Black Swamp Community Orchestra Welcomes Allana D. Bogan as Guest Conductor for Fall 2025 Season!

The Black Swamp Community Orchestra (BSCO) is proud to announce the appointment of Allana D. Bogan as Guest Conductor for its upcoming Fall 2025 season and concert, taking place on Saturday, December 6 at 2:00 PM at the Defiance Community Auditorium. A dynamic and accomplished conductor, violinist, and educator, Ms. Bogan brings a wealth of experience and artistry to the podium.

Currently serving as the Music Director of the Black Swamp Fine Arts School in Bowling Green, Ohio, Ms. Bogan is no stranger to musical excellence. "I am excited to work alongside the talented musicians of the Black Swamp Community Orchestra," says Bogan. "It is always a pleasure to make beautiful music, and I am ecstatic to share our art with the community of Defiance, Ohio in December!"

Ms. Bogan will become the BSCO’s eighth conductor, succeeding longtime colleague and friend, Scott McIntosh, who recently relocated to Galax, Virginia with his family.

Hailing from the foothills of South Carolina, Allana D. Bogan is an orchestral conductor, classically trained violinist, and passionate music educator. Allana began conducting in January of 2022 while receiving her undergraduate degree in violin performance at Converse University in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Under the tutelage of Dr. Siegwart Reichwald, Allana became assistant conductor of the Converse Symphony Orchestra, conducting the works of J. Brahms, W.A. Mozart, and A. Copland. In December of 2022, Allana made her professional conducting debut with the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Spartanburg Ballet during their annual performance of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker alongside Dr. Genevieve Leclair.

In May of 2025, Allana received her Masters degree in Orchestral Conducting at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. As a prominent member of Dr. Emily Freeman Brown’s conducting studio, Allana served as assistant conductor of the BG Philharmonic conducting works by L. Beethoven, S. Rachmoninoff, I. Stravinsky, M. Mussorgsky, N. Rimsky-Korsakov, A. Schnittke, and P. Tchaikovsky. During her time at BGSU, Allana conducted a variety of ensembles in the NW Ohio area including sub-conducting for the Toledo Symphony Youth Orchestra on numerous occasions. Allana has studied with and attended multiple conducting masterclasses with leading orchestral conductors such as Gerald Schwarz, Alain Trudel, Eric Garcia, Scott Flavin, Rei Hotoda, Jessica Bejarano, and Giordano Bellincampi.

Currently, Allana D. Bogan resides in Bowling Green, Ohio with her husband, Andy, and their dog, Rocky. She serves as the current Music Director of the Black Swamp Fine Arts School where she also teaches music lessons. In September of 2025, Allana started the first ever Black Swamp Fine Arts Youth Orchestra which is an all strings ensemble for 6th-12th grade NW Ohio string students wanting to gain large ensemble experience. Allana hopes to grow the Youth Orchestra into a symphonic ensemble in the years to come.

The Black Swamp Community Orchestra is honored to welcome Allana to the podium and looks forward to an inspiring season under her direction.