About Us

/About Us
About Us 2023-03-23T01:37:19+00:00

Ron Velleuer, BYSO Director

Mr. Velleuer holds a Master’s degree in both Music Education and Educational Administration from Northern Illinois University. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign in 1994 with a Bachelor’s Degree in music education and has been teaching in the public schools for 25 years. Mr. Velleuer taught in Lake Zurich, Barrington, and in 2001, joined the faculty at Deerfield High School where he teaches three curricular orchestras, a beginning guitar class, and for 11 years co-directed the DHS Chorale. In 2009 Mr. Velleuer founded the Barrington Youth Orchestra, now in its 15th season. In the summer of 2010 he started the Barrington Summer String Camp.

Under his direction, Mr. Velleuer’s groups have produced 7 recording projects, been featured on WFMT’s Introductions program, and performed at the ILMEA All-State Music Conference. His orchestras have completed performing tours across the United States and Europe, and in 2015 became the first public high school from the United States to perform in Israel. He has since taken BYSO to Ireland, Italy, Portugal/Spain and in 2024 BYSO will tour Scotland/England.  He has been nominated three times to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and was awarded the “My Most Inspirational Teacher” award by the Distinguished Citizens Society International of Greater Chicago in 2006. In addition to his skill as a teacher and conductor, Mr. Velleuer is an accomplished trumpeter, violinist, pianist, and vocalist. He is a Barrington native graduating from BHS in 1990 and was part of the Barrington Suzuki Strings in the 1980’s under the direction of Marianela McCammon. He created the Barrington Music Institute together with his wife, Holly, to carry on a tradition of excellence in music education.  He continues to live in Barrington together with his family.

Holly Velleuer, Administrator

Mrs. Velleuer has a B.S. in Vocal Music Education K-12 from William Jewell College in Liberty, MO. From 2005 to 2020, she was the music teacher at St. Mark’s Day School in Barrington Hills, IL where she enjoyed sharing the joy of music with children ages 2-5. She is a soprano and enjoys teaching voice privately and spending time with her special needs daughter.  She and Ron have four children ages 13-26.

Dean Scopelliti, BYSO Assistant Director

Mr. Scopelliti graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University, where he received his Bachelors of Music Education. His primary instrument is cello, and spent a large portion of his time at IWU performing both orchestral and chamber music literature. He also had the opportunity to study abroad in Bulgaria, playing chamber music in various locations around the country. In 2023, he was awarded the Outstanding Emerging Educator Award from the Illinois Chapter of the American String Teachers Association. Mr. Scopelliti is currently pursuing his Masters of Music Education. This is his 4th year teaching orchestra and is excited for the opportunity to continue spreading music.