The Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras are excited to announce two guest Symphony Conductors for the 2026-2027 season: Jacob Kaminski and Dr. Sara Parkinson.

Jacob Kaminski will conduct the fall semester. Jacob is the director of CU Boulder’s Campus Orchestra, the ensemble lead at El Sistema Colorado, and string coach and assistant conductor for Denver Young Artists Orchestra. He also has worked as a guest clinician in the Boulder Valley School District and served as the music director for the 2026 Pikes Peak Honors Orchestra in Colorado Springs. Jacob holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Baldwin Wallace Conservatory in Double Bass Performance, a Master’s Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Colorado Boulder, and is pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Orchestral Conducting and Literature from CU.

Dr. Sara Parkinson will conduct the spring semester. She has devoted more than 25 years to music education, performance, and arts leadership, establishing herself as a respected and dynamic presence in Colorado’s musical community. Dr. Parkinson is Assistant Conductor of the Jefferson Symphony Orchestra and has led performances with Boulder Opera, Flatirons Community Orchestra, St. Aidan's Choir, Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, and PlainsSong Symphony Orchestra. She served as Executive Director of the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra from 2020–2023, following a season as Director of Education and Community Engagement, and most recently served as Executive Director of the Longmont Symphony Orchestra. As a pianist, Sara has performed since 2012 as a soloist and orchestral pianist with the Colorado Ballet Orchestra and as a touring artist for Central City Opera. She holds degrees in piano performance from the University of Iowa (BM) and the New England Conservatory (MM), as well as a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Read more about our guest conductors and the GBYO artistic team.