SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Alejos Anaya is honored to direct the LYO Symphony Orchestra, as a former LYO student himself. Mr. Anaya is a proud alumnus of Texas Tech University, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in cello performance in 2003. He has teaching experience with both middle school and high school students, having taught at Covington Middle School in Austin, TX for 5 years and teaching at Lubbock High, his high school alma mater, for over a decade.

Mr. Anaya has had the pleasure of serving as both a clinician and conductor multiple times in both Texas and Alaska. He is an active cellist, performing with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, Big Spring Orchestra, the Lubbock Moonlight Musicals, and many other orchestras in the region.

PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Dr. Joshua Allen proudly serves as the director of the LYO Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been the Director of Orchestras at Talkington School for Young Women Leaders since 2009, teaching middle and high school orchestra. Dr. Allen received his DMA in Music Education from Boston University in 2020, a Master’s Degree in Music Composition from Texas Tech University in 2011, and a Bachelor’s of Music Education from Wayland Baptist University in 2009. 

Dr. Allen is an award-winning educator. Although his primary instrument is alto saxophone, Dr. Allen is a self-taught violinist and violist who plays viola in several orchestras in the surrounding area. An aspiring composer, his published original works and arrangements have been performed by his orchestras and performers across the country.

PRELUDE STRING ORCHESTRA

Natalie Gschwend is a proud Lubbock native, born and raised here. She is thrilled to return to her roots with the Lubbock Youth Orchestras, where she played violin as a young musician.

Mrs. Gschwend is an alumna of Texas Tech University, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 2021. She has taught Elementary Music, Orchestra, and Mariachi in Lubbock ISD. She is currently the Orchestra Director at Heritage Middle School and Terra Vista Middle School in Frenship ISD.

WIND ENSEMBLE

Andrea Martinez is excited to serve as the director of the Wind Ensemble. Ms. Martinez is the Director of Bands at Hutchinson Middle School where she has taught for over a decade, after her first year of teaching at Lincoln Middle School in San Angelo.

Born and raised in Garland, TX, Ms. Martinez first moved to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech and graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor’s of Music. Her primary instrument is horn and she has been a member of the Lubbock Civic Orchestra since 2018. She is also an active performer on percussion and drum set with community groups such as Moonlight Musicals, Lubbock Community Theatre, and TTU Theatre.

TANGO STRINGS ENSEMBLE

Charles Olivier is thrilled to direct the Tango Strings Ensemble, the newest addition to LYO starting in Fall 2026. As an accomplished educator and performer, Mr. Olivier has captivated audiences across the United States and Canada, dedicated to sharing the rich traditions of tango and orchestral music in both concert halls and classrooms. His passion for music extends to his community in West Texas, where he serves as a board member and bassist for the Lubbock Civic Orchestra, as well as performing as a bandoneonista with various professional and university orchestras.
​Since 2019, Charles has specialized in the repair of orchestral string instruments and the bandoneon, honing his craft as a luthier. As an educator, he deeply understands the transformative impact that a well-maintained instrument can have on a student’s musical journey, ensuring that each instrument he works on is tailored to bring out the best in its player.