William Reece Waag is in his sixth season as Conductor of the Santa Fe Youth Symphony. A passionate music educator, he also works as a guest clinician and mentor in music classrooms across Northern New Mexico. William’s recent guest conducting engagements include the Albuquerque Philharmonic, Seattle Rock Orchestra, The Santa Fe Symphony, El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestra, Albuquerque Youth Symphony, Reading Orchestra, and Honor Orchestras in New Mexico. William has held a variety of conducting and teaching positions ranging from elementary and secondary schools to colleges, public and private institutions in four states.

He has led wind ensembles, jazz bands, symphony orchestras, music education courses, music theory, special education and pre-school music. Above all these, William’s passion is for conducting youth symphonies. Previously with Kittitas Valley Youth Orchestra (Washington) and Anchorage Youth Philharmonic (Alaska), William is so pleased to be guiding the Santa Fe Youth Symphony to creative collaborations and expanding every aspect of the youth symphony experience.

William received an MM in Orchestral Conducting from Central Washington University, and a BM in Music Education from Boise State University. Originally from Boise, William loves exploring the mountains in all seasons with ski poles in one hand and espresso in the other. In his free time, he can be found traveling the New Mexico highways in his 1972 Volkswagen bus.