Personnel
Dr. Robert Sage, CYSO Music Director
Robert Sage has been Music Director of CYSO since 2014. He is also Music Director of the Claremont Symphony Orchestra and has performed a substantial portion of the symphonic and piano concerto literature with them. Dr. Sage received his Master's and Doctoral degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Southern California.
David Van Brunt, CYSO Executive Director
David Van Brunt & his wife Georgina have been real estate investors and property managers since 2001. Mr. Van Brunt has been in the swimming pool industry for the past 34 years. He is a business consultant in the swimming pool industry, with over 300 clients, and is the President of Van Brunt Business Consulting Group, INC. Mr. Van Brunt is the creator of the #1 swimming pool channel on YouTube, with over 112,000 subscribers and over 57 million video views. He is the host of the #1 industry podcast, the “Pool Guy Podcast Show,” with over 1.2 million downloads and over 1,000 episodes. Mr. and Mrs. Van Brunt's son Caleb is a cellist with CYSO. The Van Brunts are also the official photographers and videographers for CYSO and PSE.
Matthew Keating, PSE Director
Matthew Keating is Director of Prelude Symphonic Ensemble. He 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. Following graduation, Mr. Keating was accepted as a part-time cellist in the Honolulu Symphony. He also 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 Honolulu symphony, Mr. Keating toured the various Hawaiian Islands working with the community and bringing live orchestral performances to unique, non-traditional public venues. During his time in Hawaii, Mr. Keating also assisted in creating 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, Matthew 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.
In the spring of 2011, Matthew 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.
About CYSO
The Claremont Symphony Orchestra Association founded 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 50 students ranging in age from sixth through 12th grade. Current members represent 30 different schools (including home school) across 20 communities in the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange Counties.
CYSO performs two free concerts annually in Bridges Hall of Music on the campus of Pomona College in Claremont, California. The orchestra is led by Music Director Robert Sage and managed by Executive Director David Van Brunt.
CYSO is composed of approximately 50 students ranging in age from sixth through 12th grade. Current members represent 30 different schools (including home school) across 20 communities in the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange Counties.
CYSO performs two free concerts annually in Bridges Hall of Music on the campus of Pomona College in Claremont, California. The orchestra is led by Music Director Robert Sage and managed by Executive Director David Van Brunt.
About PSE
Prelude Symphonic Ensemble (PSE) is a preparatory orchestra ensemble working in partnership with CYSO. Established in 2014 as Prelude String Ensemble - and as of 2022 now open to other instruments - PSE is for 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 50 students.
Since its founding as a string group, PSE has seen a number of its members “graduate” to CYSO.
Since its founding as a string group, PSE has seen a number of its members “graduate” to CYSO.