater St. Louis area. She has been the manager with AYS since Summer 2019.
Jessica attended Lindenwood University for Music Performance on French Horn. She has taught private lessons in the St. Louis area for over 7 years on French Horn, Trumpet, Alto and Tenor Saxophone, and Flute. At Lindenwood, she was a part of the Horn Club, Brass Ensemble, Orchestra, Concert and Marching Band, and Flute Choir.
Over the years of being a musician, she has taken part in several local musical productions such as Jekyll & Hyde, Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Into the Woods, and more. Currently, Jessica is the President of the Alton Symphony Orchestra since 2021. She has taken part in helping found the ASO Music For All Scholarship (which funds private lessons for students in financial need).
Jessica currently lives in St. Louis, where works as a teacher’s assistant with the Special School District of St. Louis. She also plays French Horn with the Alton Symphony Orchestra.
The Alton Youth Symphony’s continued success would not be possible without the generous support of parents, community members, and local businesses. Click Here if you would like to partner with the Alton Youth Symphony through a donation.
