Our Conductors
Dr. ghyas zeidieh - artistic director and philharmonic orchestra conductor
Syrian conductor and cellist, Dr. Ghyas Zeidieh is an active musician and educator based in Utah. Currently, Dr. Zeidieh serves as the Mount Logan Symphony and Cache Youth Orchestras Artistic Director, Cache Symphony Orchestra Associate Conductor as well as the Northern Utah Youth Chamber Orchestra conductor. He is also a string faculty member at Utah State University. A winner of the Max Bruch Conducting Competition, the UK International Music Conducting and Choir/ Ensemble Competition, the 2024 European Autumn Music Conducting Competition, and the Universal Stars Music Conducting Competition, he has served as the Assistant Professor of Orchestral Studies at Coe College and as the Music Director at the Cedar Rapids Community Orchestra (IA). Zeidieh earned his Doctor of Musical Arts and master’s degree from the University of Iowa, and has degrees in Music and Dentistry from the Damascus Conservatory and University.
A passionate educator for all ages, Zeidieh has served as Instructor of Cello at Western Illinois University and was a member of the faculty Julstrom String Quartet. He has completed training in the Suzuki Association method in addition to teaching Orchestra in the Iowa City (IA) Community School District. Zeidieh is the former Program Coordinator at the Harmony School of Music, an El Sistema program in Iowa, and has also served as the Music Director for the Dubuque (IA) Symphony Youth String Ensemble and Philharmonia from 2019-2022. An active orchestral musician, Ghyas has played with many orchestras in the Middle East, including the National Syrian Orchestra, Syrian Philharmonic Orchestra, the Arab Youth Orchestra, and the Euro-Med Orchestra, can be heard on several Syrian film scores, and is a member of the Dubuque Symphony cello section. He has performed with numerous American ensembles including the National Geographic Midwestern Tour (MN and IL), Revival Theater Company (IA), Theater Cedar Rapids, Quincy Symphony (IL), and the Dirt Road Ensemble (NH). Since 2010, he has been involved with the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music in NH, serving as a Playing for Peace participant, counselor, and camp director.
Ms. Rachel wheeler - Crescendo orchestra
Rachel Wheeler started playing violin at age four in the Suzuki program. During middle school, she started taking fiddle lessons from Jim Shupe and her family started a family blue grass band. Throughout her high school years, Rachel travelled to Europe on tour with her band accompanying folk dancers as they performed in folk dance festivals. She also performed and travelled with the Utah Valley Youth Symphony. Wheeler has performed in San Francisco, Hawaii, New York, Portland, France, Spain, Portugal, London, Italy and Sicily with various groups and loves being on stage and making music with friends to share with others.
After getting married, Rachel taught Orchestra, Folk music, Fiddle, Guitar and General Music at Roosevelt Junior High School in Roosevelt Utah for 16 years, 2000-2016. In 2016, the Wheeler family moved to Logan Utah, where Rachel taught for the Mountain West String Academy elementary program for one year. She currently teaches at Logan High School directing four different orchestras and the pit orchestra for the high school musicals. Rachel loves teaching music and has a passion for working with students and sharing that love of music.
While teaching in the public schools, Wheeler maintains a private studio and continues to perform as a violinist, violist, and bassist when time and opportunity allow. She performed with the Utah Symphony in the PRO-AM concert (March 2013), supported and conducted the Roosevelt Pops Orchestra (2005-2015), and performed in various recitals. Wheeler served as secretary of the Utah American String Teachers Association board for 7 years. She has been an active member of the Cache Symphony Orchestra since moving to Logan in 2016. Wheeler also performs in the pit orchestra at the Eccles Theater in various productions and with The American Festival Orchestra and Chorus. Playing her instrument brings her a lot of joy and sharing music with others is the best!
In 2008 the Utah ASTA chapter named her the “Secondary Music Teacher of the Year.” In 2009 she was awarded the “Superior Accomplishment” award from Utah Music Educators Association and given the Utah Governors award for “Leadership in the Arts.” In 2015, Wheeler was awarded the “Sorensen Legacy Award for Excellence in Arts Education.”
Her school orchestras have performed in California at festivals, at the Utah Music Educators annual Conference in St. George, Abravanel Hall at the National ASTA Festival and in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square in Salt Lake City.
Rachel Wheeler received an Associate of Science degree from Ricks College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Utah State University and a Master’s degree in Music Education from BYU.
Rachel is married to Greg Wheeler, a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Utah State University. Together, they have four children and reside in Logan, Utah.