Personnel
Matthew Keating | CYSO & PSE Music Director
Matthew Keating is the newly appointed Music Director of Claremont Youth Symphony Orchestra, taking over from Robert Sage, who retired in 2024 after 10 years as CYSO's Music Director. Mr. Keating has also been Music Director of Prelude Symphonic Ensemble since 2022.
Mr. Keating earned his Bachelor’s degree in orchestral studies with an emphasis in cello performance from CSUN in 2007 and then attended the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Trossingen in Germany, furthering his education in orchestral conducting and cello performance. He was accepted as a part-time cellist in the Honolulu Symphony and later served as a full-time director of the orchestra program at the Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii, working with over 500 students in eight different orchestras. Performing with the symphony, Mr. Keating toured the Hawaiian Islands, bringing live orchestral performances to unique, non-traditional public venues. He also helped create an elementary orchestra program in the local public school district and worked as an adjunct professor at Hawaii Pacific University.
In the spring of 2011, Mr. Keating and his wife Jessica welcomed Colette, their first daughter, and soon after decided to move back to California to raise a family. In 2015, they welcomed a second daughter, Clara. Mr. Keating began teaching cello at the Claremont Community School of Music (CCSM) in 2012 and became the Executive Director of CCSM in 2013, where he continues to pursue his passion for music education with students of all ages and backgrounds, working to preserve the arts for future generations.
Mr. Keating earned his Bachelor’s degree in orchestral studies with an emphasis in cello performance from CSUN in 2007 and then attended the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Trossingen in Germany, furthering his education in orchestral conducting and cello performance. He was accepted as a part-time cellist in the Honolulu Symphony and later served as a full-time director of the orchestra program at the Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii, working with over 500 students in eight different orchestras. Performing with the symphony, Mr. Keating toured the Hawaiian Islands, bringing live orchestral performances to unique, non-traditional public venues. He also helped create an elementary orchestra program in the local public school district and worked as an adjunct professor at Hawaii Pacific University.
In the spring of 2011, Mr. Keating and his wife Jessica welcomed Colette, their first daughter, and soon after decided to move back to California to raise a family. In 2015, they welcomed a second daughter, Clara. Mr. Keating began teaching cello at the Claremont Community School of Music (CCSM) in 2012 and became the Executive Director of CCSM in 2013, where he continues to pursue his passion for music education with students of all ages and backgrounds, working to preserve the arts for future generations.
Kristin Simpson | ES & DCS Music Director, CYSO & PSE Assistant Director
Kristin Simpson is a composer, orchestrator, and violinist serving as Music Director of Enharmonic Strings and Da Capo Strings, as well as Assistant Director of both the Claremont Youth Symphony Orchestra and Prelude Symphonic Ensemble. She has assisted with PSE since 2022.
Elementary school orchestra sparked Ms. Simpson’s fascination with the violin and music composition. She began teaching music as a high school student, forming an orchestra tutoring program that earned her the Girl Scout Gold Award. Ms. Simpson later received a Bachelor of Music in Commercial & Media Composition from California State University, Northridge, where she studied media composition and conducting with Elizabeth Sellers. She credits her development as a violinist and composer to participation in the Pomona College Orchestra, the CSUN Symphony, and UC Irvine’s chamber music ensembles.
Ms. Simpson orchestrates for major composers in the music industry and writes music for film and other audiovisual media. Most recently she conducted her original works, Soar and Flight Training, premiered by CYSO and PSE, respectively. Ms. Simpson is currently building a library of original music geared toward student orchestras and continues to prepare new music for CYSO, PSE, ES, and DCS to perform in future concerts.
Elementary school orchestra sparked Ms. Simpson’s fascination with the violin and music composition. She began teaching music as a high school student, forming an orchestra tutoring program that earned her the Girl Scout Gold Award. Ms. Simpson later received a Bachelor of Music in Commercial & Media Composition from California State University, Northridge, where she studied media composition and conducting with Elizabeth Sellers. She credits her development as a violinist and composer to participation in the Pomona College Orchestra, the CSUN Symphony, and UC Irvine’s chamber music ensembles.
Ms. Simpson orchestrates for major composers in the music industry and writes music for film and other audiovisual media. Most recently she conducted her original works, Soar and Flight Training, premiered by CYSO and PSE, respectively. Ms. Simpson is currently building a library of original music geared toward student orchestras and continues to prepare new music for CYSO, PSE, ES, and DCS to perform in future concerts.
History
The CYSO Orchestras are very grateful for its continued partnership with the Claremont Symphony Orchestra Association.
About Claremont Youth Symphony Orchestra
The Claremont Symphony Orchestra Association founded Claremont Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) in 1983 to provide an orchestral music experience for young people in Claremont and the surrounding cities. At the time, state-wide budget cuts were forcing schools to cut or reduce services, and programs in Music and Art were among the first to be negatively affected. The CSO Board conceived CYSO as both a supplement to school music programs and as a playing opportunity for students whose schools no longer offered orchestra classes.
CYSO is composed of approximately 60 students ranging from sixth grade through college. Current members represent 30 different schools (including home school) across 20 communities in the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange Counties. CYSO is open to students with a minimum of three years of musical experience. CYSO has been led since 2024 by Music Director Matthew Keating, assisted by Kristin Simpson.
About Prelude Symphonic Ensemble
Prelude Symphonic Ensemble (PSE) is a preparatory orchestra ensemble working in partnership with CYSO. Founded in 2014 by cellist and music educator Pat Kuenning as Prelude String Ensemble, PSE started as a preparatory group providing string students with essential ensemble experience needed to prepare them for placement in CYSO. In 2022 the group was expanded to become a full symphonic ensemble under the name Prelude Symphonic Ensemble. PSE is open to students with a minimum of one year of musical experience who would like to gain experience playing in a mixed ensemble, improve their sight-reading skills, and prepare for future placement with CYSO. PSE is composed of approximately 60 students and is led by Music Director Matthew Keating, assisted by Kristin Simpson.
About Enharmonic Strings
Enharmonic Strings (ES) was founded in 2024 by Matthew Keating. In the spirit of the original mission of PSE, ES is a strings-only ensemble offering a more intimate environment for students who play violin, viola, cello, and bass. In ES, students learn exciting string orchestra repertoire while expanding their musicianship and instrumental technique in an orchestral setting as they prepare to play in ensembles with full orchestra. ES is composed of approximately 30 students and is led by Music Director Kristin Simpson, assisted by CJ Donoho.
About Da Capo Strings
Da Capo Strings (DCS) was founded in 2025 by the Claremont Community School of Music. In alignment with the missions of all the other CYSO Orchestras, DCS empowers string students starting their musical journeys with the perfect environment for learning orchestral etiquette, exciting string orchestra repertoire, and string technique. DCS is led by Music Director Kristin Simpson.