Brasswinds
Charles Berginc
Trumpet*
Charles Berginc, principal trumpet for The Phoenix Symphony, began his musical career in Cleveland, playing the French horn in fourth grade. A year later he traded the horn in for the trumpet due to the instrument's size; he grew tired of dragging the French horn through the snow on the way to school. Berginc's studies awarded him a bachelor's degree in music from the Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music in Ohio and also a master's degree from Boston University. It wasn't until his senior year of college that he played his first classical music concert and, he was hooked. In addition to his position with The Phoenix Symphony, Berginc is principal trumpet for the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra and has performed with the Boston, Cleveland, Dallas and San Antonio symphony orchestras.
Horn
Bill is the professor of horn at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as well as principal horn of the Las Vegas Philharmonic. While in CHQ, he serves as assistant principal horn. Bill's performing background includes a wealth of orchestral, chamber music, studio recording, and commercial experience. His teaching experience includes being professor of horn at Baylor University and Ithaca College before coming to UNLV.
Tuba
Fred Boyd teaches tuba and euphonium at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. After a thirty year career as Bass Trombonist with the Syracuse Symphony in New York, he moved to the Carolinas to pursue a second career as a tuba player. Currently he serves as Principal Tuba with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra in New York as well as performing with the orchestras of Charlotte, Greenville, and Charleston. He has recently returned from Sweden, where he performed as cimbassist with the Helsingborg Symphony. When he is not playing, he can be seen flying his home-built airplane through the skies of South Carolina.
William Caballero
Horn, Weeks 1–3
A graduate from the New England Conservatory in Boston, Caballero studied under former members of the Boston Symphony. Early in his career, Caballero held Third Horn positions with the prestigious Boston Symphony and Boston Pops.
As an educator, Caballero has held teaching positions at Indiana University Bloomington, Rice University and Duquesne University. He has taught master classes at prestigious institutes including his alma mater New England Conservatory, Curtis Institute of Music, New World Symphony, and the Beijing and Shanghai Conservatories – as well as numerous others. Caballero currently chairs the Brass Department at Carnegie Mellon University School of Music and is the current Associate Teaching Professor of Horn.
As Principal Horn of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for 23 years running, William Caballero is one of today’s most respected French horn players. He has performed as guest Principal Horn with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the St. Louis Symphony. His previous Principal Horn positions include the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, and Hartford Symphony.
Donna Dolson
Horn
Donna lived in Japan for eighteen years, where she served as principal horn of the Osaka Century Orchestra. She was the principal horn with the New York City Opera Nat. Co., third horn of L'Orquesta Sinfonica de la Universidad L'Autonoma de la Universidad de Guadalajara, and Utility horn with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra. A student of Froydis Ree Wekre, Donna's teaching style is geared towards bringing out each student's best self.
Tuba
Don Harry became the tubaist of the Oklahoma City Symphony in 1972 and joined the Buffalo Philharmonic as principal tuba in 1973. From 1977 through 1988, he served as the tuba instructor at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. In 1983 and 1984, he also served as the principal tuba and teacher at the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina. From 1995 through 1997, Mr. Harry was the tuba instructor at Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory. In 1990 he became a member of the Eastman Brass, and in 1996 Associate Professor of Tuba at the Eastman School, where he is now Professor of Tuba.
He has performed with many groups and orchestras including Henry Mancini, New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Orchestre de Paris, Toronto Symphony, Aspen Music Festival Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony, and others.
Trombone, guest faculty
As a trombone soloist and with his various chamber ensembles, Scott Hartman has taught and played concerts in all fifty United States and throughout the world. Scott teaches trombone and chamber music at Yale University and is a member of Proteus7, Millennium Brass, the Yale Brass Trio, the Brass Band of Battle Creek and the trombone quartet - Four of a Kind. His chamber music career started as a member of the Empire Brass.
Scott Hartman received his BM and MM degrees from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with CSO Principal Trombone, John Marcellus.
Horn, Weeks 4-7
Principal horn, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra; member, Chautauqua Wind Quintet. Roger Kaza rejoined the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra as Principal Horn in the fall of 2009, after 14 years with the Houston Symphony. He was previously a member of the St. Louis Symphony horn section from 1983-95, and prior to that held positions in the Vancouver Symphony, the Boston Symphony, and the Boston Pops, where he was solo horn under John Williams.
As an educator, Kaza has served on the faculties of the University of Houston, Rice University, St. Louis Conservatory, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, and has given master classes at the Eastman School, the Juilliard School, Indiana University, University of Michigan, and many others. Students from his years of teaching fill orchestral positions worldwide, including principal players in major U.S. symphonies, and chamber groups such as the Canadian Brass.
Eric Lindbloom
Bass Trombone
Eric Lindblom is currently bass trombonist with the Helsingborg (Sweden) and Chautauqua Symphony orchestras and the instructor of trombone at the Malmo Academy of Music where he also leads the trombone choir. Prior to moving to Helsingborg he served as the bass trombonist of the Norrkoping Symphony Orchestra for ten seasons. Mr Lindblom is also an active chamber musician performing with the critically acclaimed Emerald Brass Quintet first prize winners of both the Fischoff and Summit Brass International competitions. He also serves on the faculty at the Ingesund College of Music in Arvika, Sweden and is the former vice president and a founding member of the Scandinavian Trombone Association. Mr. Lindblom received his degree from the Eastman School of Music studying with Professor Dr. John Marcellus.
Affiliation: Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra (Sweden), Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Malmo and Ingesunds Musikhogskolor (Sweden)
Trombone*
Dr. John Marcellus was appointed Professor and Director of the Eastman Trombone Choir in 1978 after a worldwide search for an heir to carry on the legacy of Eastman’s legendary Professor of Trombone, Emory Remington(1922-1972), the “Chief.” “Doc” Marcellus is internationally known as a soloist for his performances and recordings as Principal Trombone of the National Symphony Orchestra (John F. Kennedy Center-Washington DC) and soloist with the United States Navy Band. He is a respected brass pedagogue and international recording artist who has accomplished a stunning record of former students successfully winning major symphony orchestra auditions and appointments to some of the most prestigious music faculties in the world.
Dr. Marcellus is currently a member of the Eastman Brass, Principal Trombone of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of the Brighton (NY) Symphony Orchestra and a performing artist for Courtois Trombones of the Buffet Crampon Company. He formerly was a member of the Jacksonville (FL) Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, National Ballet Orchestra, Washington Opera Society Orchestra, American Ballet Orchestra, Boston Pops Orchestra, National Symphony Brass Quintet, Washington Theatre Chamber Players, and Contemporary Music Forum of Washington.
Horn
Mark Robbins is associate principal French horn with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, and also performs as principal horn with the Seattle Opera, including performing the horn calls for Wagner's Ring Cycle. When the Ring Cycle is not being performed in Seattle, he spends his summers with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. He has been a featured soloist with the Seattle Symphony, and other orchestras on a number of occasions. Also a frequent performer of chamber music, he has performed with the Seattle Chamber Players, and is a member of the Amacord Wind Quintet. He is an active horn teacher in the Seattle area.
Raymond Stewart
Tuba
Tubaist Raymond Stewart performs regularly as a member of American Composers Orchestra, Meridian Arts Ensemble, and often appears on the Broadway stage in CHICAGO doubling string bass. He received his high school diploma from the Interlochen Arts Academy, BM from the University of Miami School of Music, and MM from the Manhattan School of Music. His principal teachers have included Toby Hanks, John Stevens, and additional studies with Carson Johnson, Dave Sporny, and Dan Perantoni.
Chris Wolf
Trombone
Originally from Ellicott City, Maryland, Chris Wolf now holds the position of Principal Trombonist with The Phoenix Symphony. Prior to joining the orchestra in September of 2011, he completed his Master's degree at The Juilliard School studying with former Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Principal Trombonist Per Brevig. He also holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland, where he studied with trombonists from The National Symphony Orchestra and Baltimore Symphony. During the summers Chris also serves as Principal Trombonist for the Artosphere Festival Orchestra in Arkansas and 2nd Trombonist for the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra in New York.
While in college Chris received fellowships from the Aspen Music Festival, the National Repertory Orchestra, and the Tanglewood Music Center. In 2010 Chris was a solo competition winner at the Eastern Trombone Workshop and the International Trombone Festival, and was the winner of the Zellmer-Minnesota Orchestra Competition in 2011. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, cooking, and watching too many sitcoms on Netflix.
Woodwinds
Clarinet*, Master class during Weeks 2 & 3
Eli Eban is professor of clarinet at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
He was appointed principal clarinetist of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra under Lukas Foss immediately after graduating from the Curtis Institute of Music, and shortly thereafter, he joined the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra at the invitation of Zubin Mehta.
In high demand as teacher, Eban was a visiting professor at the Eastman School of Music for two years before joining the faculty of the Jacobs School of Music. Many of his former students are pursuing active solo careers and have won orchestral positions in Israel, Denmark, Korea, Poland, Singapore, and South Africa. In the United States, they can be heard in the orchestras of Indianapolis, New Mexico, Toledo, and the New World Symphony, and in the premier service bands in Washington, D.C. He divides his time between teaching at the Jacobs School, touring as a soloist and chamber musician, and performing as the principal clarinetist of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. His summers are spent performing and teaching at the Sarasota Music Festival and playing principal clarinet in the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra while also teaching for the School of Music.
Oboe*
Jan Eberle is professor of oboe at the Michigan State University College of Music.
She received her Bachelor of Music degree in oboe performance and a Certificate of Special Study from the Curtis Institute of Music.
For 18 years, Eberle held the position of principal oboe in the Fort Worth Symphony. In addition, she has been a guest principal oboist with the Detroit, Houston, Minnesota, and North Carolina Symphonies, and has served as assistant principal oboe in the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Chamber music has also been an integral part of her musical career. As a member of L'Ensemble de Trois, she was a winner of the Coleman International Chamber Music Competition Nadie di Kibort Award and the Southbay Chamber Music Competition. She was a member of the Harvard Chamber Players for three years. She has also made guest appearances with the Atlanta Virtuosi; Dallas Fine Arts Chamber Players; Suzuki and Friends; and the Oxford String Quartet.
Eberle spends her summers in New York as principal oboe of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and instructor at the Chautauqua School of Music.
Clarinet, Weeks 5–6
Ms. Haskell is currently Associate Principal Clarinet with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Haskell has also performed numerous times with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra as soloist, including with Maestro David Robertson and Maestro Jahja Ling. She has been Associate Principal or Principal Clarinet with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Savannah Symphony and Charleston Symphony. She was also Principal Clarinet with Santa Fe Opera for one season. As a result of being a finalist in the Naumberg International Competition, Haskell performed a solo recital in the Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall.
Haskell is a respected teacher in the tradition of the Daniel Bonade school, through her training at Eastman School of Music with D. Stanley Hasty, as well as with Mitchell Lurie, with whom she studied at Music Academy of the West. In addition, her studies with Joseph Allard at Juilliard and piano training with Maria Louis-Faini have given her a well-rounded foundation for building her own teaching and coaching expertise.
Haskell is currently Woodwind Coordinator at Chautauqua Institution School of Music, where she gives individual instruction to conservatory clarinetists and coaches mixed chamber groups. For five years Haskell recruited, organized and led her own Clarinet Intensive, a rigorous two-week immersion program for 5-7 advanced conservatory and high school students as part of the MasterWorks Festival. A supporter of minority arts initiatives, Haskell participates in the In Unison program with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra as a performer, instructor and mentor at various locations in St. Louis. Ms. Haskell also teaches clarinet and is on the board for HEAL Center For the Arts, a vigorous after-school arts program in St. Louis for students in urban centers.
Haskell's students have been accepted at Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, University of Southern California, Roosevelt University, DePaul University, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Northwestern University, University of Minnesota, and Bowling Green State among others. Her students occupy positions with regional orchestras, in bands of the Armed Forces, as clarinet professors, and as orchestra and band directors.
She can be heard on several recordings, including her CD Clarinet Enchantments, which is at iTunes. She is a Buffet Artist and a Vandoren Artist. She has a teaching blog called Clarinet Divas and her website may be found at www.dianahaskellclarinet.com.
Bassoon*
Bassoonist Jeff Robinson recently relocated to Manhattan from Houston, TX, where he has been a member of the Houston Symphony since 1992. Hired during the tenure of Christoph Eschenbach to play bassoon and contrabassoon, he acted as Associate Principal Bassoon from 2003 to 2007. He also serves as Principal Bassoon in the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra (2004-present). During the summer, Robinson teaches and performs at the Texas Music Festival and plays Principal Bassoon with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra where he teaches and coaches for the college program. He has performed with the National Symphony, the Santa Fe Opera, the Grand Tetons Festival Orchestra, and Ars Lyrica Houston. He has also been a soloist with the Houston Symphony, the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. A native of Palo Alto, CA, Robinson attended the Eastman School of Music, studying with K. David Van Hoesen. While continuing to perform with the Houston Symphony, Robinson works from New York as a solo, chamber, and orchestral musician, and teaches private lessons and master classes throughout the U.S.
Flute*
Richard Sherman is professor of flute at the Michigan State University College of Music.
Active as a soloist, orchestral musician, and recitalist, he is a dynamic performer of outstanding dramatic power. He received a bachelor of music degree from the Eastman School of Music, a master of music degree from Northwestern University, and had postgraduate study at the Royal College of Music in London. Sherman is former principal flute with the Rochester (New York) Philharmonic Orchestra, and is principal flute with the Chautauqua (New York) Symphony Orchestra and the Lansing Symphony Orchestra. He has given performances with the Chicago Symphony, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony and the Toronto Symphony. He has performed as a soloist with the Columbus Symphony, the Rochester Philharmonic, Youngstown Symphony, Lansing Symphony, and Chautauqua Symphony, among others.
Strings
Violin
Chair, Strings Department, Chautauqua Music Festival; Professor of Violin, the University of Michigan; Former violin teacher at Meadowmount School of Music and the Hochschule fur Musik in Detmold, Germany: Concertmaster, Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra; first violinist of the Chester String Quartet; has performed in Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the 92nd Street Y, the Corcoran Gallery, Het Doelen, L'Octogone (the Netherlands), Seoul National University (Korea), the Teatro San Jose (Costa Rica) and the Museo de Bellas Artes (Mexico); has recorded for Sony, Naxos, ECM, Chesky, Equilibrium, New Albion, and others. Annual concert tours to Europe.
Double Bass
Born in Lubbock, Texas. Graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy and Northwestern University. Student of Oscar Zimmerman, Jon Deak, Warren Benfield. Teaching experience includes De Paul University, Glassboro University, University of Arizona, University of Maryland and Chautauqua Institution. Performed with Houston Symphony, Lyric Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Grant Park Symphony,Philadelphia Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra and Chautauqua Symphony. Also performed with Philadelphia Chamber Players and American Chambers Players.
Ilya Kaler
Violin
Russian violinist Ilya Kaler has been compared to masters such as Itzhak Perlman and Jascha Heifetz. He has the distinction of being the only violinist to win gold medals in three of the most prestigious international competitions: the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow (1986), the Sibelius Competition in Helsinki (1985), and the Paganini Competition in Genoa (1981). He has had a distinguished career as a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, and educator.
Owen Lee
Double Bass
Owen Lee is Principal Bass of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra since 1996 and Principal Bass of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra since 2012.
Lee is heard regularly as a soloist with orchestras including the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra and the New World Symphony in Miami and on tour to New York's Lincoln Center.
Lee’s prizes in competitions include First Prize at the 1995 International Society of Bassists Competition and Fourth Prize at the 1992 Irving M. Klein International String Competition in San Francisco. He has recorded the Misek Sonata No.2 and Bach Suites No.3 and No.5 for Boston Records. He can also be heard on all of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's numerous recordings for Telarc International since 1996, most notably the prominent bass solos in Prokofiev's Lt. Kije Suite, Shostakovich's 15th Symphony, Mahler's 10th Symphony and Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra.
Lee’s extensive international chamber music experience includes three summers as the bassist of the Marlboro Festival. While there, he performed with Richard Stoltzman, Midori, Nobuko Imai, Bruno Canino, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, and members of the Beaux Arts Trio, Guarneri Quartet and Juilliard Quartet. Lee has also performed with the Tokyo String Quartet on tour to Mexico, Andre Watts, Yefim Bronfman, Jaime Laredo, Ida Kavafian, Sharon Robinson, Eugenia Zukerman, the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, Mainly Mozart Festival, Ojai Festival, and on tour in Europe and China.
In addition to his performing career, Lee is a highly sought after teacher and serves on the faculties of University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Chautauqua School of Music.
Cello
Born in Israel where he received extensive training as a cellist and as a flutist, Lipsky was just nine when he won the first of many prestigious musical competitions allowing him to solo with his town’s orchestra. After this impressive success, he began to appear in concerts throughout Israel and Europe. His mentors include Semyon Bychkov, Yoel Levi and Kurt Mazur in conducting and Pablo Casals and Leonard Rose on cello. He holds degrees in Aeronautical Engineering and Music which he received before serving in the Israeli Army.
After moving to the United States, Lipsky served as Assistant Conductor of the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Ohio Opera. He moved to Buffalo in 1984 to become the Buffalo Philharmonic’s principal cellist and in 1990, he became the Resident Conductor. Lipsky is the Music Director of the Ashland Symphony (Ohio), and also conducts major orchestras in the US, Canada and Europe.
A musician’s musician, a most collaborative of conductors, and a community-recognized leader, Music Director and Conductor Arie Lipsky celebrates his 18th year with the A²SO this season. He has helped grow the symphony, improve its level of music artistry, and expand its audience to all of Southeast Michigan.
Violin
Violinist NURIT PACHT was a top prize winner in international competitions including the Irving Klein International Music Competition in California and the Tibor Varga International Violin Competition in Switzerland. As a soloist she was featured in major world events such as the European conference for the inauguration of the Euro in Brussels and under the auspices of the European Commission and United Nations she toured the former Yugoslavia, during the cease-fire in 1996. In 2015, she performed for Pope Francis on his visit to New York and gave a State Department funded recital tour of Ukraine. She has collaborated with stage director Robert Wilson, choreographers such as Bill T. Jones and has worked closely with many of today's celebrated composers. She has toured as soloist with orchestras around the world including the Houston Symphony, the Pacific Symphony, the Rhode Island Philharmonic and the Israel Chamber Orchestra. The Israeli Composer Noam Sheriff dedicated the violin concerto "Dibrot" to her and she performed it in several prestigious venues of Israel. As a baroque violinist, she has a master's degree from Juilliard's Historical Performance program. Ms. Pacht has recorded for Nimbus Records and Toccata Classics.
Viola
Praised by the New York Times for her “superior musicianship” is recognized internationally as a leading pedagogue, soloist and chamber musician. As an orchestral musician, she was formerly principal violist of the Houston Grand Opera, the Dallas Opera and the American Composers Orchestra. She has also played with in the sections of the New York Philharmonic, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the Houston Symphony. She has taught at many of the leading conservatories including Rice University, Eastman School of Music and the Oberlin Conservatory and her students hold prestigious posts in major orchestras, string quartets and at universities throughout the world.
She is currently on the viola faculty at the Manhattan School of Music and New York University. As a master class clinician and recitalist, she has appeared throughout the United States as well as Canada, Mexico, Spain, Czech Republic, Norway, Sweden, Korea, Taiwan and China. Her summer residencies have included the Aspen Music Festival, the Heifetz International Institute of Music, Litomisl International Masterclasses in the Czech Republic, and Domaine-Forget in Canada. Since its inception in 2002, she has served on the faculty of the annual “Karen Tuttle Coordination Workshop.”
In the spring of 2011, Ms. Ritscher became a certified teacher of Gabrielle Roth’s 5Rhythm ™ Movement Practice. She teaches the 5Rhythms™ in New York as well as workshops throughout the world.
Violin
Six-time recipient, Presidential Excellence in Teaching Award. Winner, Distinguished Service Award, American String Teachers Association; named Distinguished Teacher by National Endowment for the Arts. Winner, Chautauqua Award and Concert Artists Guild Award. Faculty member, Roosevelt University , Music Institute of Chicago. Former faculty member, Northwestern University, Western Illinois University, University of Minnesota, and Oberlin Conservatory. Cofounder, Weathersfield Summer Music Festival. Students have won top prizes in numerous international competitions. Studied with Mischa Mischakoff and Louis Persinger at the Juilliard School.
Violin
A member of the Chester String Quartet for fifteen years, violinist Kathryn Votapek now maintains an active career as soloist and as guest artist at chamber music festivals throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. She has participated in numerous commissioning projects and premieres and can be heard with the Chester Quartet on the Koch International Classics and New Albion labels. She is currently on the faculty at the University of Michigan and is the Associate Concertmaster of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Votapek received her Bachelor of Music degree at Indiana University and Master’s degree from the Juilliard School.
Percussion
Percussion
Michael Burritt is currently Professor of Percussion and head of the department at The Eastman School of Music where is only the third person in the history of the school to hold this position. Prior to his appointment at Eastman Mr. Burritt was Professor of Percussion at Northwestern University from 1995-2008 where he developed a program of international distinction.
Having performed on four continents and more than forty states Michael Burritt is one of the World’s leading percussion soloists. He is in frequent demand performing concert tours and master classes throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia and Canada. Mr. Burritt has been soloist with the United States Air Force Band, Dallas Wind Symphony, Omaha Symphony, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Ju Percussion Group (Taiwan), Percussion Art Quartet (Germany), Amores Percussion Group (Spain), Nexus and the Third Coast Percussion.
Timpani*
Stuart Chafetz is the newly appointed Principal Pops Conductor of the Columbus Symphony. Chafetz, a conductor celebrated for his dynamic and engaging podium presence, is increasingly in demand with orchestras across the continent and this season Chafetz will be on the podium in Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee, Naples, Philly Pops, Pittsburgh, Seattle and Vancouver. He enjoys a special relationship with The Phoenix Symphony where he leads multiple programs annually.
He previously held posts as resident conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and associate conductor of the Louisville Orchestra. As principal timpanist of the Honolulu Symphony for twenty years, Chafetz would also conduct the annual Nutcracker performances with Ballet Hawaii and principals from the American Ballet Theatre.
Pedro Fernandez
Percussion*
Recently appointed to the Indianapolis Symphony, Panamanian percussionist Pedro Fernández has appeared as a recitalist, chamber musician, and in orchestral settings across Latin America, the United States, Spain, China, and Japan. Previously, Pedro held positions with the Houston Ballet Orchestra and with the Cincinnati Symphony (2014 2015 season). Additionally, he has performed with the Houston, Hawaii, Columbus, Palm Beach, and New World Symphonies; the Louisville Orchestra, and the Florida Grand Opera. Internationally, Pedro has appeared with the National Symphony of Costa Rica as well as in solo and percussionist/timpanist roles with the National Symphony of Panama.
Pedro holds degrees from University of Miami and Sam Houston State University. He also attended the National Repertory Orchestra, and the Aspen, Pacific, and Texas Music Festivals. Pedro is an Evans Drumheads endorser.
Brian Kushmaul
Percussion*
Percussionist Brian Kushmaul enjoys a career as a versatile musician and educator. He currently serves as principal percussionist of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra and principal timpanist of the IRIS Orchestra. As a teacher he has taught at the University of Evansville, University of Louisville, and the University of Trinidad and Tobago, and he currently leads the percussion program at the Chautauqua Music School. He has performed with many US orchestras, including Saint Louis, Cleveland, Columbus, Phoenix, San Diego, and Louisville. He has recorded with the Central Standard Time jazz quartet and Al Sur flamenco ensemble as well as several new music projects with the IBIS Ensemble in Trinidad. Brian currently resides in Western New York with his wife and two daughters.
Beth Robinson
Harp*
New York City freelance harpist; former principal with San Antonio, New Jersey and Pittsburgh symphonies; member, Interlude Trio and Enchantment Duo
Collaborative Pianist
Shannon Hesse
Collaborative Pianist
Shannon Hesse, keyboard area coordinator at Houston Baptist University, has performed both nationally and internationally as a solo and collaborative pianist, including a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall with soprano Marion Dickson in 2009. Her concert schedule consists of recurring guest appearances in recitals sponsored by organizations such as the College Music Society, National Association of Teachers of Singing, Society of Composers, Inc., Tuesday Musical Club, Galveston Island Arts Academy Concert Series, Greenbriar Consortium, and the Houston Composers Alliance. She regularly performs with musicians from the Houston Symphony, including her husband, cellist Anthony Kitai. A devoted teacher, Dr. Hesse is a long-standing member of Music Teachers National Association, where she is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music. She is frequently in demand as an adjudicator and her students have been prizewinners in Houston-area piano competitions.
Akiko Konishi
Collaborative Pianist/Chamber Music
Akiko Konishi completed her studies at Rice University, Yale University, and the University of Houston, under the guidance of renowned pianists Peter Frankl and Abbey Simon. Recent performances include repeat concerto appearances with the Chicago Federation of Musicians Orchestra and guest artist recitals at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Plovdiv Conservatory of Music (Bulgaria). Upcoming engagements include a solo recital at St. Benedict’s Cathedral (Chicago) and a performance of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Triton Jazz Orchestra in 2017. She currently teaches at Triton College and the Music Institute of Chicago.
Luthier
Igor Gersh
Resident Luthier
For over ten summers Igor has been the “Luthier in Residence” at the Chautauqua School of Music where he services the needs of the professional Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra and the student Music School Festival Orchestra. During the rest of the year Igor works at “Potter Violins” in Washington, DC as well as in his private studio and his recently launched rehair by mail service MyBowExpress.com. Igor provides a full spectrum of professional luthier services. His specialties are sound adjustment, professional setup, and expert bow rehair, restoration and maintenance.
Music Director and Conductor of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra since 1999, and Music Director and Conductor of the Lansing Symphony since 2006, Timothy Muffitt continues to appear with other prominent orchestras around the country. Recent seasons have included St. Louis Symphony and Tulsa Symphony and return engagements with the San Francisco Symphony and the Long Beach Symphony along with his debut at The Hollywood Bowl. Other engagements have taken Muffitt to the Houston, Phoenix, Edmonton, and Spokane Symphonies, Columbus Ohio's Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Virginia Symphony, the Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra in Chicago and the Harrisburg (PA) Symphony among others.