Meet our Maestro


Nobuyoshi Yasuda, affectionately known as ‘Nobu’, is the driving force behind and in front of all Chippewa Valley Symphony performances. Nobu has the energy to carry musicians through long rehearsals and inspire them in times of weakness. Nobu selects the season’s repertoire with the help of the Artistic Advisory committee. His selections challenge the orchestra while showcasing their strengths. Through Nobu, the orchestra has grown to new levels of achievement.
Education A native of Takarazuka, Japan, Nobu’s violin studies began at the age of three. He holds degrees in violin performance from Soai University in Japan (BM), and Indiana University (MM), and has been active as a violin soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States and Japan. Nobu’s interest in conducting was sparked by his desire to find new ways to share his passion for music. After his graduate studies, Nobu received fellowships to study with Gunther Schuller at the Festival at Sandpoint and Murry Sidlin and Michael Tilson Thomas at the Aspen Music Festival. Nobu credits Eiji Oue, the former Music Director of the Minnesota Orchestra, as his principal conducting mentor.
Conducting Positions Nobu was appointed as Orchestra Director and Assistant Professor of Violin at UW-Eau Claire in 1991. He became music director of the Chippewa Valley Symphony in 1993 and was Associate Conductor of the Grand Teton Music Festival in 1999 - 2003. His performance of Milhaud’s Création du monde at the festival was broadcast on National Public Radio's Performance Today in July 2001. Nobu has served as guest conductor for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and acting assistant conductor for the Minnesota Orchestra. In May of 2003, he made his debut as guest conductor of the NDR Philharmonic-Hannover in Germany. In March, 2004, Nobu conducted in Indiana and Japan. Early in March, he was the guest conductor of the Osaka Philharmonic at the Osaka Festival Hall in his hometown of Osaka, Japan, where he conducted Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5, as well as several other selections in a sold out house seating 3,000.
Contact us: info@cvsymphony.org • 715-832-6366 316 Eau Claire Street, Eau Claire, WI 54701 last update October 2007