Meet the Conductor, Danny Yale

The small orchestra with a big sound ~ Bringing fine music to the Carson Valley.

Music Director and Conductor :|: Danny Yale

DANNY YALE

Founder, Conductor, and Music Director of the Carson Valley Pops Orchestra

The Orchestra wishes to acknowledge and thank those who have made generous donations which keep our concerts free! Please patronize their businesses and events whenever possible.

* Martha Williams ~ Antiques Plus in Genoa and Genoa Events * The Carson Valley Inn *

* RE/MAX Realty Affiliates (John Fisher and Brad Spires) * The Smallwood Foundation *

* The Oakmead Foundation * Douglas County Board of Commissioners *

PO Box 512 ~ Minden, NV 89423

Born in New York City and raised in Brooklyn until the age of 18, Danny Yale started studying the violin at age 7. He had the good fortune to attend the High School of Performing Arts at age 13. He traveled one hour and 20 minutes by subway to get to “Music and Art” High School, as it was named in the beginning.

His first professional job came at the age of 15 at the Star Theater in Brooklyn. “I played in a six-piece pit orchestra, but it only lasted about two weeks until my dad found out it was a Burlesque House,” recalled Yale.

Yale majored in Music Education at New York University and was assistant conductor of the college symphony orchestra. He studied orchestra and choral conducting with Dr. John Erb and Professor Goodhart. He even taught high school for one year, but had to leave in order to make a living and to play.

His violin teacher had been Theodore Kagin of the Paris Conservatory and, later, Ms. Jean Spritzer who had been violin soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Kousevitsky.

After some symphony work, Yale began playing Broadway musicals such as, Kiss Me Kate, Finian’s Rainbow, Call Me Madam, and others. He spent two and one half years at Billy Rose Diamond Horseshoe in the show Violins Over Broadway; and played at Radio City Music Hall and the Roxy Theater. For a brief time, he was assistant conductor of the road company of Finian’s Rainbow.

Some of the more memorable personalities he has worked with include Red Skelton, Sammy Davis, Jr., concerts with Frank Sinatra, Pearl Bailey, Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, etc. Yale was also a member of the Robert Shaw Coral for two years.

“One of my greatest thrills,” said Yale “was spending a week rehearsing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Arturo Toscanini and the New York Philharmonic.”

Music has given Yale many opportunities to travel. He played in an eight-piece dance band at the Sherman Hotel in Chicago for three and one half years. From there, he went on the road with his own trio consisting of a violin, bass and piano (plus a vocalist) playing Kansas City, St. Louis, Syracuse, Louisville, Palm Beach, Detroit, Green Bay, Fort Worth and Michawaka, to name a few.

Around 1974 Yale settled in the San Francisco Bay area. He spent the first eight years playing Broadway musicals at the Curran Theater, then 13 years at the Hyatt Regency Hotel with his own seven-piece orchestra, the Regency Strings©, comprised of four violins, piano, bass and harp. “The group played five to six nights a week,” said Yale. “It was a great time.”

In October 1995, Yale settled in Minden. It wasn’t long before he found a home playing at the Silver Legacy Hotel in Reno. You can catch him there most Sundays in the Sterling Restaurant playing as a strolling violinist where he is accompanied by his wife, Cecilia Yale.

In 1999, Yale decided the Carson Valley needed a good pops orchestra and now, five years later, his dream is a reality. “I offer my most sincere thanks to all the musicians of the Orchestra who have made us possible. Plus, thanks to the Orchestra Association and the people of the valley who come to hear us play.”

In addition Yale performs regularly for the residents of Merrill Gardens in Gardnerville (and his loyal fans there have reserved seating at every Pops concert). Danny also finds time to perform on viola or violin in the Western Nevada Musical Theater Company’s productions, where he has the honor of being concertmaster.

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