Maestro Robert Moody, Artistic Director/Conductor

2012 Festival Orchestra

First Violin Robin Mayforth, Concertmaster Shannon Nance, Associate Concertmaster Adelaide Federici So Yun Kim Amy Oshiro Mutsuko Ikenouchi Tatman Eline van den Ende Randall Weiss Second Violin Corine Brouwer, Principal Paloma Griffin, Associate Principal Andrew Emmett Anna Gendler Steven Lubiarz Min Park Jan Septon Sarah Zun Viola Janet Sims, Principal Chiara K. Dieguez, Associate Principal Ames Asbell Nancy Buck Matthew Dane Jennifer Puckett Cello Brant Taylor, Principal Brian Thornton, Associate Principal David Heiss David Himmelheber Noriko Kishi Janet Witharm

Double Bass Timothy Spears, Principal Bill Everett Paul Sharpe Flute Philip Dikeman, Principal Christina Jennings Brian Gordon Oboe Neil Tatman, Principal Rebecca Kemper Scarnati Clarinet Ricardo Morales, Principal Steve Hanusofski   Bassoon Glenn Einschlag, Principal Adam Trussell French Horn Jeffrey Fair, Principal Oliver de Clercq Mark Houghton Cara Jones

Trumpet   Anita Cirba, Co-Principal Scott Macomber, Co-Principal Wesley Nance Trombone Matthew Petterson, Principal Donna Parkes David Ridge Tuba Daryl Johnson, Principal Timpani John Tafoya, Principal Percussion Steve Fitch, Principal Harp  Gaye LeBlanc

Meet the  Festival Orchestra Musicians

	Principal Second Violin Corine Brouwer is Concertmaster of the Winston-Salem Symphony, the Asheville Lyric Opera, and the Carolina Chamber Symphony. She has appeared as soloist with the North Carolina Symphony, Winston-Salem Symphony, Canton (Ohio) Symphony, and Carolina Chamber Symphony, among others. This season will include solo performances of Astor Piazolla’s Four Seasons with the Portland Symphony (Maine). Her chamber music appearances include the Eastern Music Festival, the International Bartók Festival, and the Saugatuck Chamber Music Festival. Formerly Director of the Community Music School of the North Carolina School of the Arts, Ms. Brouwer has taught at Wake Forest University and the National Suzuki Institute in Wisconsin, and currently maintains a private studio. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the NC School of the Arts, where she studied with the late Elaine Richey. This is Ms. Brouwer’s fifth year with the Festival Orchestra.
	Nancy Buck is Associate Professor of Viola at Arizona State University and Coordinator of the String Chamber Music Program. She holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and the Cleveland Institute. Much in demand as a chamber musician and artistic collaborator, Buck has presented recitals in leading concert venues throughout the US and Europe. A founding member of the Phoenix Piano Quartet, she has also shared the stage with groups such as the St. Lawrence String Quartet, the Blakemore Trio and the Felici Quartet. In addition, Buck has appeared at the Aspen Music Festival, Red Rocks Music Festival, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, Sarasota Music Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, and Strings Music Festival. Buck serves on the faculty of the Round Top (TX) Music Festival, and has taught at other summer programs, including the Ameropa Festival (Prague) and Rocky Mountain Summer Conservatory (CO). In 2008, she was the Host Chair and Artistic Director of the 36th International Viola Congress. This is her first appearance at Arizona Musicfest.
	Co-Principal Trumpet Anita Cirba serves as Principal Trumpet of the Winston-Salem Symphony, Greensboro Symphony Orchestra and the Carolina Chamber Symphony. Anita graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts and earned her master’s from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she received The Bernard Adelstein Award in 1982. While a graduate student, she played with the Cleveland Orchestra in Severance Hall and on tour at Carnegie Hall. In 1984, Anita was soloist with NC School of the Arts’ International Music Program, where she performed in Italy and Germany. Her teachers include Alan Dean, Ray Mase and Bernard Adelstein. Anita has an extensive trumpet studio and is a member of the Giannini Brass Quintet, Spectrum Brass Quartet and a trio, Your Wedding Music. This is her fifth year at Arizona Musicfest.
	Associate Principal Viola Matthew Dane is a member of the Boulder Piano Quartet and serves as Principal Violist of the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra in Houston. He has held orchestral positions with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic (Principal), Houston Ballet Orchestra, Hannover State Opera (Germany), and Springfield Symphony (MA). As a chamber musician, Matt has performed with many ensembles, including the Colorado Quartet, the Dorian Wind Quintet, and Houston-based CONTEXT. With his wife, flutist Christina Jennings, he founded Brightmusic, a chamber music series in Oklahoma City. Matt’s chamber music festival appearances include OK Mozart, Portland (Maine), Chamber Music Quad Cities (Iowa), Ruby Mountains (Nevada), and Tanglewood. With the BPQ and Jon Manasse, he has recorded quintets of Lowell Liebermann. This season, he is performing concerts with the newly-formed Lefthand Canyon Trio with Christina Jennings and Jonathan Leathwood. This is his second appearance at Arizona Musicfest.
	Principal Flutist Philip Dikeman joined the Detroit Symphony in 1992 as Assistant Principal Flute; he is currently Acting Principal Flute, He has been a featured concerto soloist with the DSO on four occasions. A native of Ann Arbor (MI), he has degrees from Oberlin College Conservatory, where he studied with Robert Willoughby, and the Yale School of Music, working with Thomas Nyfenger. Philip has served as Principal Flute with the Hong Kong Philharmonic and San Antonio Symphony, and has also played Guest Principal Flute with the St. Louis Symphony and Minnesota Orchestra. Most recently, he was asked to join the LA Philharmonic on their 2010 US Tour where he played Guest Assistant Principal Flute for five weeks. A member of the Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings, he has appeared in numerous solo recitals and master classes throughout the United States. Philip also has an active teaching studio and is a gifted pianist with extensive accompanying experience. This is his fourth appearance at Arizona Musicfest.
	Associate Concertmaster Charles Dimmick is Concertmaster of the Portland (ME) Symphony. He studied at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music with former Tokyo String Quartet violinist Peter Oundjian and Dr. Won Bin Yim. After moving to Boston, he studied with former Boston Symphony Concertmaster Joseph Silverstein and joined the violin section of the Portland Symphony. He was appointed Concertmaster in 2002. He also serves as Concertmaster of the acclaimed Boston Modern Orchestra Project and Assistant Concertmaster of the Rhode Island Philharmonic. Mr. Dimmick appears frequently as soloist with orchestras throughout New England; most recently performing the Berg Violin Concerto with Maestro Moody and the Portland Symphony. In addition, he is highly sought after as a chamber musician and teacher. He lives with his wife, St. Louis Symphony piccolo player Rachel Braude, in St Louis. This is his third year at Arizona Musicfest.
	Principal Bassoon of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Glenn Einschlag has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Boston Symphony, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra. In addition to numerous solo recitals, he has been featured soloist with the Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic, and the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra. Mr. Einschlag has participated in many music festivals including those of Aspen, Tanglewood, Spoleto (USA), and Domaine Forget, where he was influenced by the noted pedagogue Norman Herzberg. He studied at The Juilliard School, The Curtis Institute of Music, and The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where he was received his master’s under the tutelage of Benjamin Kamins. This is his second year at Arizona Musicfest.
	Born in Munich, violinist Andrew Emmett began playing the violin at seven. After moving to the United States with his family at nine, he continued his education during college at Eastern New Mexico University and at the University of New Mexico. His teachers include David Tubergen, Leonard Felberg and Steven Shipps. Andrew spent four years in Venezuela as a member of the Caracas Philharmonic, then returned to Albuquerque for two years before moving to North Carolina. He is currently the Assistant Concertmaster of the Winston-Salem Symphony; also Associate Concertmaster of the Carolina Chamber Symphony, and a member of the Greensboro Symphony. Andrew has toured throughout the Americas and Europe, and maintains an active teaching studio. This is his fifth year at Arizona Musicfest.
	Bill Everett is currently Principal Bass of Symphony Silicon Valley. For three years, he was an acting member of San Francisco Symphony; in addition, he served as Principal Bass with the San Jose Symphony. Everett is a founding member of the San Francisco-based Adorno Ensemble, a group dedicated to contemporary music. He has also toured with Ensemble Chiaroscuro, a new music quartet, which has commissioned numerous works. His concerto appearances include performances with Symphony Silicon Valley and Music in the Mountains. He also makes frequent solo appearances in the San Francisco area. This is his ninth year at Arizona Musicfest.
	Jeffrey Fair, Principal French Horn, joined the Seattle Symphony as Assistant Principal Horn in 2003. Previously, he served as Principal Horn of the San Antonio Symphony for three seasons, appearing as soloist on several occasions. As a chamber musician, he has won numerous competitions, among them, the Fischoff, Carmel, and New York Brass Conference National Competition. He received his master’s from The Juilliard School, where he studied with Jerome Ashby. A native of Oklahoma, Mr. Fair received his bachelor’s, summa cum laude, from the University of Oklahoma. He has previously performed and taught as Principal Horn of the Eastern Music Festival. Mr. Fair is married to violist Laura Renz. This is his fourth year at Arizona Musicfest.
	Adelaide Federici is Assistant Principal Second Violin of the Atlanta Opera Orchestra, concertmaster of the Johns Creek Symphony, and a member of the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra. A frequent substitute with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, she also performs with the Atlanta Chamber Players and the contemporary music ensemble, Bent Frequency. A graduate of The Eastman School of Music and the University of Southern California, Ms. Federici has performed as soloist and chamber musician in Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Colorado, Austria, Germany, and The Netherlands. This is her third appearance at Arizona Musicfest.
	Steve Fitch, Principal Percussionist, received his bachelor’s from Oberlin Conservatory and his master’s from The Eastman School. He earned sixth place in the “Snare Drum Individuals” division at the Drum Corps International Championship. Fluent in German, Steve taught for seven years at Bayreuth’s “Festival junger Künstler” and has played, toured, and recorded extensively with the NDR Radio Philharmonie. He co-founded the Kalamazoo Percussion Trio in Hannover, Germany. Steve has performed or toured with many stars, including Ray Charles, Al Jarreau and Bobby McFerrin. A prolific writer, his newest books are Fantastic Feet, Fantastic Feet 2 and Fantastic Hands, published by Mel Bay Publications. A Yamaha Performing Artist, he is currently Assistant Principal Timpanist and drum set soloist with The Phoenix Symphony. When not performing with TPS, he can be heard in the Phoenix area, drumming in various jazz constellations. This is Steve’s fourth year at Arizona Musicfest.
	Violinist Anna Gendler, a graduate of the Moscow Conservatory in Russia, has been a member of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra since 1991. An accomplished chamber musician, she has performed with the Tucson Symphony String Quartet and with its Flute Trio. She also appears with husband, Alexander Tentser, in violin and piano duets. She performs annually with the Lake Placid Sinfonietta in New York and at California’s Music in the Mountains Festival. A member of the Music Faculty at Pima Community College, Gendler dedicates much of her time to the musical education of Tucson’s children. She helped create the Opening Mind through the Arts (OMA) Project, sponsored by the school district and the Lucas Foundation. This is her 12th year at Arizona Musicfest.
	Associate Principal Second Violin Paloma Griffin has performed extensively throughout North America and Europe as a soloist, orchestra member, and chamber musician. Formerly with the Oregon Symphony, her concerto appearances include performances with that ensemble, the Fresno Philharmonic, and many regional orchestras in California’s Central Valley. As a member of the internationally acclaimed group, Pink Martini, Ms. Griffin appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the San Francisco Symphony, among others, and at Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and on “Late Night With David Letterman.” She can be heard on the group’s albums Hang On, Little Tomato; Hey Eugene and Splendor in the Grass. Paloma is the Artistic Director of the classical collective, Melegari Chamber Players, and a member of fEARnoMUSIC, a Portland-based contemporary music ensemble. This is her fourth appearance at Arizona Musicfest.
	A native of Miami, Steve Hanusofski, Assistant Principal and Bass Clarinet for The Phoenix Symphony, began playing clarinet in junior high band. He earned his bachelor’s at North Park College in Chicago, then returned home for his master’s at Florida State University. He has done doctoral work at both Florida State and Arizona State universities. His principal teachers include Clark Brody, former Principal with the Chicago Symphony, and Robert Marcellus, former Principal with the Cleveland Orchestra. Prior to joining The Phoenix Symphony, he played with the Florida Philharmonic and the Miami Opera. As a chamber musician, Hanusofski has appeared extensively as soloist and a member of the Bel Canto Players. He is on the faculty at the Arizona Community School of the Arts and the Arizona School of the Arts. When not performing or teaching, he is an avid film buff and pool player. Local audiences will recall Steve’s memorable appearance in the 2009 Musicale, An Italian Indulgence. This is his debut as a member of the Festival Orchestra.
	David Heiss is a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Principal Cellist of the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, and serves as Guest Principal for many other area ensembles. A founding member of the OMNI Piano Quartet, he frequently appears as guest artist and teacher at festivals throughout the eastern United States. David has performed a number of premieres, including concertos by Theodore Antoniou and Irving Robbin, as well as a cello sonata dedicated to him by Robert Manno. He has been in hundreds of recording sessions for films, albums, and commercials. On Broadway, he was featured in The Elephant Man as the on-stage solo cellist, performing his own arrangements of incidental music. At The Juilliard School, Mr. Heiss was a scholarship student of famed cellist Leonard Rose. He plays a John Betts cello, dated 1789. This is his third appearance at Arizona Musicfest.
	Having begun his studies at age 8, cellist David Himmelheber received his bachelor’s and master’s from The Mannes College. His principal teachers include Dr. William Grubb, Marcy Rosen, and Timothy Eddy. He is a frequent solo and chamber recitalist in New York City, performing regularly in Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and Symphony Space, as well as the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. David has performed as soloist at the Eastern Music Festival, with the Carmel Symphony, and with the Tchaikovsky International Festival Orchestra (the Rococo Variations). An active chamber musician, he has performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. David is a founding member of the Corelli Collective, which recently completed its second critically acclaimed tour of Italy. He will make his Boston Early Music Festival debut this June. This is David’s third season at Arizona Musicfest.
	Praised for virtuoso technique, rich tone, and command of literature, flutist Christina Jennings received her bachelor’s and master’s at The Juilliard School. Her principal teachers include Carol Wincenc, Leone Buyse, George Pope, and Jeanne Baxtresser. An active soloist, Ms. Jennings has appeared with over 50 orchestras, including the Utah and Houston Symphonies, Orchestra 2001, Spokane Symphony, Orchestra de Camera (Mexico), and Pro Musica (UK). In 2009, she premiered concertos written for her by Carter Pann and Laura Elise Schwendinger. Recent chamber music festivals include Strings in the Mountains (CO), Cascade Head (OR), OK Mozart (OK), and the Bowdoin International Festival (ME). Ms. Jennings is Assistant Professor of Flute at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and on the summer faculty of the Texas Music Festival. This is her first year at Arizona Musicfest.
	Principal Tuba Daryl Johnson joined the Louisville Orchestra as Principal Tuba in 2001. He earned a Professional Studies Certificate from The Juilliard School, where he studied with Warren Deck of the New York Philharmonic, and a master’s from DePaul University, under Floyd Cooley of the San Francisco Symphony. Mr. Johnson has had the opportunity recently to perform with the San Francisco Symphony, the Nashville Symphony, and the Cincinnati Symphony. He has also played with the National Repertory Orchestra and the Sun Valley Symphony. Prior to joining the Louisville Orchestra, he was Principal Tuba with the Millar Brass ensemble in Chicago. Mr. Johnson is currently on the faculty at Middle Tennessee State University where he teaches tuba. This is his third year at Arizona Musicfest.
	Hornist Cara Jones is a member of the Sacramento Choral Society Orchestra and the Merced Symphony. She is also an active free-lance artist in Northern California, having performed with the Sacramento Philharmonic, Sacramento Opera, Napa Valley Symphony, Modesto Symphony, and Fresno Symphony. Cara also performs in the Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra, and is a mentoring professional with the Vocal and Instrumental Teaching Artists Academy of Northern California. A Pi Kappa Lambda graduate of California State University, Sacramento, she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees with Honors. Cara and her husband live in Elk Grove, CA, with their son, Quinn, and daughter, Hannah. This is her eighth year as a member of the Festival Orchestra.
	So Yun Kim, violin, began her musical studies with her father at age four. Early teachers included Rafael Sobolevsky and Andrew Zaplatynsk. She holds a bachelor’s and performer’s certificate from The Eastman School, where she also won the Dorothy Starling Scholarship Foundation Competition. So Yun received her master’s from the University of Nevada, studying with Phillip Ruder. Formerly a member of the Naples Philharmonic, she has since joined the North Carolina Symphony, where she plays in the first violin section. Currently on the faculty at the Eastern Music Festival, she also has a private studio. She has appeared in numerous festivals including the Tanglewood Institute, Encore Summer Music Festival, New York String Seminar, Heidelberg Opera Festival, Sarasota Chamber Music Festival, and Shleswig-Holstein Music Festival. This is her fourth year at Arizona Musicfest.
	Noriko Kishi, cello, earned her bachelor’s at The Eastman School and her master’s at The New England Conservatory. Her principal teachers were Irene Sharp, Robert Sylvester and Bernard Greenhouse. She was Principal Cellist and featured soloist with the New World Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas. From 1994-96, Ms. Kishi was a member of the Sacramento Symphony. She has worked with distinguished conductors such as Bernstein, Solti and Ozawa, and participated in master classes led by members of the Guarneri and Cleveland quartets, and Yo-Yo Ma. A Fellow at Tanglewood, she has also performed at festivals, among them Aspen, Spoleto (USA and Italy), Colorado and Moab. In Salt Lake City, she performs regularly with the Utah Symphony and the Canyonlands New Music Ensemble; from 2004-2010, she was general manager for the Nova Chamber Music Series. Ms. Kishi has performed with the Music in the Mountains (CA) Festival Orchestra for 14 years. This is her 13th year at Arizona Musicfest.
	Gaye LeBlanc has been the Principal Harpist with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic since 1996, and Harp Instructor at University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City University since 1998. She has also played Principal Harp with the orchestras of Tulsa, Fort Smith (AR), Tulsa Opera, and Roswell (NM). A Texas native, Miss LeBlanc was Principal Harpist in several ensembles in the Dallas area, among them Richardson Symphony, Irving Symphony, Plano Chamber Orchestra, Abilene Opera, Turtlecreek Chorale, and Dallas Orpheus Chamber Singers. She received her master’s degree at Southern Methodist University studying with Dallas Symphony harpist Susan Pejovich. She pursued more extensive studies at the Tanglewood Institute under Lucille Lawrence and at the Salzedo School with Alice Chalifoux. This is her second year at Arizona Musicfest.
	A native of Troy (MI), Steven J. Lubiarz joined the second violin section of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in 2003. He is also Concertmaster with the Calgary Bach Society, and a member of Bell’arte Strings. Prior to moving to Canada, he was a member of the New World Symphony Orchestra under Michael Tilson Thomas in Miami Beach. A member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago while pursuing his master’s at Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts, he studied with Cyrus Forough and Joseph Golan. Steven has performed in the Czech Republic, Austria, and throughout Japan. He received his bachelor’s from DePauw University where he was a student of Stephen Boe and Dan Rizner. In addition to performing, Steven is the founder and Artistic Director of the St. Roch Chamber Music Festival in Caseville (MI). An active teacher for the past decade in New York, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois, he currently teaches at the Mount Royal College Conservatory in Calgary. He performs on an 1897 Leandro Bisiach, a gift from his first teacher, the late Anne Dodge. This is his first year at Arizona Musicfest.
	Co-Principal Trumpet Scott Macomber serves as Principal Trumpet of the Napa Valley Symphony and the Music in the Mountains (CA) Festival Orchestra, and Second Trumpet of both the Santa Rosa Symphony and the Sacramento Philharmonic. During the 2009-2010 season, he served as Acting Third Trumpet of the San Francisco Symphony. Scott continues to perform as a substitute/extra with that orchestra, as well as the San Francisco Opera. Macomber holds degrees from Northwestern University, where he studied with Vincent Cichowicz, and from the San Francisco Conservatory, studying under David Burkhart. He is on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory (Preparatory Division) and UC Davis Music Department. This is his fifth appearance at Musicfest.
	Robin Mayforth, violinist, is making her 11th appearance as Concertmaster of the Arizona Musicfest Festival Orchestra. She also serves as Concertmaster of Symphony Silicon Valley and at the Music in the Mountains Festival (CA). A founding member of the highly-respected Lark Quartet in 1985, she toured with the ensemble throughout the United States, Europe, Russia, China and Australia until 1993. Ms. Mayforth is a native of Wilmington, Delaware. She received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Juilliard School, where she studied with the celebrated teachers Dorothy DeLay, Hyo Kang and Paul Kantor.
	Born in Seoul, Korea, violinist Min Park began music studies at 10. She received her bachelor’s and master’s from the Manhattan School of Music, where she studied under Ariana Bronne. She has attended summer festivals, notably The Aspen Music Festival, where she was a student of Paul Kantor. During her doctoral studies at ASU, she was Concertmaster and appeared as soloist with the University Symphony and Chamber orchestras. Min has performed in many recitals and concerts with renowned musicians in the US and Korea. She played with The Phoenix Symphony for two seasons and is currently playing as a substitute. Min also enjoys teaching at Scottsdale Community College as a member of the violin faculty. This is her fifth year at Arizona Musicfest.
	A native of Australia, Donna Parkes is in her third year as Principal Trombone of the Louisville Orchestra. During the summer, she serves as Principal Trombone at the Colorado Music Festival. She was a member of the Virginia Symphony from 2001-2007, following which she played with the San Francisco Symphony during the 2007-08 season. For two seasons, Ms. Parkes was a member of the New World Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas. She has performed with other orchestras, notably the Chicago Symphony, London Symphony, National Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Sydney Symphony and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Winner of the Australian National Trombone Competition and the Brisbane International Brass Competition, Miss Parkes has also appeared as soloist and clinician at the International Women’s Brass Conference and the Melbourne International Festival of Brass. She received her master’s at DePaul University, studying with Charles Vernon; other primary teachers include Michael Mulcahy and Ron Prussing. This is her third year at Arizona Musicfest.
	Matthew Petterson, Principal Trombone, is currently attending Arizona State University where he is completing graduate studies in music performance. An active freelance trombonist in the Phoenix area, Matthew has performed with The Phoenix Symphony, the Mesa Symphony and the Tempe Symphony, as well as serving as Principal Trombone with the University Symphony Orchestra at Arizona State. In the spring of 2008, Matthew was a featured soloist in performance at Carnegie Hall. His principal instructors include Ralph Sauer, Gail Eugene Wilson and J. Samuel Pilafian. This is Matthew’s fifth year at Arizona Musicfest.
	David Ridge is Principal Bass Trombone with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, where he plays trombone, bass trombone, and contrabass trombone. He also performs often with the San Francisco Symphony and the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra. In addition, David is an active recording artist, working frequently at George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch studio. He can be heard on countless film scores, video games and commercial projects. His solo work can be heard on the CD Trombonarama, which includes the world premiere of Ninth Avenue Hustle, which was written for him. Mr. Ridge received his bachelor’s and master’s from The New England Conservatory. A member of the faculty at California State University, East Bay, he is a frequent soloist and clinician. This is his third year at Arizona Musicfest.
	Oboist Rebecca Kemper Scarnati joined the faculty at Northern Arizona University in 1991 and teaches oboe, chamber music, and music theory. She also instructs at NAU’s Curry Summer Music Camp. In 2007, she and faculty colleagues visited China, where they gave master classes and premiered Clear Rain by Bruce Reiprich, based on Chinese poetry. Dr. Scarnati is Principal Oboist of the Flagstaff Symphony, and oboist for the Kokopelli Ensemble. She earned her doctorate at the University of Arizona, and received her bachelor’s, master’s and performer’s certificate from Indiana University. Her principal teachers have included Jerry Sirucek of Indiana University and John Mack of the Cleveland Orchestra. She has been a member of the Flagstaff Festival of the Arts, the Wagner Festival Orchestra (Arizona Opera), and the Desert Symphony (Palm Springs). A member of the Festival Orchestra for 17 years, she also gives frequent recitals at the Chautauqua Institution.
	Jan Septon, violinist, is in her 10th season at Arizona Musicfest, her 24th at The Phoenix Symphony, and her 13th at Music in the Mountains (CA). She received her bachelor’s from the University of Minnesota and her master’s from Florida State University. Jan has performed with the Charlotte Symphony, Oklahoma Symphony and Chamber Orchestra, and Mexico City’s Orquesta Sinfonica de Mineria, where she was Assistant Concertmaster for 10 years. An arts activist, Jan organizes free public programs, notably Phoenix Symphony CloseUps, which feature her colleagues in nontraditional settings. These events, which demystify classical music and provide insights into the creative process, continue to attract standing-room only crowds. After trekking in three different areas of the Himalayas in the ‘90s with her husband, Gary, her current outside interests lie closer to home: edible landscaping, skiing in Utah, and attending performances of Ballet Arizona.
	Bassist Paul Sharpe is Artist- Teacher of Double Bass at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and Principal Double Bass of the Winston-Salem Symphony Orchestra. Active internationally as an orchestral and chamber musician, he has soloed with Brazil’s Orquestra de Camara Theatro Sao Pedro, Anchorage Symphony, Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival Orchestra, Lubbock Symphony, and Dallas Chamber Orchestra. In addition, he has performed in recital and presented master classes at the Paris Conservatory, Brazil’s International Double Bass Encounter, the World Bass Festival in Poland, the Cleveland Institute, the universities of Iowa, Michigan, North Texas, and at the Interlochen Arts Academy. He has served on the faculty at Texas Tech University, the University of North Texas, and Augustana College. His principal teachers were Jeff Bradetich and Diana Gannett. This is his third appearance at Arizona Musicfest.
	Janet Sims has been Principal Violist and viola soloist with the Arizona Musicfest Festival Orchestra since its inception in 1992. Currently, she is Assistant Principal Violist of the Symphony Silicon Valley and Ballet San Jose Orchestra, and a founding member of the San Jose String Quartet. In addition, Ms. Sims is Principal Violist with the orchestras of Midsummer Mozart and the Music in the Mountains Festival (CA). An active chamber musician, she has appeared with Music at Kohl Mansion, San Jose Chamber Music Society, and the Trinity Chamber Series. Ms. Sims is a graduate of Stanford University and Santa Clara University.
	Timothy Spears, Principal Double Bass, is a member of the Symphony Silicon Valley and the California Symphony. He performs frequently with the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Ballet and many other San Francisco area orchestras. During the summer, Mr. Spears performs with the Music in the Mountains (CA) and Midsummer Mozart Festival orchestras. He has also been a member of the Filarmónica de Caracas and the Florida Gulf Coast Symphony. A graduate of the University of South Florida, Mr. Spears studied with Diana Gannett Mizelle and C. Dee Moses. This is his 19th year at Arizona Musicfest.
	Principal Timpanist John Tafoya served in that same position with the National Symphony Orchestra from 1999-2007. Previously, he held Principal Timpani positions with the American Wind Symphony, the National Repertory Orchestra, the Owensboro (KY) Symphony, the Evansville Philharmonic and the Florida Philharmonic. He has also performed with the Indianapolis Symphony and the Saint Louis Symphony. John is currently Professor of Percussion and Chairman of the Percussion Department at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. He has served on the faculties of the University of Evansville, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Florida International University, and the University of Maryland. In addition, John has presented numerous master classes and clinics at universities across the United States. This is his third appearance at Arizona Musicfest.
	Mutsuko Tatman, violinist, is returning for her 17th year at Arizona Musicfest. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the Oberlin College Conservatory, where she studied with David Cerone. After a season with the Honolulu Symphony, Mutsuko moved to New York, where Leopold Stokowski appointed her Concertmaster of the American Symphony Orchestra. She completed her master’s degree at the University of the Pacific, studying with Warren Van Bronkhorst. For 16 years, she was a first violinist in the Sacramento Symphony Orchestra, and Concertmaster of the Stockton and Modesto Symphony orchestras. A member of Music in the Mountains (CA) Festival Orchestra, Mutusko plays first violin for the Arizona Opera Orchestra. She also performs with Duo Nouveau (violin and harp), The Arizona Bach Aria Consort and The Agave Trio (with husband, oboist Neil Tatman, and pianist Paul Perry).
	Originally from Kenosha (WI), Neil Tatman, Principal Oboe, earned his bachelor’s degree at Lawrence University, and completed his master’s and doctoral degrees at Indiana University. His teachers include Jerry Sirucek, Ray Still, Marc Lifschey, and John Mack. He was Principal Oboe with the Sacramento Symphony Orchestra for 18 years, and a faculty member at the University of the Pacific and California State University - Sacramento. Currently, Neil is Associate Professor of Oboe at The University of Arizona and oboist of Arizona Wind Quintet. He is also Principal Oboist with the Arizona Opera and the Music in the Mountains Festival (CA). He is a charter member of the Arizona Musicfest Festival Orchestra. During recent summers, Neil has been a soloist and member of the Carmel Bach Festival. Active as a clinician and recitalist, he has been featured at presentations in Michigan, Texas, the western states, Canada, and Costa Rica. An author of materials on oboe pedagogy and reed making, Neil and his wife Mutsuko, a Musicfest violinist, have identical twin daughters, who are currently studying music (violin and viola) at the university level. Neil’s current instrument of choice is a rosewood oboe manufactured by A. Laubin, New York.
	The varied career of Brant Taylor, Principal Cello, includes solo appearances and collaborations with leading chamber musicians throughout North America, Europe and Asia, as well as orchestral, pedagogical and popular music activities. After five years as cellist of the award-winning Everest String Quartet and one year with the Saint Louis Symphony, he was appointed by Daniel Barenboim to the Chicago Symphony in 1998. A faculty member at the DePaul University School of Music, Mr. Taylor is also a frequent guest artist and lecturer at music institutions and summer festivals around the US. In 2002, Mr. Taylor began an association with the band Pink Martini, and has appeared with this ensemble on “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” “The Late Show With David Letterman,” and on tours across North America. He can be heard on the band’s 2007 release, Hey Eugene. Mr. Taylor holds degrees from The Eastman School of Music and Indiana University, where his primary teachers were Janos Starker and Paul Katz. This is his fourth appearance at Arizona Musicfest.
	Brian Thornton, Associate Principal Cello, is a musician of many interests. He has performed as soloist with over 30 ensembles across the United States, and has collaborated with many different chamber music ensembles. His special interest in modern music has led him to premiere works of both lesser-known (Donald Erb) and well-known (John Adams) composers. Brian has taken part in introducing over 100 new works, either as a soloist or in chamber ensembles. He spends his days enjoying time with his wife Jennifer Woda, a mezzo-soprano, and his daughters, Maya and Madelyn. Evenings are spent performing with the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra, where he has been in the cello section for 17 years. He also conducts The Solon Philharmonic, a symphony comprised of local professional musicians and high school string students. This is Brian’s third appearance at Arizona Musicfest.
	Eline van den Ende is a member of the first violin section of Symphony Silicon Valley, Ballet San Jose Orchestra, Golden Gate Strings, and the festival orchestras of Midsummer Mozart and Music in the Mountains (CA). Ms Van den Ende was Concertmaster of the American Musical Theater of San Jose from 2001 until 2010, when AMT unfortunately filed for bankruptcy. While with AMT, she performed for many National Tour productions, including The Lion King, Fiddler on the Roof and The Producers. Ms Van den Ende has played in orchestras for singers such as Johnny Mathis, Natalie Cole, Rod Stewart and Tony Bennett, among others. She is the second violinist of the San Jose String Quartet, a group that brings music to Bay Area public schools. Ms. van den Ende has appeared as a soloist with the San Francisco Chamber Players, the San Francisco Old First Church Orchestra and the Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra. She also maintains a busy teaching schedule and freelances with the major orchestras in San Francisco. This is her 13th season at Arizona Musicfest.
	Returning for his 13th year, Randall Weiss, violin, made his solo debut after winning the Victoria Concerto Competition in British Columbia. While in high school, he appeared in the national Rice Krispies TV commercial, “Music Camp.” After studies with Paul Kling at the University of Victoria, he trained with Tadeusz Wronski at Indiana University and Sylvia Rosenberg at The Peabody Conservatory. Since 1985, he has been Assistant Concertmaster of the Symphony Silicon Valley. He has also played with the San Francisco Opera and Ballet orchestras, and been Assistant Concertmaster of the Music in the Mountains (CA) Festival Orchestra, as well as Concertmaster/soloist with the Santa Cruz County Symphony. A faculty member at the Eastern Music Festival since 1989, he is Principal Second Violin there. He is founder and Music Director of the chamber music series “Music in the Mishkan.” In 2009, his chamber ensemble, the Bridge Players, released its first CD, Tales from Terezin, which is a featured item at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. At Arizona Musicfest 2007, he presented The Art of the Violin, as part of the Festival Insights series.
	Cellist Janet Witharm graduated from the New School of Music in Philadelphia, where she studied with Orlando Cole; other teachers include David Finckel, Ron Leonard, Alan Harris and Michael Grebanier. Formerly a member of the San Jose Symphony, Janet currently performs with Symphony Silicon Valley, Ballet San Jose and West Bay Opera, among others. She has been Principal Cellist and soloist at Music in the Mountains (CA) Festival since its inception in 1981. She has also soloed with other ensembles, including the Berkeley Symphony and the Bay Chamber Symphony Orchestra. Janet helped start the chamber music institute at the Music@Menlo Festival, serving as coordinator and coach for six years. She currently co-directs a summer chamber music camp for young musicians. Janet has a musical family: husband Greg (bass), son Alex, 15 (violin) and daughter Emma, 12 (violin and piano). This is her 10th year at Arizona Musicfest.
	Sarah Zun is an active freelance violinist living and working in the New York metropolitan area. She began studying violin at four in Cincinnati; her teachers include Naoko Tanaka, Won-Bin Yim, Dorothy Delay and Kurt Sassmannshaus. In 2004, she received her bachelor’s from The Juilliard School. Sarah is a member of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and the New York Chamber Virtuosi. She has also performed with the Harrisburg Symphony, the Greenwich Symphony, the New World Symphony, and the New York Asian Symphony Orchestra. Her festival experience includes Tanglewood, the Aspen Music Festival, Germany’s Sommermusikakademie, the Festival of Two Worlds in Italy, and the Verbier Music Festival in Switzerland. Sarah also enjoys teaching private violin students. This is her third appearance at Arizona Musicfest.