Bruce A. Lauffer

          Maestro Lauffer has conducted for Latshaw Productions for the past twenty years and has conducted over 750 concerts throughout the Eastern United States.  Since 2004, The Latshaw Pops Orchestra has thrilled audiences in performing arts centers all over northeastern United States, the Midwest and Canada with these outstanding shows in Latshaw Production’s - "Dancing in the Streets", "Viva Las Vegas," "American Bandstand - A Tribute to Dick Clark," “As Time Goes By," "Puttin’ On The Ritz", "American Journey," "Steppin' Out On Broadway," "The Crooners and Their Music," "Octoberfest," and "The Christmas Spectacular."  This talented group professional musicians, singers and dancers have headlined at The Tropicana and The Resorts in Atlantic City, NJ, played to capacity crowds at The Warner Theatre in Erie, PA, as well as scores of performing arts centers and casino showrooms from Boston to Chicago, from Cincinnati to Baltimore, from Cleveland to Hartford, and from Buffalo to Richmond. To date, The LPO has shared the bill with and performed with singing groups including: The Manhattan Transfer, The Vogues, Jimmy Beaumont and The Skyliners, Chubby Checker, Little Anthony and The Imperials, The Duprees, Johnny Angel & The Halos, Kenny Vance & The Planotones, Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, Jay & The Americans, Danny and The Juniors, Donna Groom, Bo Wagner, and Mark Milovats.  In the fall of 2016, Maestro Lauffer conducted a Christmas CD with the Latshaw Pops Orchestra entitled "Christmas Memories".

          Maestro Lauffer has also served as a frequent guest conductor for the world renowned River City Brass Band since the fall of 2009. These concerts were enthusiastically received by both the audience and musicians, with concerts around the 4th of July with the RCBB drawing crowds of over 10,000 patrons!

              Since the fall of 2002, Maestro Lauffer has served as the General Director and Music Director of the Royal Sylvan Philharmonic. The orchestra has performed at the world class Nemacolin Woodlands Spa and Resort, as well as throughout the Pittsburgh area. In 2004, the Philharmonic was commissioned to record a compact disc with composer/pianist, Jace Vek, (reached #5 in the world on New Age / Neoclassical Music in March 2005).  The Royal Sylvan Philharmonic and Maestro Lauffer were featured in a concert of the music of jazz legend, Delsey McKay.  Irish singer & television personality, Cahal Dunne performed with the RSP in a series of concerts throughout Western Pennsylvania.   International singer, Tony Bennett has also been a featured soloist with the RSP.  These concerts were all received enthusiastically with standing ovations!  

          Maestro Lauffer was the Music Director and Conductor for the Orchestra of the Alleghenies from 2003-2016. Formerly known as the McKeesport Symphony Orchestra, under his direction, the OA has regularly been recorded and broadcast on WQED-FM (Pittsburgh) as part of their series, "Performances in Pittsburgh" and by WRCT-FM (Carnegie Mellon University's Radio Station; Pittsburgh, PA).  The OA performed with Jimmy Beaumont and The Skyliners, Johnny Angel and The Halos, and Blues Singer, Jessica Lee.  The OA has also commissioned two new works for orchestra and under Lauffer's direction performed the world premieres.

          Maestro Lauffer was the Music Director and Conductor of the Beaver Valley Philharmonic from 2006-2009. All subscription concert and holiday concerts for the BVP were broadcast live on KDKA radio to over 33 states in the US and half of Canada during this time period.  The BVP commissioned two new works for orchestra and under his director performed the world premieres.  Maestro Lauffer has served as Music Director of The Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra (fourteen seasons/commissioned 4 new works for orchestra and conducted the world premieres of these 4 compositions with the PCO), the Mon-Valley Youth Orchestra, and the North Pittsburgh Civic Symphony. He has been a popular Guest Conductor with The Butler County Symphony Orchestra, The Edgewood Symphony Orchestra and the Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestra.

          Maestro Lauffer earned his Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from West Virginia University where he studied conducting with Don Wilcox.  He received his Master of Music Degree in 1987 from Baylor University. While at Baylor University, Mr. Lauffer studied conducting with Michael Haithcock and Gary Sousa and composition with Richard Willis. In the spring of 1993, Mr. Lauffer began doctoral studies at Penn State University. Private study in conducting has been with the internationally renowned master teacher Elizabeth A. H. Green; Maestro Louis Lane (former Assistant Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra and former Music Director of the Dallas Symphony), and Maestro Larry Rachleff (Music Director of The Rhode Island Philharmonic). In May of 2007, Mr. Lauffer is one of ten conductors in the country invited to serve as a conducting intern with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and Maestro Jorge Mester. Additional studies in conducting have been with Frederick Fennell, H. Robert Reynolds, Carl Topilow, Craig Kirchoff, Eugene Corporan, Alan McMurray, and William Wakefield.

          In addition to his conducting responsibilities, Maestro Lauffer is a seasoned and respected music educator. With almost thirty years of experience in both university settings and public schools. Mr. Lauffer has taught on the faculties at Indiana State University (Associate Director of Bands/Director of Marching Band) at Washington and Jefferson College (Interim Director of Bands), at Wheeling Jesuit University (guest conductor/cover conductor) and at Argosy University (online instructor).   Mr. Lauffer served as the Chairman of the Music Department and Director of Bands for the East Allegheny School District. During his tenure, the ensembles received state and national recognition for their excellence.  Mr. Lauffer has also taught on the faculty at Jeannette School District and was the Director of Music and Dean of Arts for the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School.

          Maintaining a very active conducting schedule, both professionally and educationally, Maestro Lauffer is in demand as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the country. He is a frequent guest on university and college campuses, conducting and lecturing. Maestro Lauffer has won praise from such composers as Karel Husa, Warren Benson, David Stock, Michael Moricz, Neil DePonte, Richard Willis, Ruth Meyer Sacks, Jace Vek, Christopher Fraley and David Williams for his interpretative performances of their compositions. Mr. Lauffer is very active in commissioning new compositions for orchestra and winds. To date, he has conducted the world premiere of 24 compositions, which he commissioned for orchestra and band.