Michelle Basile, WYO Music Director and Symphony Orchestra Conductor Michelle Basile, as well as being WYO's Music Director and Conductor of our Symphony Orchestra, is currently the Director of Orchestras at the Appomattox Regional Governor's School for the Arts and Technology in Petersburg, Virginia. She received her musical training at Indiana University and the Hartt school of Music, and studied throughout Italy. She led the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra for three concert seasons. She is a former faculty member of the Conductors' Institute at Bard College where she taught conducting and led workshops in energy awareness and peak performance. Ms. Basile has worked with students and professionals throughout the United States and Europe. Her focus and strengths are combining the physical, mental and spiritual awareness with performance. Ms. Basile has been described as "an inspirational, talented, and unique musician who creates a musical learning experience like none other."   The Williamsburg Youth Orchestra is partially funded by a grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.