Evan Meccarello, ICO Conductor, became the music director of Irondequoit Community Orchestra in 2019 after the passing of J. Russell Thomas who founded the orchestra in 2001. Evan created ICO's We Write Orchestra Music! children's concert series, which commissioned new music by two local composers and shared performances with family audiences around the Rochester area. He is Artistic Director of Cordancia Chamber Orchestra and serves as Music Director of Binghamton Community Orchestra and the Hochstein Alumni Orchestra. He has taught at Nazareth University's School of Music, where his roles have included leading the Chamber Orchestra and teaching conducting courses. Additional conducting and teaching of conducting has included summer institutes at Eastman School of Music (Summer at Eastman) and Nazareth University (Orchestral Conducting and String Performance Program).  Guest conducting has included appearances with many collegiate and youth ensembles, including NYSSMA Area All-State and All-County orchestras.  Evan's conducting training has included masterclasses and lessons with several of the world's most sought-after teachers, including Larry Rachleff, Jorma Panula, David Effron, and Kenneth Kiesler.  He holds a Masters in Orchestral Conducting from Bowling Green State University and a violin performance degree from Nazareth University, where he was a two-time winner of the school's concerto competition.  Evan can sometimes be found at Argentine tango milongas, playing violin for dancers.