Brian Ostrega has been teaching with the Suburban Youth Symphony Orchestra since 2021
and is thrilled to continue his work with SYSO as its new Music Director.

 

Mr. Ostrega began his musical studies playing violin when he was five years old. His first orchestra experience was through the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras (CYSO), playing with them from grammar school through high school, under the private instruction and tutelage of Terrance Gray. From his involvement with CYSO, he decided to further his musical studies in college. After graduating from University of Illinois (B.M. ’13) and graduating from Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of the Performing Arts (M.M. ’15) with degrees in Violin
Performance, he won performing positions with Civic Orchestra of Chicago, followed by first violin seats with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra (PSO) and Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) where he regularly performs.

 

In addition to a thriving orchestral career, Mr. Ostrega, together with pianist Stephen Uhl, formed Ostrega Uhl Project, an ensemble dedicated to playing chamber music featuring local professional artists to educate and entertain audiences. He also takes great enjoyment in his administrative role as IPO’s Orchestra Librarian. Mr. Ostrega formally began teaching private lessons in 2017 and since then has grown successful violin studios at Beverly Arts Center, Blue Island Music, and Trinity Christian College.

 

As its previous Assistant Director, SYSO provided Mr. Ostrega a unique venture incorporating his group beginner violin lessons into the Glenwood School District and to Crete-Monee Middle School. This has been done in a collective effort by arts organizations and academic institutions to revitalize string education in the south suburbs.

 

As Music Director of SYSO, Mr. Ostrega strives to give a well rounded music education to all students. This includes providing beginners a musical foundation on which to grow through the Incredible Opportunity Program, introduce intermediate level students to basic conducting elements and ensemble playing in the Junior Orchestra, and strengthen students’ technical abilities and musical interpretation through its primary ensemble, Suburban Youth Symphony
Orchestra.

 

With his leadership, Mr. Ostrega envisions the Suburban Youth Symphony Orchestra to provide anenjoyable learning experience for its aspiring young professionals. He is honored to lead all music ensembles as SYSO’s Music Director.

 

In addition to performing, Mr. Ostrega is Orchestra Librarian for IPO and enjoys teaching a growing studio of students of all ages at Blue Island Music in Blue Island, IL. Mr. Ostrega is thrilled to begin teaching and inspiring students this year through SYSO.