The conductor of the HAAYO, Dr. Russell Hoffmann, is the founding music director and conductor of the highly acclaimed Newtown Chamber Orchestra and has a widely diversified musical background. Along with his extensive work as a violinist with orchestras throughout New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, he also served as Music Director for Concert Opera of Philadelphia. In addition to having served as Associate Conductor with the Greater Trenton Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Hoffmann has appeared as guest conductor for the Delaware Valley Philharmonic and the Pennsylvania Music Educator's Association Festival Orchestra, Bucks Music Educator’s Association Festival Orchestra, and as guest conductor for Hunterdon Symphony. Hoffmann is head of the string department at Bucks County Community College, as well as director of the newly organized Bucks County Community College Symphony Orchestra. He is also a 24-year faculty member for the Princeton Regional Schools.

In addition to his studies with Luis Biava of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle, Gustav Meier, and Kenneth Kiesler, Dr. Hoffmann has attended seminars and workshops at Tanglewood Music Festival, the Conductor's Guild and the American Symphony Orchestra League. He is a recipient of the Otto H. Helbig Award in Conducting (College of New Jersey). In May 2000, he received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the American Conservatory of Music.

During the summer of 2000, Newtown Chamber Orchestra had the distinct honor as the only American chamber orchestra to have performed for festivals throughout Spain, including the Santander International Music Festival.