Bruce Yurko, conductor, received his bachelor's degree in music education from Wilkes College and his master's degree in performance/composition from the Ithaca College School of Music. He has studied horn with Douglas Hill and John Covert and while at Ithaca College studied conducting with Thomas Michalik and Frederick Fennell. He has also attended the College Band Directors National Association’s conducting workshops with Eugene Migliaro Corporan, H. Robert Reynolds, and Donald Hunsberger, and is a composition student of Karel Husa. From 1974-1981 Mr. Yurko was Director of Bands at Madison High School in Madison, New Jersey. Since 1981 he has been the Director of the Wind Ensemble at Cherry Hill High School East in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Additionally at Cherry Hill High School East, he directs the Chamber Wind Ensemble, Brass Ensemble and Orchestra. In 1987 the Cherry Hill High School East Wind Ensemble toured the Soviet Union, performing in Moscow, Leningrad and Tallinn Estonia and in 1998 the Orchestra performed in Carnegie Hall. This may the Cherry Hill High School East Wind Ensemble and East Singers will perform in Verizon Hall, the home of the Philadelphia Orchestra. From 2000-2004 Mr. Yurko conducted the Princeton University Wind Ensemble and is now the Director of Music for the Wennonah Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Yurko has guest conducted the New Jersey All State Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, All South Jersey Region III Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, North Jersey Region I Wind Ensemble, and Central Jersey Region II Wind Ensemble. Mr. Yurko’s Chant and Toccata was awarded first prize by the Virginia Intercollegiate Band. His Concerto for Horn and Concerto for Percussion w ere featured in the Florida State University's Festivals of New Music and were performed by the University Wind Orchestra, conducted by James Croft. His Concerto for Percussion and Wind Ensemble has been performed by the Eastman Wind Ensemble, conducted by Donald Hunsberger. Jack Stamp premiered his Concerto for Flute with the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Wind Ensemble, Terry Wacker soloist, and Eugene Migliaro Cororan recently premiered “emc-x,” a wind composition commissioned by the Gamma Theta Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia of the University of North Texas. Mr. Yurko’s compositions are published by C. Alan Publication, Ludwig Music Company, and Southern Music Company.

Mr. Yurko is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, The World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Who’s Who Among Teachers, The College Band Directors National Association, and the New Jersey Music Educators Association. In 1990 the National Band Association awarded Mr. Yurko and his Wind Ensemble at Cherry Hill High School East the Citation of Excellence Award.