Our Directors
Lainie Roper - Conductor
Lainie Roper is our new conductor for the 2023 - 2024 season. She served as an assistant director of TIYO in Spring 2023. Lainie also serves as one of the Orchestra Teachers at Washington Local Schools. She is an alumnus of the Toledo International Youth Orchestra where she played trombone. As a former member, she performed in community service and collaborative concerts, including holiday concerts at Marion Correctional Institution, and exchange concerts with the Guelph Youth Symphony Orchestra in Guelph, Ontario. She graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelors in Music Education from the College of Musical Arts. She plans to continue teaching in the Northwest Ohio area as well as perform in the community with groups such as the Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra.
Lainie Roper is our new conductor for the 2023 - 2024 season. She served as an assistant director of TIYO in Spring 2023. Lainie also serves as one of the Orchestra Teachers at Washington Local Schools. She is an alumnus of the Toledo International Youth Orchestra where she played trombone. As a former member, she performed in community service and collaborative concerts, including holiday concerts at Marion Correctional Institution, and exchange concerts with the Guelph Youth Symphony Orchestra in Guelph, Ontario. She graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelors in Music Education from the College of Musical Arts. She plans to continue teaching in the Northwest Ohio area as well as perform in the community with groups such as the Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra.
Jay Welenc - Conductor Emeritus
Jay Welenc served as Conductor of the Toledo International Youth
Orchestra from 2013-2023, expanding the ensemble from strings to full
orchestra, and conducting a range of feature performances- including
international tours- with visits to Canada, Ecuador, Ireland, Serbia,
Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria.
Mr. Welenc has long served as a school music educator and arts advocate,
having led school Concert Band, Marching Band, Orchestra, Jazz
Ensemble, and Choir programs from elementary through undergraduate
studies. Ensembles under his direction earned numerous festival awards for excellence, performed across much of the U.S., and enjoyed acclaim from international audiences.
Mr. Welenc has been honored for his work, including selection as Ohio State Board of Education District 2 Teacher of the Year, and as a Buckeye Community Arts Network Classroom Hero. In appreciation for his work with TIYO student musicians, Mr. Welenc was recognized by the Szeged, Hungary City Council for furthering the Toledo Sister City relationship through music, and was honored as a Maestro by the FOSJE Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ecuador. In addition, Mr. Welenc was recognized by the Mansfield (Ohio) City Schools for his work leading the high school Band program. Mr. Welenc holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Quincy University and a Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of
Iowa.
Jay Welenc served as Conductor of the Toledo International Youth
Orchestra from 2013-2023, expanding the ensemble from strings to full
orchestra, and conducting a range of feature performances- including
international tours- with visits to Canada, Ecuador, Ireland, Serbia,
Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria.
Mr. Welenc has long served as a school music educator and arts advocate,
having led school Concert Band, Marching Band, Orchestra, Jazz
Ensemble, and Choir programs from elementary through undergraduate
studies. Ensembles under his direction earned numerous festival awards for excellence, performed across much of the U.S., and enjoyed acclaim from international audiences.
Mr. Welenc has been honored for his work, including selection as Ohio State Board of Education District 2 Teacher of the Year, and as a Buckeye Community Arts Network Classroom Hero. In appreciation for his work with TIYO student musicians, Mr. Welenc was recognized by the Szeged, Hungary City Council for furthering the Toledo Sister City relationship through music, and was honored as a Maestro by the FOSJE Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ecuador. In addition, Mr. Welenc was recognized by the Mansfield (Ohio) City Schools for his work leading the high school Band program. Mr. Welenc holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Quincy University and a Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of
Iowa.