Bryce Rytting, Conductor
Bryce Rytting has been chosen to be the conductor of the Utah Valley Symphony since the 1998-99 season. Mr. Rytting has had a varied musical education, having earned degrees in music theory, conducting, and musicology. His first degree was a magna cum laude B.A. in music theory from the University of Utah. He then studied for a year at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England, where he studied conducting with Adrian Thorne. Following this, he was awarded a fellowship for three years of study at the Frankfurt Conservatory, where he earned a terminal degree (Künstlerichereife Prüfung) in conducting under Helmuth Rilling. He then completed a master's degree and Ph.D. in musicology at Princeton University. In 1986, Mr. Rytting interrupted his graduate work at Princeton to join the faculty of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. In 1989, he took his present position on the musicology faculty at Brigham Young University, where--for three years in a row--he was named the music department's Outstanding Teacher of the Year. Earlier this year he was named Brigham Young University professor of the month. Mr. Rytting has served as music director of Pro Musica (a choir based in Salt Lake), conductor of the Park City International Music Festival orchestra, guest conductor of the Salt Lake Symphony, and conductor of opera, choir, and orchestras at Brigham Young University. His wife, Lysa, is a professional harpist. The Ryttings have three children.