The Burbank Community Band
Our Leaders
Musical Directors
Burbank Community Band Conductor Dr. Michael Stanley is also the Music Director and Conductor of the Westlake Village Symphony and the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra. He is a multi-talented conductor, French horn player and music educator who has performed in such world-renowned venues as Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall and UCLA’s Royce Hall. As a conductor, his performances have garnered outstanding reviews, with the Los Angeles Times proclaiming that “…[his] ensemble performed beautifully.”
Dr. Stanley has conducted both nationally and internationally, including leading the prestigious YMF Debut Orchestra at the finals of the 2019 Christopher Parkening International Guitar Competition. In addition, he has appeared as guest conductor with many regional orchestras such as the Beach Cities and New Valley Symphonies. An advocate for new music, he has commissioned and premiered many compositions in a variety of genres. Dr. Stanley’s versatility has led him to conduct numerous pit orchestras in shows ranging from Sweeney Todd to Jesus Christ Superstar and he is a sought-after festival adjudicator and clinician throughout Southern California.
As a music educator, Dr. Stanley is committed to providing musical opportunities to young people from diverse communities. In his role as a Teaching Artist for the Young Musicians Foundation, he has provided music instruction to underserved youth across the Los Angeles area. He is also proud to be the inaugural director of the Burbank Philharmonic’s “Discovery Conductor Project,” a unique program designed to find and train the next generation of young conductors. During his more than 20 years of experience teaching music, he has served on the faculties of College of the Canyons and Los Angeles Valley College and been honored as “Teacher of the Year” for his outstanding teaching and dedication to his students.
Dr. Stanley holds a Doctorate in Conducting from Claremont Graduate University, where he studied with Dr. David Rentz. He received his MM in Orchestral Conducting from California State University, Long Beach, under the tutelage of Dr. Richard Rintoul. Among his many additional conducting teachers and mentors are Kenneth Kiesler, Jeffrey Schindler, Markand Thakar, Donald Schleicher, and Barry Brisk. Dr. Stanley earned his BA in Music summa cum laude from UCLA, majoring in French horn with Richard Todd. He continues to play horn regularly in Southern California with groups such as the Topanga Symphony, Moorpark Symphony and LA Lawyers Philharmonic.
Assistant Conductor and Manager of Band Operations Julie Levine (2013-Present) began playing trumpet at El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills after watching the school’s award-winning Marching Band. She quickly became an integral part of the group and for two years was its sole representative in the L.A.U.S.D. All-City Marching Band. Continuing her musical journey at Cal State Northridge as a Music major, she played in the Marching Band and the Wind Ensemble, including performing the first movement of the Hummel Trumpet Concerto. She got her first taste of conducting at CSUN with several opportunities to conduct both the Marching Band and Wind Ensemble.
After obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies, Julie continued to play at CSUN in addition to performing with the Wind Ensemble at UCLA. She later joined the L.A. Valley College Wind Ensemble, where she is still a member, and continues to develop her conducting skills with that group on a regular basis. Julie also plays in many other community bands across the Los Angeles area, including the L.A. Sheriff’s Department Band and the Conejo Valley Community Band.
Julie is a big supporter of performing Taps live for military veterans’ funerals and ceremonies. Most often, a recorded version is played at military memorials. A live bugler, such as Julie, can be requested by going to www.BuglesAcrossAmerica.org