American conductor Thomas Heuser has been widely recognized for his stirring leadership and energetic presence both onstage and in the community. He has served as Music Director of the Idaho Falls Symphony since 2011, and he is also Music Director of the San Juan Symphony, a regional professional orchestra based in Durango, Colorado, and Farmington, New Mexico. Thomas lives in scenic Durango with his wife, violinist Lauren Avery, and their eight-year-old son Theodore.

Dr. Heuser was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for Orchestral Conducting in Germany while serving as a Conducting Fellow with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. His Fulbright residency at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München included orchestral performances in Munich and Berlin and his European operatic debut with Jeunesses Musicales Deutschland. Moving from Munich to San Francisco, Thomas enjoyed three seasons as the Principal Guest Conductor of the San Francisco Academy Orchestra, working alongside members of the San Francisco Symphony.

After conducting a successful Mid-Winter concert with the Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson, Wyoming, Thomas was invited back as a Cover Conductor for Sir Donald Runnicles and the 2022 GTMF Festival Orchestra. He has been a regular guest conductor with Durango’s Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra, and served as guest conductor for the top ensembles of the 2020 All-State Festival Orchestras in Alabama and New Mexico. Among a variety of diverse engagements, Thomas has given subscription concert debut performances with the Lexington Philharmonic, Symphony New Hampshire, the Boise Baroque Orchestra, the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, and the Illinois, Wyoming, Bozeman, Missoula, Flagstaff, Vallejo, Grand Junction, and Portsmouth Symphony Orchestras, among others.

The son of two molecular biologists at Washington University in St. Louis, Thomas began violin lessons at an early age and studied piano at the St. Louis Symphony Music School. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vassar College as a piano performance major and earned his Masters in Instrumental Conducting (MM) from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. In 2013 he completed his Doctorate in Orchestral Conducting (DMA) from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. His primary conducting mentors include Paavo Järvi, Bruno Weil, Mark Gibson, Thomas Baldner, David Effron, Marin Alsop, David Robertson, Gustav Meier, and Larry Rachleff.

For more information please visit www.thomasheuser.com.

Carrie Athay is a nonprofit executive and cultural arts advocate dedicated to strengthening communities through meaningful artistic engagement. Her early exposure to diverse cultural institutions and artistic traditions shaped her belief that the arts are essential to vibrant, connected communities.

Carrie holds Bachelors degrees in Humanities and Anthropology from Brigham Young University and a Master of Arts in Museum Studies, with a focus in American Studies, from the College of Arts and Sciences at The George Washington University. Her professional career has centered on museums and nonprofit organizations committed to expanding access, cultivating partnerships, and deepening community engagement through the arts.

As Executive Director of the Idaho Falls Symphony, Carrie leads efforts to broaden audience engagement, strengthen institutional partnerships, and ensure that live orchestral music remains accessible, relevant, and central to life in southeastern Idaho. She serves on four nonprofit boards and is a member of the International Women’s Forum, reflecting her commitment to collaborative leadership and regional cultural development.

Carrie and her husband, William, are parents of three children and enjoy exploring Idaho’s landscapes while actively participating in the region’s thriving arts community.