
classical tahoe
orchestra musicians
Violin

Laura Hamilton
Interim Artistic Director and Concertmaster
Current: Concertmaster for Classical Tahoe since festival inception (2012), Concertmaster Festival Orchestra NAPA, Concertmaster Orchestra Moderne
Previous Ensembles: Metropolitan Opera: Principal Associate Concertmaster, Acting Concertmaster. Chicago Symphony, soloist with Maestro Sir Georg Solti; Concertmaster, Sydney Opera House; Guest Concertmaster for Seattle Symphony, American Symphony Orchestra, Welsh National Opera and Adelaide Symphony (Australia)
Chamber Music/Festivals: Marlboro, Manchester, and Bard Music Festivals, Norway and Greece summer festivals, Tononi Trio
Teaching: New York University, Blackburn Academy at Festival Napa Valley. Visiting faculty: New World Symphony, Manhattan School fo Music, Bel Canto Institute (Italy)
AND: A Sydney highlight was a gala concert with Jonas Kaufmann, playing Massenet’s Meditation from Thais, which garnered rave reviews praising her “radiant,” “serenely beautiful interpretation.”
Home: Laura and her husband, cellist Lanny Paykin, reside in Oakland, New Jersey
Concertmaster Laura Hamilton’s appearance and leadership are generously supported by Steven and Florence Goldby.
A Note from Laura: “I had the privilege of working with Joel Revzen as concertmaster in four different summer festivals since 2001, and our close collaboration and friendship grew hand-in-hand. His artistic leadership here at Classical Tahoe was a driving passion and guiding light over the past nine years. We loved him. We miss him. We continue to play great music with his loving spirit near to our hearts.”

Kay Stern
Co-Concertmaster
Current: Concertmaster of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra
Previous Ensembles: (concertmaster) The Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Concordia at Lincoln Center, Cabrillo Music Festival, Cleveland Chamber Symphony and the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra.
Chamber/Other: Lark string Quartet (first violinist/founding member), Live from Lincoln Center, Prairie Home Companion, Skywalker Ranch recordings
Faculty: San Francisco Conservatory of Music, University of San Francisco, Juilliard, Cleveland Institute of Music
Kay Stern’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Melanie Susan Broida.

Maria Schleuning
Principal Second Violin
Current: Dallas Symphony
Previous Ensembles: Voices of Change, contemporary music ensemble (TX), Oregon Symphony, Seattle Symphony (solo appearances)
Chamber/Festivals: performed in venues such as New York’s Alice Tully Hall, Weill Hall, Merkin Hall, Museum of Modern Art, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Idyllwild Arts, Walden Piano Quartet
Maria Schleuning’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Carole Anderson.

Zubaida Azezi
Violin
Current: The Florida Orchestra
Previous Ensembles: New World Symphony
Performances With: Houston Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony
Zubaida Azezi’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Julia Amaral and Mark Strate.

Gennady Filimonov
Violin
Current: Seattle Symphony
Appearances with: Carmel Bach Festival, Odessa Philharmonic, soloist/concertmaster with Rod Stewart, Linda Rondstatt, “Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber” “Heart”, others
Chamber Music/Festivals: Opus One Chamber Ensemble (co-founding member), Odeon quartet (NY, Seattle), “Bridging the Cultural Gap” tour

Annamae Goldstein
Violin
Current: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Ensembles: New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony
Chamber Music/Festivals: Tanglewood, Schleswig-Holstein, Bowdoin, Boulder, Snow Pond, OK Mozart and Wyndham Music Festivals.Lyric Chamber Music Society of NY, Met Chamber Ensemble, Bridgehampton Chamber Music, Tahoe String Quartet, IRIS Quartet

Erin Hall
Violin
Current: Assistant Concertmaster, Nashville Symphony.
Chamber/Festivals: Aspen Music Festival, Tanglewood, Pacific Music Festival, Peninsula Music Festival, Mainly Mozart
Teaching: Faculty, Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music

Kristi Helberg
Violin
Current: Violinist of The Knights (New York-based chamber orchestra, Sony Recording artists)
Ensembles: appears with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, String Orchestra of New York City, Sarasota Opera (Principal)
Chamber/Other: Caravel Trio (Founder), Chamber Orchestra of New York (Principal), Festivals of Ravinia, Caramoor International, Bonn Beethovenfest, Dresden Musikfestspiele, Salzburg and Tanglewood
Kristi Helberg’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Janet Pahl.

Simon James
Violin
Current: Second Assistant Concertmaster: Seattle Symphony Orchestra
Orchestras: Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Mostly Mozart.
Recording Career: with Northwest Sinfonia, can be heard on hundreds of motion picture, TV soundtracks, and recorded concerti with the Seattle Symphony and the Slovak Radio Symphony
Teaching: Internationally recognized pedagogue; Violin Professor, San Francisco Conservatory
Awards to Students: International Menuhin Junior Competition, Stradivarius International Competition, Stulberg International String Competition, Vancouver International Music Competition, MTNA National Competition, featured numerous times on NPR’s From the Top. Students won positions in New York Philharmonic, St Louis Symphony, and Minnesota Orchestra.
Simon James’ appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Anne and Roger Forbes.

Daniel Khalikov
Violin
Current: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Ensembles: Concertmaster: Chamber Orchestra of New York
Appears with: National Arts Center Orchestra (Ottawa, CA) Brighton Philharmonic, Uzbekistan National Symphony Orchestra, Turkey’s BASSO Orchestra
Chamber Music/Festivals: Metropolitan Chamber Ensemble, Tanglewood, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Santa Fe, BargeMusic, Music Mountain, Verbier Festival, Perlman Music Program
Daniel Khalikov’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Janet Pahl.

Brian Krinke
Violin
Current: Concertmaster, Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra
Ensembles: Rochester Philharmonic, Buffalo Philharmonic (Assistant Concertmaster positions), St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra
Solo appearances with: Buffalo Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia
Chamber/Festivals: Bard, OK Mozart Festival
Brian Krinke’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Melanie Susan Broida.

Jeehae Lee
Violin
Current: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Ensembles/Festivals: appeared with New Jersey Symphony, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival Orchestra, MET Chamber Ensemble, Aspen Music Festival orchestral fellow
Appeared at: Alice Tully Hall, Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall for chamber performances. Solo appearances at Hoam Art Hall in Seoul and Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall
Jeehae Lee’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Kyungae Bae and Ralph Miller.

Ruth Lenz
Violin
Current: Concertmaster, Reno Philharmonic; Concertmaster, Reno Chamber Orchestra
Previous Ensembles: past acting concertmaster, Fresno Philharmonic
Appearances With: Argenta; Apex; Incline Chamber Music Society; Sacramento Chamber Music Society; Carpe Diem Quartet
Chamber Music/Festivals: Telluride Chamber Music Festival; Sunriver Festival; Nevada Chamber Music Festival; La Musica Festival; Festival Napa Valley; Mayshad Festival; Kammermusiktage, Barth
Ruth Lenz’ appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Charolette and Richard McConnell.

Laura Lutzke
Violin
Current: American Contemporary Music Ensemble
Ensembles: The Knights, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Ensemble LPR, Wordless Music Orchestra.
Chamber/Festivals: Open Chamber Music at Prussia Cove (UK), Caramoor International Music Festival, SXSW, Auckland Arts Festival.
Laura Lutzke’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Joan Duffield.

Yurika Mok
Violin
Current: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Previous Ensembles: St. Louis Symphony
Chamber/Other: Master of Music Degree at Manhattan School of Music, studying with Burton Kaplan.
Yurika Mok’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Iljosa and Clifford Dobler.

Rachel Golub
Violin

Sarah Vonsattel
Violin
Current: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Ensembles: Detroit Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Talea Ensemble (NY) Verklarte Quartet, iO String Quartet, League of Composers Orchestra
Chamber Music/Festivals: Bronxville Chamber Music Series, New Marlborough House Concerts
Sarah Vonsattel’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Renee Bouck.

Xiao-Dong Wang
Violin
Current: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Solo Performances with: China Philharmonic, London Mozart Players, Royal Philharmonic, Shanghai Symphony, Sydney Opera Orchestra
Appearances at: Aspen, Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Ravinia
Xiao-Dong Wang’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Anonymous.

Sabrina Bradford
Violin (Fellow)
Current: Minnesota Orchestra
Ensembles: Nashville Symphony, National Philharmonic
Education: Vanderbilt University, Cleveland Institute of Music

Julian Maddox
Violin (Fellow)
Current: Canton Symphony Orchestra, Akron Symphony, Cleveland Pops, Firelands Symphony, New World Symphony, Columbus Opera, and ProMusica Chamber Orchestras
Education: Cleveland Institute of Music, currently pursuing Master of Music, CIM
Mentors: Jaime Laredo, Jan Sloman
Viola

Désirée Elsevier
Principal Viola
Current: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Ensembles: Soloist with the Western NY Chamber Orchestra and Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra di San Carlo in Naples, Italy (Assistant Principal viola), World Orchestra for Peace (concerts in Germany, England, Holland, Belgium, Hungary, Russia, China, Israel, Poland, Sweden, Austria, United Arab Emirates)
Désirée Elsevier’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Florence and Steven Goldby.

Milan Milisavljević
Principal Viola
Current: Principal Violist: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Previous Ensembles: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, collaborated with Guarneri, Mendelssohn, St. Petersburg and Brentano String Quartets
Chamber Festivals: Munich Chamber Orchestra, Aspen Sinfonia, Belgrade Philharmonic, Marlboro Music Festival, Grand Teton Music Festival, Cascade Head, Verbier Festival Orchestra
Milan Milisavljević’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Maureen and Ron Ashley.

Sarah Adams
Viola
Current: Cassatt Quartet, American Ballet Theater, Riverside Symphony (Principal)
Appears with: Orpheus, Metropolitan Opera, NY Philharmonic, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, New York City Ballet
Chamber Music/Festivals: Bard, Caramoor, Saratoga, Bowdoin, Seal Bay, Cape May
Teaching: Columbia University
Sarah Adams’ appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Melanie Susan Broida.

Katarzyna Bryla-Weiss
Viola
Current: Member of The New York City Ballet and Orchestra of St. Luke’s
Appears With: New York City Opera, Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Ensemble LPR
Festivals: Performed in Caramoor Music Festival, Music@Menlo, Cactus Pear Music Festival in San Antonio (TX), Aspen Music Festival, Bach Dancing and Dynamite, Madison (WI), Lisker Music Foundation, Singapore Sun Music Festival, Las Palmas Music Festival
Katarzyna Bryla-Weiss’ appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Sylvia Johnson.

Katie Kadarauch
Viola
Current: Assistant Principal Viola, San Francisco Symphony (since 2007)
Ensembles/Festivals: East Coast Chamber Orchestra, Marlboro Music Festival and past tours, a founding member of the award-winning Janaki String Trio and frequent Bay Area chamber music performer.
Specialty: No music is off-limits. I love teaching, chamber music, mixed media collaborations, modern, baroque, multicultural music, and can be heard on many film scores including Avatar, Pirates of the Caribbean 3, and Get Smart
Katie Kadarauch’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Jerome Guillen & Jeremy Gallaher.

Scott Hosfeld
Viola
Current: Music Director and Conductor, Idyllwild Arts Academy Orchestras; Director of Chamber Music Studies, Idyllwild Arts Academy; Music Director of Malibu Concerts on the Bluffs Music Festival.
Previous Ensembles: Principal Conductor, Icicle Creek Chamber Orchestra, the Kairos Festival Orchestra, the Dorian Festival Orchestras, the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival Orchestras
Positions and Awards: Currently holds the Alfred Newman Conducting Chair, and Camilla Wicks Violin Chair at the Montgomery Arts House for Music and Architecture (MAHMA) in Malibu, California.
Scott Hosfeld’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Ann Ehringer.

Catherine Ro
Viola
Current: Acting Assistant Principal Metropolitan Opera Orchestra violinist (since 2000), The Richard and Elizabeth Gilbert Chair
Ensembles/Festivals: Soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Esa-Pekka Salonen. MET Chamber Ensemble, 2nd violinist of Quartet 212, founding member of Musique et Vin au Clos Vougeot
Other: Certified Bar Method instructor
Catherine Ro’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Monica Young.

Davis Perez
Viola (Fellow)
Ensembles: Quad City, Madison, Northwest Indiana Symphonies
Education: University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Chicago College of Performing Arts
Mentors: Catherine Carroll, Masao Kawasaki and Roger Chase
Cello

Winona Zelenka
Principal Cello
Current: Assistant Principal Cello, Toronto Symphony
Ensembles: Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, Trio Arkel, numerous orchestras in England, Canada, and U.S.
Solo Appearances: Toronto Symphony, Toronto Philharmonia, Mississauga Symphony, a Juno-nominated recording of the Bach Cello Suites
Winona Zelenka’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Robert Pollock.

David Calhoun
Cello
Current: American Symphony
Appears with: American Ballet Theatre, New York Virtuosi, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Orpheus, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (tour), New York City Opera (tour) (principal)
Chamber Music/Festivals: Bargemusic, Bard, St. Andrews and Manchester Music Festivals. Seacliff Chamber Players, Orpheus, Mostly Mozart, and the Omni Ensemble
David Calhoun’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Melanie Susan Broida.

Lanny Paykin
Cello
Ensembles: American Composers’ Orchestra, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Westchester Philharmonic
Appearances with: New York City Ballet, Metropolitan Opera, and New York Philharmonic; as principal with New York City Opera, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Long Island Philharmonic, Westchester Philharmonic, American Composers’ Orchestra, American Symphony Orchestra
Lanny Paykin’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Florence and Steven Goldby.

Barbara Bogatin
Cello
Current: San Francisco Symphony
Past Ensembles: New Jersey Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic.
Festivals/Chamber: Lucerne Festival, Chamber Music Northwest, New York Chamber Soloists, Spoleto, and Casals Festival.

Ted Nelson
Cello
Current: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Ensembles: Akron, Toledo and Kansas City Symphonies

Mariko Hiraga Wyrick
Cello
Current: American Ballet Orchestra (since 2014), performs actively in greater New York area
Chamber: Winner of the American Fine Arts Festival competition, performances in Weill Hall, NYC
Festivals: Kneisel Hall, the Fontainebleu Academie, and the Greenwood Festival
Mariko Hiraga Wyrick’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Thomas Yamamoto and Marietta Wu.

Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir
Cello
Current: Artist-in-Residence: University of Washington in Seattle, Co-Artistic Director and cellist of Decoda
As Soloist: Los Angeles Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orkester, Iceland Symphony
Chamber/Other: Performances at Marlboro and Prussia Cove, Barbican Center in London, Suntory Hall in Tokyo among others

Francesca McNeeley
Cello (Fellow)
Current: collaborator and soloist, Boston (MA) area.
Ensembles: Boston Symphony Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Castle of Our Skins, New Gallery Concert Series, Celebrity Series of Boston, Archipelago Collective Chamber Music Festival (WA)
Education: Princeton University, Shepherd School of Music/Rice University, New England Conservatory
Bass

Ha Young Jung
Bass
Current: Principal Double Bass, New Jersey Symphony
Chamber/Ensembles: A Far Cry (Boston), Chineke! Orchestra (UK), Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players (New York), and the New York Philharmonic.
Previous Ensembles: Ensembles: Carnegie Hall Ensemble Connect, London Symphony Orchestra, English National Opera
Festivals: Bergen International Festival (Norway), Eilat International Festival (Israel), Hardanger International Music Festival (Norway), Wimbledon International Chamber Music Festival (London).

Timothy Dilenschneider
Bass
Current: Associate Principal Bass, Houston Symphony
Ensembles, appeared as soloist with: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (2016-2018), New World Symphony (2014-2016)
Performances with: Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, The Florida Orchestra, New York Symphonic Ensemble
Timothy Dilenschneider’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Julia Amaral and Mark Strate.

Daniel Krekeler
Bass
Current: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Other Ensembles: Minnesota Orchestra, Binghamton Philharmonic, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Sarasota Opera Orchestra, and a performance with the Tokyo String Quartet
Festivals: Verbier, Salzburg Easter Festival
Daniel Krekeler’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Monica Young.

Christopher Johnson
Bass (Fellow)
Current: Freelance, New York City
Ensembles: Rootstock Republic, JP Jofre Quintet, New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Allentown Symphony Orchestra, Reading Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra (substitute), Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Sphinx Virtuosi, Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Albany Symphony Orchestra, Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, Wordless Music Orchestra, Verbier Festival Orchestra
Education: Bachelor of Music, New England Conservatory; Master of Music, Manhattan School of Music; 1st place, International Society of Bassist competition, Finalist, Sphinx Orchestral Partners Association’s Orchestral Competition
Flute & Piccolo

Érik Gratton
Principal Flute
Current: Principal Flutist: Nashville Symphony
Orchestras: Principal, MET Opera; Montreal Symphony, Seattle Symphony and Pittsburgh Symphony
Awards: First Prize with great distinction, Montreal Conservatory
Recordings: More than 20 recordings with the Nashville Symphony on the Naxos label, also an active session player in Nashville’s busy recording industry.
Érik Gratton’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Linda Pascotto.

Erin James
Flute
Ensembles: Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera, Australian Pops Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Victorian State Opera.
Chamber/Festivals: Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, and as soloist touring Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Stephanie Mortimore
Piccolo
Current: Principal Piccolo, MET Orchestra; also performs as Acting Principal Flute, MET Orchestra
Ensembles: All-Star Orchestra, Dallas Chamber Orchestra, can be heard on 3 Grammy Award winning recording with the MET, 2 Emmy Award winning video series with the All-Star Orchestra
Festival/Chamber: Grand Teton Festival; recitals as Weill Recital Hall and numerous other U.S. venues
Stephanie Mortimore’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Sevim Larsen.

Devan Jaquez
Flute (Fellow)
Education: Master of Music Degree, Colburn Conservatory in Los Angeles; BA, Music Performance, UCLA
Ensembles/Chamber: Colburn Chamber Music Society, Music Academy of the West
Festivals: Spoleto Festival USA, American Institute of Music, Graz Orchestra (Austria), National Repertory Orchestra (CO), soloist with the UCLA Philharmonia Orchestra.
Oboe & English horn

Nathan Hughes
Principal Oboe
Current: Principal Oboe: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Ensembles: Principal: Seattle Symphony. Guest Principal: Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony
Chamber/Festivals: Philadelphi
Faculty: The Juilliard School

John Upton
Oboe
Current: Principal oboe, The Florida Orchestra
Ensembles: Former member of the New World Symphony and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, appearances with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (guest principal oboe)
Festivals: Mainly Mozart, Sun Valley Summer Symphony, Des Moines Metro Opera, Lakes Area Music Festival, Verbier, Tanglewood
John Upton’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Alvaro Pascotto.

Sarah Lewis
Oboe
Current: Detroit Symphony
Ensembles: Toronto Symphony; appeared with Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, New World Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, and Lansing Symphony
Music Festivals: Tanglewood, Chautauqua Music Festival
Sarah Lewis’ appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Marna Broida.

Tamara Winston
Oboe (Fellow)
Ensembles: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, New York City Ballet, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Montclair Orchestra, Carnegie Hall/Ensemble Connect.
Chamber, Festivals: Ensemble Intercontemporain, Philharmonie de Paris, ConnectFive (NYC-based Woodwind quintet)
Clarinet & Bass Clarinet

Daniel Gilbert
Principal Clarinet
Current: Principal Clarinet: CityMusic Cleveland
Ensembles: Second Clarinet, Cleveland Orchestra (1995- 2007)
Festivals/Chamber: Cleveland Orchestra Chamber Series, the Cleveland Museum of Art Chamber Series and the Oberlin Chamber Music series
Other: Associate Professor of Clarinet, University of Michigan, Artist/Clinician for the Backen clarinets and the Vandoren Corporation
Daniel Gilbert’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Susan Pridmore.

Ixi Chen
Clarinet
Current: Second Clarinet of the Cincinnati Symphony
Ensembles: Philharmonie der Nationen (Hamburg), Munich ARD Festival
Festivals/Chamber: Aspen, Tanglewood, Evian, Schleswig-Holstein, Rheingau, Jerusalem International, Thessoloniki, and Saint Petersburg White Nights.
Other: University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, a Buffet Crampon and D’Addario artist
Ixi Chen’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Victoria Kahn.

Juan Esteban Martínez
Clarinet (Fellow)
Ensembles: New York String Orchestra Seminar (2 years), Symphony in C (NJ), Princeton Symphony (NJ), Westminster Opera Theater, Yale Philharmonia, National Repertory Orchestra, Orchestra of the Americas
Education: Master of Music, Yale School of Music; BA, Peabody Conservatory of Music
Mentors: David Shifrin, Anthony McGill.
Bassoon & Contrabassoon

Whitney Crockett
Principal Bassoon
Current: Principal Bassoon, Los Angeles Philharmonic; Principal Bassoon, PBS All-Star Orchestra
Previous Ensembles: Principal positions, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Florida Orchestra, South Florida Symphony, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacionál (Dominican Republic)
Chamber Music/Festivals: Met Chamber Players, Super World Orchestra (Tokyo Music Festival), Affinis Music Festivals (Japan), Instrumenta Oaxaca (Mexico), Santa Fe, Caramoor, Bridgehampton, Cape Cod
Whitney Crockett’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Jackie and Don Feinstein.

Evan Epifanio
Bassoon
Current: Principal bassoon – Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Ensembles: Former member of the Sarasota Orchestra, New World Symphony, and appearances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Festivals: Principal bassoon – Des Moines Metro Opera (2016-2018), Festival Napa Valley, Aspen Music Festival

Erik Höltje
Bassoon
Current: co-principal: The Knights Chamber Orchestra, principal: Delaware Symphony and Greater Bridgeport Symphony
Appearances with: New York City Ballet, Grant Park Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Princeton Symphony, Stamford Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Pennsylvania Ballet, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, New York Philharmonic
Festivals: Ravinia, Tanglewood, Ojai, Aix-en-Provence, Skaneateles, Caramoor, Pacific, Crested Butte
Erik Höltje’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Leslie Wittmann.

Samantha Duckworth
ContraBassoon
Current: appears with LA Philharmonic, LA Opera, LA Chamber Orchestra, MET Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s
Ensembles: Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Les Violons du Roy, L’Orchestra Symphonique de Quebec.
Festival/Other: appears on several Grammy Award winning recordings with the MSO, and on multiple CD and DVD recordings with the MET Orchestra and LA Philharmonic
Samantha Duckworth’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Cynthia and Dr. Ronald Allison.

Steven Palacio
Bassoon (Fellow)
Current: Freelance musician and agent in New York City, inviting audiences to re-imagine the classical music experience through thought-provoking lectures, experimentation with cross-genre collaborations
Ensembles: Georgian Bay Symphony (Canada), the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Albany Symphony, the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra of the Americas, League of Composers Orchestra
Education: Master of Music degree, The Juilliard School; Artist Diploma, Glenn Gould School, The Royal Conservatory of Music; Bachelor of Science, International Affairs; Bachelor of Music, The Florida State University (Honors)
Horn

Mark Almond
Principal Horn
Current Ensemble: Principal Horn, San Francisco Opera Orchestra
Previous Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra, London
Appeared with: Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, San Francisco Ballet
Solo appearances with: London Symphony Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Chamber/Festivals: Music@Menlo, Cheltenham International Festival, Ballet Sun Valley
Faculty: San Francisco State University
Other: Prior to his appointment in San Francisco worked as a hospital pulmonologist (MD) in London and holds a PhD in immunology and virology

Jennifer Montone
Principal Horn
Current: Principal Horn, Philadelphia Orchestra
Ensembles: Principal, Saint Louis Symphony; Guest Principal, Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra; MET Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
Festival/Chamber: Chamber Music Society, Lincoln Center, La Jolla Summerfest, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival
Awards: Avery Fisher Career Grant, Young Horn Player of the Year (London, UK)
Jennifer Montone’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Antonia Neubauer.

Hugo Valverde
Horn
Current: Second Horn, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Ensembles/Festivals: Chautauqua Music Festival; Youth Orchestra of the Americas; and Pacific Music Festival 2016 in Sapporo, Japan
Hometown: Barva de Heredia, Costa Rica. A small town located in the northern part of the Central Valley.
Hugo Valverde’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Denise Miller.

Anne Marie Scharer
Horn
Current: 2nd Horn Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Previous ensembles: Columbus Symphony Associate Principal/3rd Horn, Orquesta Sinfonica del Principado de Austurias Coprincipal, Orchestra of Saint Luke’s, New York Philharmonic (tour)
Chamber/Festivals: Monarch Brass, Met Chamber Ensemble
Teaching: Interlochen Center for the Arts summer program
Anne Marie Scharer’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Steve Bauman.

Julia Pilant
Horn
Current: Assistant Principal Horn, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Festivals/Chamber: Strings Festival, Affinis Music Festival, Saito Kinen Festival, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
Julia Pilant’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Carolyn Tolf.

Corbin Castro
Horn (Fellow)
Current: Horn Fellow – New World Symphony
Ensembles: Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, Richmond Symphony. Festivals: Verbier, Tanglewood, Spoleto.
Education: Shepherd School of Music/Rice University, Manhattan School of Music
Trumpet

Billy Hunter
Principal Trumpet
Current: Principal Trumpet: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Assistant Principal Trumpet, Grant Park Symphony Orchestra
Ensembles: Guest Principal: Malaysian Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Dallas, Frankfurt Radio Symphonies
Chamber/Festivals: Met Chamber Ensemble, Spoleto Festival (Italy), Stellenbosch International Music Festival (South Africa), Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society, Serafic Fire
Billy Hunter’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Sara and Leonard Lafrance.

Guy Piddington
Trumpet
Current: San Francisco Symphony
Previous Ensembles: Acting Second Trumpet with Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra
Appears With:Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Colorado Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky Orchestra, New York City Opera, Grand Teton Music Festival
Guy Piddington’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Steven Stull.

Adam Luftman
Trumpet
Current: Principal Trumpet; San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Ballet Orchestras.
Ensembles: Baltimore Symphony, New World Symphony. Performed, toured, and/or recorded with Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra.
Chamber/Other: Member , National Brass Ensemble, The Bay Brass, and regularly records at Skywalker Ranch.
Adam Luftman’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Anonymous.
Trombone & Bass Trombone

David Garcia
Principal Trombone
Current: Solo Trombone, Philharmonia Zürich, Orchestra der Oper
Previous: Principal Trombone, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, (Florence, Italy), Hartford Symphony Orchestra. Guest with New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Malaysia Philharmonic, Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich.
Chamber/Festivals: Semana Nacional de Trombon, Mexico, Faculty: Zürcher Hochschule der Künste.

Weston Sprott
Principal Trombone
Current: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Other Ensembles: Zurich Opera Orchestra, Zurich Philharmonia
Festivals: Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival, PRIZM Chamber Ensemble
Faculty: Bard College, Mannes College, Rutgers University
Weston Sprott’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Steven Bouck.

Denson Paul Pollard
Trombone
Current: Bass/Tenor Trombone, Bass Trumpet, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Previous Ensembles: Bass Trombone, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, appeared with New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Houston Symphony and LA Philharmonic.
Faculty: a passionate champion of the bass trombone as solo instrument, Pollard also teaches at the Jacobs School of music, Indiana University

Nicholas Schwarz
Bass Trombone
Current: Principal, New York City Ballet Orchestra
Performed with: Sarasota Opera, ensembles such as Pittsburgh Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Ballet, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, St. Lukes Chamber Orchestra
Chamber/Festivals: Festival Maribor (Slovenia), and the Festival Lyrique-en-Mer in France
Tuba

Daniel Peck
Tuba
Current: Principal Tuba, New York City Ballet Orchestra
Other Ensembles: performed with the Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, and American Symphony.
Festivals/Chamber: the Aspen Music Festival, National Repertory Orchestra, and Tanglewood
Timpani

Aaron McDonald
Principal Timpani
Current: Principal, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Ensembles: West Virginia Symphony, toured with Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, National Broadcast Orchestra of Canada
Chamber/Festivals: VSO Chamber Players, Turning Point Ensemble, Standing Wave, National Broadcast Orchestra of Canada, percussion group Timetable, Music Academy of the West, Tanglewood
Aaron McDonald’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Laurie and Silvio Ricardi.
Percussion

Steven White
Principal Percussion
Current: Percussion/Assistant Principal Timpani: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Previous Ensembles: Chicago Symphony Orchestra (extra player), Civic Orchestra of Chicago
Festivals/Chamber: Tanglewood Music Center, Music Academy of the West, Aspen Music Festival

Matthew Ward
Percussion
Current: Principal, Argento Chamber Players, Talujon and American Modern Ensemble, Director of Percussion for the Mostly Modern Festival, Percussion Department Operations Manager at Manhattan School of Music.
Previous Ensembles: Riverside Symphony, Talea Ensemble, SEM Ensemble, The Orchestra of the League of Composers, Sequitor and IPSE Ensemble.
Festivals/Chamber: American Modern Ensemble Contemporary Chamber Music Festival

Alex Mendoza
Percussion (Fellow)
Ensembles: Victoria Symphony, Johnstown Symphony, Westmoreland Symphony, and Wheeling Symphony, Carnegie Hall/Ensemble Connect
Festivals: Aspen Music Festival: 2018, 2019
Education: M.M., Percussion Performance, Duquesne University (Graduate Assistant). B.M., University of North Texas, Music Education
Piano

Donna Lee
Piano
Ensembles: solo appearances; National Symphony Orchestra, Kennedy Center, Alice Tully Hall
Chamber/Festivals: Amer-China International Music Foundation (China), Brevard Music Center, Interlochen Music Festival, Kent Blossom Music, Maui Classical Music, Music-on-the-Hill
Faculty: Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Piano Division at Kent State University. Summer; co-director, Piano Institute at Kent State, artist-faculty at Kent/Blossom Chamber Music (OH) and Brevard Music Center (NC).
Donna Lee’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Ron and Barbara Goldman.

Anna Stoytcheva
Piano
Current: American Chamber Players, pianist; Bulgarian Concert Evenings in New York, co-chair
Ensembles: New World Symphony, Bulgarian National Radio Symphony, Orchestra del’Angellicum
Festival/Chamber: Marlboro Music Festival, Classical Tahoe, Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, Pianofest, Kneisel Hall, Bowdoin Music Festival, Banff Center for the Arts
Soprano

Christabel Nunoo
Soprano (Fellow)
Recent: San Francisco Arts Medallion Ceremony (Featured Performer), Vocal Academy of Orvieto (Young Artist)
Ensembles: Oakland Symphony, San Francisco Opera Orchestra, Opera Parallèle, Celebration of the Music of Dave Brubeck (Oakland Symphony), and in concerts with Frederica von Stade and Jake Heggie (San Francisco, CA),
Education: Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, & Dance