Sean Carey

Youth Programs Director

Sean Carey is a distinguished graduate of Indiana State University’s School of Music, having earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education with Magna Cum Laude honors. Under the tutelage of Dr. Bill Davis, he honed his violin skills and emerged as a talented musician.

Throughout his musical journey, Sean has showcased his expertise as a concertmaster for the ISU Symphony Orchestra, the Masterworks Chorale, Concert Choir and Sycamore Singers. He has also contributed his time and knowledge as an instructor for the Crossroads of America Youth Orchestra Preparatory Strings and as a student violin instructor at the Community School of the Arts.

As an ISU Service Learning Scholar, Sean forged a partnership between the Crossroads of America Youth Orchestra and Deming Elementary School, establishing an enriching afterschool strings program in Terre Haute, IN.

Currently, Sean serves as a music teacher at Wallace Elementary School of Integrated Arts and as the orchestra director at Central Middle International School in Kokomo. His dedication to nurturing young talent extends to his involvement with the Kokomo Symphony Orchestra and its exceptional youth programs.

With unwavering passion and a commitment to excellence, Sean Carey continues to inspire students and contribute to the Kokomo music community. His contributions to the symphony orchestra and youth programs are invaluable, making a lasting impact on future musicians.

Ellen Clark

Cello Instructor

Originally from Pennsylvania, Ellen began playing the cello in third grade, discovering a passion for music that has shaped both her education and career. She began teaching during her junior and senior years of high school, working with elementary-aged students in her community. That passion for music education continued through college and beyond as she maintained teaching private cello lessons while living in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Now entering her fourth year as a youth orchestra instructor with the Kokomo Youth Orchestra, Ellen enjoys helping young musicians build confidence, develop strong musicianship, and discover the joy of making music. She is also beginning her third year as an art teacher in Kokomo, where she encourages creativity, curiosity, and self-expression in the classroom. Whether teaching music or visual art, Ellen is committed to fostering a supportive learning environment that inspires students to grow as artists, musicians, and lifelong learners.

José Valencia

Conductor • Violinist • Educator

Conductor and violinist José Valencia has built a career around a simple conviction: orchestral music is most powerful when musicians and audiences feel genuinely connected to it.

Known for energetic performances, imaginative programming, and an engaging presence both on and off the podium, Valencia brings together the traditions of the symphonic repertoire with film music, contemporary works, American music, popular culture, and unexpected collaborations. Whether conducting a masterwork, introducing audiences to an unfamiliar composer, or creating a program built around the story of a community, his goal is the same—to make the concert experience immediate, meaningful, and human.

Valencia serves as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Kokomo Symphony Orchestra and Director of Orchestras at Park Tudor School in Indianapolis, where he works with young musicians from their first experiences on a string instrument through advanced Upper School performance. He has also maintained an active professional career as a conductor and violinist with orchestras throughout Indiana.

His career has taken him well beyond Indiana. In 2000, Valencia won first prize in the Fourth Karelia-Sochi International Conducting Master Class and Competition in Russia. He subsequently returned to Russia as Principal Guest Conductor of the Sochi Philharmonic Symphony, conducting four programs during its 2001–02 season.

Valencia’s unusual academic background has also shaped his musical life. Before pursuing graduate study in music, he earned a degree in Russian Linguistics and Literature from Duke University. His knowledge of Russian later led to his work with Indianapolis Opera on its production of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. He holds master’s degrees in Violin Performance and Orchestral Conducting from Butler University.

As an educator, Valencia believes that excellence grows from curiosity, persistence, listening, and the understanding that every musician matters. As a conductor, he brings that same philosophy to the professional podium: an orchestra is at its best not simply when individuals play
well, but when they listen, respond, and create something together that none of them could create alone.

For Valencia, a successful performance is more than a well-played concert.

It is an experience that gives people a reason to come back.

José Valencia

Katie Huddleston

Cello Instructor

Katie Huddleston’s musical journey began in Goshen, Indiana, where she discovered her love for the cello before transitioning to the captivating world of the string bass. As the first-ever String Bass major at Manchester University, she graduated in 2015 and embarked on a fulfilling career.

With a passion for teaching, Katie has shared her expertise through private lessons and served as an orchestra director at Eastern Howard School Corporation. She has also performed with esteemed symphony orchestras, including those in Manchester, Kokomo, Anderson and Muncie Indiana.

In 2018, Katie joined the Kokomo Youth Orchestra (KYO) as an instructor, nurturing the talents of students from the community who may not have access to formal music classes. Her role at Wallace Elementary School of Integrated Arts as a Violin teacher allows her to inspire young learners and share her passion for music on a broader scale.

Driven by her dedication to music education and her unwavering love for the bass, Katie continues to make a positive impact on students’ lives and the Kokomo music community. Her passion, experience and commitment to excellence serve as a testament to her invaluable contributions in shaping the next generation of musicians.