Bio

Bruce Walker is an Associate Professor of Music at Columbia Basin College in
Pasco, WA, Music Director for the Walla Walla Symphony Youth Orchestra, Past
President of the Washington chapter for the American String Teachers Association, on
the Board of Directors for the Suzuki Association of the Americas, College/University
representative for the Washington Music Educators Association, and the 2021 Music
Educator of the Year by the Washington Music Educators Association. Previously, he
held the position of Music Director for the Yakima Youth Symphony and Oregon East
Symphony Youth Orchestras. During the summer months, Mr. Walker works
throughout the United States and Canada at various Suzuki institutes, music camps,
festivals, and retreats. Internationally, he has also worked with the Youth Excellence on
Stage Academy in collaboration with American Voices, a non-profit, cultural exchange
organization. Through this organization, he has conducted orchestras and taught cello in
Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
As a conductor, Mr. Walker participated in many workshops and music festivals
across the United States such as the Marrowstone Music Festival, Pierre Monteux
School for Conductors and Orchestral Musicians, various workshops sponsored by
the Conductor’s Guild, Astoria Music Festival, Rose City International
Conductor’s Workshop, and the University of Oregon Orchestral Conducting Institute.
He has appeared as guest conductor with the Central Washington University
Symphony, Oregon East Symphony, Yakima Symphony, Portland Columbia Symphony,
Walla Walla Symphony, Olympia Symphony, and the Musicians of the Spokane
Symphony Orchestra. Memorable for his engaging teaching style, positive student
rapport, and extensive knowledge of the orchestral repertoire, Mr. Walker is in high
demand as an adjudicator and guest conductor for All-State and Honors Orchestras
nationwide. Recently, he has been a clinician for the 2024 National Orchestra Festival
and conducted the 2024 Music in May Festival in Forest Grove, Oregon, as well as the
2023 All-State Orchestras in Oregon, Alabama, and Georgia. His upcoming engagements
for the 2024-2025 season include guest conducting with the Walla Walla Symphony,
working with various school and honor orchestras and festivals in the Pacific Northwest,
and conducting All-State Orchestras in Washington, Florida, Maryland, and the NAfME
All-Eastern Orchestra in Hartford, Connecticut.
Mr. Walker earned Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education and Cello
Performance from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and a Master of Music
degree from Central Washington University focusing on Orchestral Conducting and Cello
Performance. In the fall of 2019, he began his Doctor of Music Arts degree in Music
Education through Boston University. Outside the classroom and off the podium, he
enjoys hiking and traveling around the Pacific Northwest, experimenting with new
recipes on his BBQ pit and smoker, or shopping for and admiring argyle socks.