Music Director and Conductor of Orchestras
Bruce Topping is recognized throughout the Southland as an accomplished music educator and bassist. He is Director of Orchestras at Valencia High School and Kraemer Middle School in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, where he has taught for thirty-two years. The six orchestras currently directed by Mr. Topping, comprised of over four hundred students, consistently receive honors, and are highly rated at music festivals.
Mr. Topping served for ten years as the Associate Conductor of the Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra, conducting many of the Concerts for Fifth Graders at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Chapman University in Music Education. An active bassist, Mr. Topping has performed professionally in symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, and jazz groups throughout California. He has taught double bass as a part-time faculty member at California State University, Fullerton and has served as bass clinician for the SCSBOA Honor Orchestras, SCSBOA Honor Jazz Ensembles, Orange County Youth Symphony, the Southern California Youth Philharmonic, and Idyllwild Summer Arts Program. Mr. Topping has guest conducted honor orchestras throughout Southern California. In addition, many of Mr. Topping’s private bass students now perform professionally in symphonies, jazz venues, and studios throughout the United States.