Administrative Staff

Kevin Vortmann

Executive Director

Kevin Vortmann is an experienced arts leader who brings a diverse history as an administrator, consultant, performer, and producer to his role as the new Executive Director of Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University in Classical Voice Performance and earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in Arts Leadership from Seattle University.

Prior to his appointment at BYSO, Kevin served as an Advancement Manager at Village Theatre. During his tenure he was a member of a robust Development Team that was responsible for raising over $3 million annually through corporate and individual donations. Kevin also oversaw institutional and programmatic marketing initiatives which endeavored to bring Village Theatre’s work into the virtual world and forged a path to achieving mission while facing government mandated venue closures.

As a corporate communication consultant, Kevin has had the opportunity to help executives harness the power of storytelling and has worked with a diverse set of companies including Microsoft, IBM, Smartsheet, Tableau, and Raymond James.

But the core of Kevin’s identity is that he is a musician. He was a Broadway actor, appearing onstage with Oscar, Emmy and Tony Award-winners. And he enjoyed a successful career as a symphonic soloist. He has appeared with some of the country’s most celebrated orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and New York Philharmonic and can be heard on a number of recordings, two of which were nominated for Grammy Awards.

Kevin believes that music has the ability to change lives and is honored to be at the helm of an organization with a deep history of enhancing students’ lives through pursuit of musical excellence.

An avid skier, hiker, NY Times crossworder, and foodie, Kevin lives in Edmonds with his wife, Amanda and their two sons, Colin and Lucas.

Natalie Ham

Operations Manager

Dr. Natalie Ham is an active musician and administrator in the Greater Seattle area with a passion to promote music education in our communities. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Eastman School of Music, and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Washington, all in flute performance. Dr. Ham has served in administrative and event coordinator roles for the Seattle Flute Society, the American Guild of Organists – Seattle Chapter, the University of Washington School of Music, and St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Medina, Washington. In Seattle, Dr. Ham is a featured flutist of the Harry Partch Ensemble and the Inverted Space Ensemble, a new music collaborative that features composers from the Seattle area and abroad. In addition, she currently serves as the Flute Professor at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, where she enjoys working with the students virtually, with occasional trips over the mountains. Dr. Ham enjoys hiking, baking, and is a proud book worm. She lives in Everett with her partner Matt and their 18 year old cat, Bella.

Michelle Surkan

Advancement Manager

Michelle is an arts advocate who brings expertise in business development, and print media as a former entrepreneur, intellectual property paralegal, and tech journalist. She has been engaged in fundraising, events, and public relations for several Bellevue School District PTSAs and Music Booster organizations. She has lived in Bellevue for 22+ years with her husband and has two children in college. Michelle has a BA in English and a Paralegal Certificate. As an avid photographer and writer, she looks forward to advancing BYSO’s compelling story of young musicianship with the pen and through the lens.

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