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.”

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: Violin sub with Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera and freelancing in the Houston area
Previous Ensembles: The Florida Orchestra, 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

Rachel Golub
Violin

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

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 Caroline and Jim Kaplan.

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

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

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.

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.

Catherine Sim
Violin
Current: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Ensembles: Founding member of International Sejong Soloists
Appearances: Made debut at Carnegie’s Weill Hall, numerous solo performances throughout the U.S. and Asia, extensive recording credits
Chamber/Festivals: Aspen, Ravinia, Santory Hall in Tokyo, Seoul Arts Center, founding member of International Sejong Soloists
AND! Catherine was a founding member of the critically acclaimed International Sejong Soloists, and is married to fellow MET and CT violinist Xiao-Dong Wang
http://www.metorchestramusicians.org/catherine-sim/

Kay Stern
Violin
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

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

Julian Maddox
Violin Fellow, Classical Tahoe Academy
Hometown: Minnetonka, Minnesota
Current: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Ensembles: ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, New World Symphony, Canton Symphony, Cleveland Pops Orchestra
Education: Cleveland Institute of Music, University of Minnesota
Mentors: Jaime Laredo, Jan Sloman, Kathleen Winkler, William Preucil, Sally O’Reilly

Sofia Schutte
Violin Fellow, Classical Tahoe Academy
Hometown: San Jose, Costa Rica / San Francisco, California
Ensembles: Principal Second in Heredia Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica
Education: San Francisco Conservatory of Music, University of Minnesota
Mentors: Simon James, Sally O’Reilly, Ivan Perez
Viola

Désirée Elsevier
Principal Viola
Current: Principal Viola for Classical Tahoe
Previous Ensemble: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Ensembles: The Dallas Symphony, The Dallas Opera, The Austin
Symphony, Voices of Change Dallas, Victoria Bach Festival.
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.

Katie Kadarauch
Principal 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.

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

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

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.

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.

Pedro Mendez
Viola Fellow, Classical Tahoe Academy
Hometown: Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela
Ensembles: Illinois Philharmonic, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Chicago Sinfonietta
Education: Roosevelt University, Vicente Emilio Sojo Conservatory
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

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

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

Wendy Sutter
Cello
Current: Appears with the New York Philharmonic
Ensembles, appeared as soloist with: Brussels Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony (2012), Seattle Symphony, Residentie Orchestra (Hague), North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony
Chamber/Festivals: Marlboro, Aspen, Tanglewood, Chamber Music Society (Lincoln Center), Mostly Mozart, Luminato Festival (Toronto), Spoleto, Ravinia, Bang-on-a-Can All-Stars, Library of Congress

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

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

Clarissa Vieira
Cello Fellow, Classical Tahoe Academy
Hometown: Belém, Brazil
Ensembles: Amazon Cello Choir, Youth Orchestra Vale Music, Symphony of the Americas, South Florida Symphony, Teatro da Paz, New World Symphony
Education: Lynn University School of Music, Vale Music Institute, Federal School of Music of Pará
Mentors: David Cole
Bass

Jeremy McCoy
Principal Bass
Ensembles: former Assistant Principal double bass of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (35 years), Sequitur, Ensemble Sospeso, Speculum Musicae
Festivals: Marlboro, Kneisel Hall, Banff, Mostly Mozart, Bowdoin, the Grand Tetons, Classical Tahoe, and Ottawa Chamberfest
Faculty: Manhattan School of Music, Bard College Conservatory of Music, Montclair State University, the Bowdoin International Music Festival and NYO Canada

Timothy Dilenschneider
Bass
Current: Associate Principal Bass, Houston Symphony
Previous Ensembles: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (2016-2018), New World Symphony (2014-2016)
Performances with: Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, The Florida Orchestra Festivals/Chamber: Aspen Music Festival, Arizona Musicfest, Festival Napa Valley, Pacific Music Festival, Olmos Ensemble, New York Symphonic Ensemble, Candlelight Chamber Series
Timothy Dilenschneider’s appearance at Classical Tahoe is made possible by Julia Amaral and Mark Strate.

Christopher Johnson
Bass
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

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).

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
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.

Sebastian Brea Perez
Flute Fellow, Classical Tahoe Academy
Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela
Current: Cleveland Institute of Music
Ensembles: New World Symphony
Education: Cleveland Institute of Music, Interlochen Arts Academy
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

Aaron Hill
Oboe
Current: Assistant professor of oboe and classical saxophone at the University of Nevada, Reno and Principal oboe of the Wintergreen Festival Orchestra
Ensembles: Ann Arbor Symphony, Flint Symphony, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Reno Philharmonic, Richmond Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic and Saginaw Bay Symphony, and has also appeared with the Elgin, Hartford, Rockford, San Diego and Virginia symphonies, International Contemporary Ensemble, Madison Bach Musicians
Festivals: Music Academy of the West, Schleswig-Holstein Orchesterakademie, Banff Centre, New York String Orchestra Seminar, Henry Mancini Institute and Sarasota Music Festival
Faculty: Assistant professor of oboe and classical saxophone at the University of Nevada; former professor of oboe at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Virginia and James Madison University.

Victoria Chung
Oboe

Alex Kinmonth
Oboe
Current: Principal Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Performances With: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Charleston Symphony
Chamber Music/Festivals: Mainly Mozart, Tanglewood, Aspen, Round Top, Music Academy of the West
Bio Highlight: Alex studied with Nathan Hughes at the Juilliard School.

Eduardo Sepulveda
Oboe Fellow, Classical Tahoe Academy
Hometown: Antofagasta, Chile
Current: Symphoria (Syracuse, NY)
Education: The Juilliard School, Cleveland Institute of Music, Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
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 and Dr. Myles Riner.

Ixi Chen
Clarinet
Current: Second Clarinet of the Cincinnati Symphony
Ensembles: concert:nova, 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.

Olivia Hamilton
Clarinet Fellow, Classical Tahoe Academy
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Ensembles: The Orchestra Now, Pittsburgh Symphony
Education: Northwestern University, University of North Texas
Mentors: Steve Cohen, Mark Nuccio, John Scott, Kimberly Cole Luevano
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.

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

Fabiola Hoyo
Bassoon Fellow, Classical Tahoe Academy
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Education: Lynn University School of Music, Simon Bolivar Conservatory of Music
Mentors: Whitney Crockett, Eric Van der Veer Varner, Omar Ascanio, Alexander Ricaurte
Saxophone

Ricardo Martinez
Saxophone
Performances With: California Symphony, Silicon Valley Symphony, Boulogne-Billancourt Saxophone Ensemble, Montpellier Saxophone Ensemble
Chamber Music/Festivals: Cergy Saxophone Quartet, winner in the East Central Division MTNA Chamber Music Competition with the Melos Saxophone Quartet
Teaching: San José State University, University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music, and Stanford University

Kevin Stewart
Saxophone
Current: Director of Saxophone Studies at California State University, Stanislaus, and University of California, Davis; San Francisco Saxophone Quartet, the Nuclear Whales Saxophone Orchestra, and most recently the South American jazz group Quinteto.
Ensembles: New American Chamber Orchestra, the Renaissance Chamber Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Detroit Civic Orchestra, Adrian Symphony, Rochester Symphony, University of Michigan Wind Ensemble, with renowned Big Band Drummer J.C. Heard, Chanticleer, the Temptations, the American Ballet Orchestra, the American Conservatory Theater, Penn & Teller, and Chaka Khan
Faculty: Director of Saxophone Studies at California State University, Stanislaus, and University of California, Davis

Dale Wolford
Saxophone
Current: Premiere Saxophone Quartet, Wolford/Rosenblum Duo, faculty of University of California, Berkeley, Yamaha Performing Artist
Ensembles: Morosco Saxophone Quartet, the San Francisco Saxophone Quartet, the Nuclear Whales Saxophone Orchestra, San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, San Francisco Symphony, San Jose Symphony, Sun Valley Symphony, San Francisco Ballet Orchestra
Faculty: former faculty of San José State University, University of the Pacific, California State University—East Bay, California State University, Stanislaus and Chabot College
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

Stewart Rose
Principal Horn
Current: Principal horn with Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Principal Horn with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the New York City Opera Orchestra
Previous ensembles: Guest Principal Horn with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and as a guest artist with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Ensemble Wein-Berlin and the Met Chamber Ensemble
Chamber/Festivals: Marlboro, Tanglewood, Mostly Mozart, Spoleto, Edinburgh, Eastern Shore and Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festivals.
Recording: Stewart Rose has made over 100 recordings of the chamber music and orchestral literature for BMG, Sony Classical, Deutsche Grammophon, EMI and Music Masters. Recent releases include his appearance as first horn on the New York Philharmonic’s DG release of “Harold in Italy” with Lorin Maazel; Renee Fleming sings “Bel Canto” with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and in works for wind ensemble by Beethoven, Mozart, Pleyel, and Rossini with Mozzafiato on Sony Classical. In the studio Rose has recorded with Paul Simon, Pat Metheny, Lenny Kravitz, David Byrne, Grover Washington, John Faddis, Tony Bennett, Wayne Shorter, Branford Marsalis, Aerosmith, Metallica, Philip Glass and Ennio Morricone.

Thomas Jostlein
Principal Horn
Current: Associate Principal Horn of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Previous ensembles: New York Philharmonic’s Assistant Principal Horn, Honolulu, Omaha, Richmond, and Kansas City Symphony Orchestras
Chamber/Festivals: Brevard, Napa Valley, Classical Tahoe, Britt, and Eastern Music Festivals, among others
Teaching: He was Assistant Professor of Horn at the University of Illinois, taught several weeks at Indiana University in 2014 in both natural and un-natural (valved) horn, and has held adjunct positions at Saint Louis University, the University of Hawaii and at Virginia Commonwealth University.

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

Tricia Jostlein
Horn
Current: Chamber Project St. Louis
Previous ensembles: Principal horn of the Omaha Symphony and Des Moines Metro Opera, as well as second horn of the Richmond and Honolulu Symphonies
Chamber/Festivals: AIMS in Graz, Sarasota, Tanglewood, National Repertory Orchestra, Bellingham Music Festival (American Sinfonietta), Pierre Monteux School, and, most recently, the Peter Britt Festival in Oregon

Patrick Pridemore
Horn
Previous performances: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Metropolitan Opera Company, and Aretha Franklin, Cheap Trick, and Harry Connick Jr.
Chamber/Festivals: Marlboro Music Festival, Chamber Music from Spoleto Festival USA, the Ravinia Festival, and Tanglewood

John Lenz
Horn
Current: Principal horn, Reno Philharmonic, Principal Horn, Reno Chamber Orchestra.
Faculty: Emeritus professor at the University of Nevada where he taught cello and horn for 37 years.

Natalie Brooke Higgins
Horn
Current: Assistant professor of horn at the University of Nevada, Reno ; Alias Brass Company
Previous performances: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, South Dakota Symphony, Southwest Florida Symphony, Symphony of Southeast Texas, Macon Pops, St. Joseph Symphony, American Festival Orchestra, Banff Festival Orchestra and Columbus Symphony Orchestra
Awards: Recognized as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s 40 Under 40 honorees, a feature that celebrates the best and brightest in business, government, nonprofits, education, healthcare, banking and professional sports. Prizewinner of the International Winds, Brass and Percussion Enkor Competition, finalist of the Music Teacher’s National Association Young Artist Brass Competition and winner of the St. Louis Artist Presentation Series.
Faculty: Assistant professor of horn at the University of Nevada, Reno

Nelson Yovera
Horn Fellow, Classical Tahoe Academy
Hometown: San Felipe, Yaracuy, Venezuela
Current: Civic Orchestra of Chicago
Education: Roosevelt University
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.

Kevin Karabell
Trumpet Fellow, Classical Tahoe Academy
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Current: Principal Trumpet of Jacksonville Symphony
Ensembles: Palm Beach Symphony, Florida Grand Opera
Education: Cleveland Institute of Music, University of Miami, Lynn Conservatory
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.

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

Harry Gonzalez
Trombone Fellow, Classical Tahoe Academy
Hometown: Southern California
Ensembles: Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, San Francisco Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Austin Symphony, Austin Opera, San Francisco Opera
Education: Rice University, San Francisco Conservatory
Mentors: Nathaniel Brickens, Allen Barnhill, Mark Lawrence, Amy Bowers, Michael Hoffman
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
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

Dana Dominguez
Percussion Fellow, Classical Tahoe Academy
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Ensembles: Bozeman Symphony Orchestra
Education: Rice University, University of Texas at Austin
Harp

Marina Roznitovsky Oster
Harp
Current: Principal, Reno Chamber Orchestra. Acting principal Reno Philharmonic. Harp professor at University of Nevada, Reno.
Previous Ensembles: soloist with the Israeli Youth Symphony, UNR Symphony, Susanville Symphony, the TOCCATA Orchestra, and Oistrach Symphony Orchestra in Chicago.
Festivals/Chamber: Tahoe Chamber Music Society, Young Artist Harp Seminar, Annual Harp Plus concert productions at UNR, Chamber Music Unbound, Texas Music Festival, with Daniel Barenboim, worldwide tour with the West Eastern Divan Orchestra.
AND! born in the Ukraine and spending part of her youth in Israel, Marina began musical training at the age of 5. Loves spending time outdoors in the Reno area with her wonderful family and Siba Inu dog
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