Administrative Staff

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 children.

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 served as the Flute Professor at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, where she enjoyed 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 husband Matt, their son, and their furbabies. 

Emma Byrd is an arts administrator, musician, and advocate for arts access. Originally from Southern Illinois, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Clarinet Performance from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Emma brings several years of experience in arts administration, event management, and organization operations to her work at BYSO.

As Programs Manager at Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra, Emma oversees volunteer and student leadership programs, as well as a variety of annual and special programming. She creates and manages experiences that connect hundreds of young musicians with opportunities to learn, perform, and build community. She is especially passionate about the ways the arts can foster belonging, confidence, and meaningful relationships among students. Her favorite BYSO moments are watching students form friendships, support one another, and grow together both inside and outside of rehearsal.

Outside of BYSO, Emma enjoys cooking, being creative, and seeking out new and exciting experiences throughout the PNW!

Eliana Arias-Dotson first connected with Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra in 2022 when her daughter joined the organization. Her daughter’s passion for music became the link that drew Eliana into arts and community service, inspiring her to begin volunteering and later serve as a site manager supporting rehearsals, concerts, auditions, and summer camps. Originally from Colombia, Eliana moved with her family to Washington in 2014. She completed graduate studies in science and has also pursued education and non-profit management. Outside of her professional and volunteer roles, she enjoys coffee, homemade meals, swimming, and reading thought-provoking books on social issues and human evolution.

Courtney Pham is a flutist, educator, and arts administrator originally from Houston, Texas. Driven by a deep passion for music education, she is dedicated to helping students grow not only as musicians, but as whole people.

She holds a Bachelor of Music Performance in Flute with a Certificate in Community Arts Entrepreneurship from Texas Tech University, as well as a Master of Music Performance in Flute from Colorado State University. Throughout her career, she has performed with a diverse array of groups and ensembles, discovering early on that her favorite part of making music is the deep sense of connection it creates—whether playing alongside others or supporting the arts from behind the scenes. Eager to pay forward the transformative mentorship she once received, she maintains a thriving flute studio while also supporting regional arts nonprofits through operations and administration.

Outside of teaching and arts administration, Courtney enjoys getting lost in a good book, working on crochet projects, and diving into games of all kinds, from tabletop board games to video games.

Bio Coming Soon.