Background
Yestadt, James Francis was born on November 24, 1921 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Frederic John and Emelie Josephine (Speer) Yestadt.
Yestadt, James Francis was born on November 24, 1921 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Frederic John and Emelie Josephine (Speer) Yestadt.
Bachelor of Music, Lebanon Valley Conservatory Music, Pennsylvania, 1947. Master of Arts in Music, Columbia University, 1952. Postgraduate, New School Music, Pennsylvania.
Certified in performance, Lucerne (Switzerland) Conservatory, 1962.
Associate music professor Xavier University, New Orleans, 1947-1958. Music director, conductor New Orleans Summer Pops, 1954-1958. Resident conductor New Orleans Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, 1960-1963.
Conductor, director Transylvania Symphony Orchestra, Brevard, North Carolina, 1963-1966. Music director, conductor Mobile (Alabama) Symphony Orchestra, 1965-1971. Director orchestral studies University Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, 1971-1976.
Music director, conductor Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, 1976-1982. Director orchestral studies Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 1976-1988. Music director, conductor Sun Cities Symphony of the West Valley, Sun City, Arizona, since 1988.
Director, conductor Mobile Opera Company, 1966-1982. Guest conductor Jackson (Mississippi) Symphony Orchestra, 1986, Zurich Radio Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfonica de castillia y Leon, Spain, New Orleans Opera, numerous festivals, United States, Europe.
Served with United States Army, 1942-1946, European Theatre of Operations. Member Music Educators National Conference (Performance award 1984), College Music Society, American Symphony Orchestra League.
Married Victoria Ann Turco. Children: Gregory James, Frederic John II, James Francis Junior.