Our Staff

Kyle Wiley Pickett - Music Director

Kyle Wiley Pickett is the Music Director and Conductor of the Juneau Symphony. He is also the Music Director and conductor of the North State Symphony, a professional symphony in northern California formed out of the merger of the Chico and Redding Symphonies - his two previous orchestras. A versatile musician, his conducting activities range from the symphony orchestra to opera to musical theater to choral work. Wiley Pickett is a frequent guest conductor on the west coast and previously held positions as Music Director with the Rogue Music Theater in southern Oregon and Assistant Conductor with the Peabody Conservatory Orchestra and Opera.

Wiley Pickett holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in orchestral conducting from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore where he studied with world-renowned teacher and conductor, Frederik Prausnitz. He also holds a Bachelor's degree in music from Stanford University and a Master's degree in choral conducting from the California State University at Chico. At both universities his conducting teacher was Dr. William Ramsey. Wiley Pickett is also an accomplished flutist, having studied with Frances Blaisdell and Robert Willoughby. He also trained in voice with Wayne Connor and Judith Bettina.

Dr. Wiley Pickett grew up in Los Gatos, CA. When he and his wife Alice, who is a stage actress and director, are not in Juneau, they live on Lake Shasta in Northern California with their son Ned and Dachsund Max.

Valerie Snyder - Executive Director

Valerie is in charge of the Symphony's day to day administrative operations. She is currently a musician in the Symphony's violin section but has occasionally been spotted playing fiddle around town. She has extensive experience in Juneau's performing arts community, having worked in some capacity for nearly every arts company in town. Previous credits include costume designer, props designer, stage manager, wardrobe manager, scenic painter, playwright and juggler. Before she moved to Juneau in 2004 she received a BA in Theater from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Raleigh Costello - Office Dog

Raleigh enthusiastically greets all visitors to the Symphony office. He is a golden retriever/black lab mix and wants everyone to be his friend. He particularly enjoys playing fetch, swimming and belly rubs.