Pitman High School Symphony Conductor and AP Spanish Teacher Don Grishaw was recently named Conductor for the Modesto Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO).

Grishaw has been a professional violinist for 33 years with the Modesto Symphony and says being named to Conductor of the MYSO will give him the opportunity to reach more children countywide and teach them the majesty and mastery of music.

He has been at Pitman since it opened in 2002 and before he was the Lead Teacher at Wakefield Elementary. His wife Angela is currently a teacher at Walnut Elementary.

His son Andrew and daughter Elizabeth are both Pitman graduates and moved on from Turlock to the University of Denver and Santa Clara University, respectively, as music majors.

Elizabeth earned a second degree in psychology and Andrew is a highly sought after musician in the Denver area.

The MYSO has weekly rehearsals at California State University, Stanislaus and will perform alongside the adult symphony Nov. 7 to perform Beethoven & Tchaikovsky. The MYSO Season Opens Nov. 8.

For more information on MYSO visit www.modestosymphony.org and click on the “Education & Community” tab.