Conductor and pianist Joshua Horsch is currently completing a master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting at Penn State. Joshua is the co-founder and former musical director of the Ithaca Opera Project, a new organization dedicated to performing modern chamber operas and to making opera accessible and relevant to a wide audience. Other conducting work has been done with the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic of the Czech Republic, the Orquestra Filharmonica de Estado Chihuahua, Penn State Philharmonic Orchestra, Penn State Chamber Orchestra, Penn State Sinfonietta, Ithaca Community Orchestra, and the Ithaca College String Orchestra. An advocate of contemporary music, Joshua believes that exploration of new music in all genres is vital to the progression of music as an art form.