Maureen Hickey Haitch (“hey-ch”, she/her) is a conductor, violinist, and violist born and based in Cincinnati, OH. Maureen currently works as a staff conductor with the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance where she directs the Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and Dayton Philharmonic Youth Strings. In addition, Maureen acts as Cover and Guest Conductor for the Cincinnati Community Orchestra. Maureen has guest conducted the Blue Ash Montgomery Symphony Orchestra and will debut with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra in April 2026 for Carnegie Hall’s Link Up: The Orchestra Swings!
Previously, Maureen was Adjunct Professor and Director of Chamber Orchestra at Xavier University and Assistant Conductor of the Muncie Symphony Orchestra. Before moving back to Cincinnati, Maureen worked as Assistant Director of the Youth Symphony Orchestras of East Central Indiana in Muncie, IN, where she conducted the Youth Symphony, taught beginner private and group violin, viola, and cello lessons, coached chamber ensembles, and led an after-school music program for children with socioeconomic instability through Motivate Our Minds. As a graduate assistant, she taught undergraduate conducting and string technique courses, and conducted Ball State University’s Campus Orchestra and New Music Ensemble.
As a freelance violinist and violist, Maureen performs regularly with the Richmond (IN) Symphony Orchestra, Springfield (OH) Symphony Orchestra, and Blue Ash Montgomery Symphony Orchestra. She has performed as a violinist with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and for Andrea Bocelli’s 30th Anniversary Tour at the Heritage Bank Arena in Cincinnati, OH.
Maureen earned dual Master’s degrees in Orchestral Conducting and Violin Performance from Ball State University in Muncie, IN, as well as a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Miami University of Ohio. She has participated in music festivals and conducting workshops throughout the United States and in Perugia, Italy under conductors and pedagogues such as Markand Thakar, JoAnn Falletta, Robert Moody, Kalena Bovell, Janna Hymes, and Aik Khai Pung.