Artistic Director & Conductor - Jonathan DeBruyn
Jonathan DeBruyn, Artistic Director of the Salem Philharmonia Orchestra, grew up in Lake Oswego, Oregon, in a musical household and was exposed to classical music from a young age. He received his Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Portland State University, studying with Carol Sindell, and completed his Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Oregon under Dr. David Jacobs.
Jonathan was a Conducting Fellow with the Eugene Symphony for the 2018-2019 season. In 2021, he was named a Faber Conducting Fellow with the American Austrian Foundation. In 2022, he was appointed conductor of the “Young Artists Debut!” concerto competition. In 2023, he became the Music Director of the Sunnyside Symphony and the Artistic Director of the Salem Philharmonia Orchestra, and in 2025 was appointed Music Director of the Portland Festival Symphony.
As a violinist, Jonathan has performed with many local orchestras, including the Portland Columbia Symphony, the Newport Symphony, and the Eugene Symphony. His conducting engagements have taken him to Canada, Mexico, Poland, Austria, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic.
In his free time, Jonathan enjoys drawing, reading, and practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is the son of composer Randall DeBruyn.
Assistant Conductor - Amir Avsker
Israeli-born Amir Avsker is one of the most promising young artists of the Pacific Northwest. He currently studies piano with Professor Brian Hsu at the University of Oregon with a full tuition scholarship. As a student, he has won numerous competitions in performance, including the 2023 Cognizart Young Artists Debut! Competition, the 2023 Metropolitan Youth Symphony Concerto Competition, and the 2025 Oregon Sinfonietta competition.
Amir was named the 2023 Young Artist in Residence of Portland’s All Classical Radio Station. Also a violinist, he has served as the concertmaster of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony and the Pacific Rose Ensemble, the latter of which he founded and directed from 2023-2025. He has conducted the Metropolitan Youth Symphony on several occasions, including on tour in Spain and Portugal in 2024.
As a composer, his work has been showcased on All Classical Radio and performed by various orchestras. Amir also plays guitar, and in August 2025, in collaboration with the Neveh Shalom Congregation in Southwest Portland, he founded Songs from Home, an annual concert series bringing popular Hebrew songs to Portland audiences.
Executive Director - Kami Hettwer
Kami Hettwer has always been deeply passionate about music education and has had the privilege of serving in various administrative capacities. Currently, she continues to serve as the Executive Director of the Salem Youth Symphony, a role that has allowed her to witness firsthand the transformative power of music in young lives.
Prior to her current position, she served as the Education Outreach Director for the Grace Goudy Distinguished Artist Series and was actively involved with the Salem Chamber Orchestra and the Oregon Music Education Association. Kami’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. Outside of her administrative roles, she is a prt-time collaborative pianist and the elementary general music specialist at Santa Christian Schools in Adair Village, Oregon. Kami’s commitment to music is shared with her husband, Mike Hettwer, a retired band director and professional horn player. Together, they have raised three children, all active professional musicians.
