About
Meet the Musicians
Fort Wayne Philharmonic musicians are vital members of the community—performers, teachers, arts advocates, and working professionals—who play their part in order to make Northeast Indiana a vital region that offers unparalleled classical music opportunities for everyone.
+ = On Leave * = Vacant
Violin
Violetta Todorova
Concertmaster, Frank Freimann Chair
Violetta Todorova
An internationally acclaimed concert violinist, Violetta Todorova has performed for thousands of people around the world. Devoted to connecting the audiences through the universal language of music, her mission is to deliver meaningful experiences in order to revitalize the listeners' senses, including those of beauty and harmony that are inherently present in everyone.
Todorova holds top prizes from a number of prestigious international violin competitions and has performed in the world's greatest concert halls, including the Carnegie Hall in New York, the Symphony Center in Chicago, and Hangzhou Concert Hall in China. She was also the featured soloist at the 2019 inaugural concert at the Ulanhot Grand Theater in Inner Mongolia.
Todorova is the Concertmaster of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, and in February of 2019 she was awarded the "Emerging Artist" award from Arts United. Her album of J. S. Bach’s Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin has been released in 2024.
Todorova started playing the violin when she was five years old, making her first public appearance as a soloist with orchestra at seven years old on Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. After winning multiple violin competitions in Eastern Europe, and touring with concerts in Northern Europe, at the age of thirteen her talent was noticed across the Atlantic, and the young violinist was invited to the Interlochen Summer Arts Festival in Michigan, which she attended on full scholarship for six summers and where she won the concerto competitions in both the Intermediate and High School divisions.
After her studies at the Interlochen Arts Academy, she earned her Bachelors (summa cum laude) and Masters (with distinction) Degrees in violin performance at DePaul University School of Music, studying with one of the world’s top concert violinists and pedagogues, Ilya Kaler. Her other teachers and masterclasses include Joseph Silverstein, Ida Kavafian, and Zakhar Bron. During her time in Chicago, Todorova also served as an Assistant Concertmaster of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and after an inspiring year of artistic advisory from Yo-Yo Ma, she co-founded a conductorless orchestra under the name of “42nd Parallel”.
After graduation, Todorova held the Concertmaster position with the Illinois Symphony, and was a part of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. She has appeared as a Guest Concertmaster with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, Chicago Arts Orchestra, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Iowa, South Shore Orchestra, and Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra. She has also played with the Minnesota Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony, Louisville Symphony and the Detroit Symphony Orchestras.
Todorova plays on a Vincenzo Sannino violin and François Nicolas Voirin bow on loan from the Fort Wayne Philharmonic.
Johanna Bourkova-Morunov
Associate Concertmaster, Michael and Grace Mastrangelo Chair
Johanna Bourkova-Morunov
Johanna ("Yana") Bourkova-Morunov is the Associate Concertmaster of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, after serving as Assistant Concertmaster in the 2011-12 season. Other full-time positions she has held include section first violin position in the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, as well as Assistant Concertmaster of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra (Virginia).
Yana is a native of St. Petersburg, Russia. She began her violin studies at the age of six in the studio of Savely Shalman and traveled extensively throughout Russia, Europe and the US to perform and to assist in Mr. Shalman's master classes. She is a laureate of the St. Petersburg Open Competition of Young Violinists and the International Violin Competition in Murcia, Spain, as well as the Society of American Musicians Competition. She studied at the St. Petersburg Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatory Junior College with Elena Zaytseva for two years until her family moved to the US, where she began studying with Almita and Roland Vamos at the Music Institute of Chicago. Still as a student of Almita Vamos, Yana attended Oberlin Conservatory and later Northwestern University School of Music, where she graduated summa cum laude in 2004. She received her Master of Music degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the studio of Vartan Manoogian as a recipient of the Collins Wisconsin Distinguished Fellowship. She has served as Concertmaster of Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra, UW-Madison Symphony Orchestra, the Mannes College for Music Orchestra and Aspen Music Festival Sinfonia. At the Aspen Music Festival, where she studied for two summers with David Halen, the Concertmaster of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, she has also played in the Aspen Festival Symphony and Aspen Chamber Orchestras. She pursued Professional Studies Diploma at the Mannes College for Music as a student of Michelle Kim, the Assistant Concertmaster of The New York Philharmonic. Yana has also been a member of the Madison Symphony Orchestra, The Brooklyn Philharmonic, Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Elgin Symphony Orchestra and Ars Viva!/Chicago Mastersingers orchestra.
Yana has been a featured soloist with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic for Masterworks and Summer series. She has appeared as a guest artist on the Alumni Recital Series at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Music, as well as Faculty Recital Series at the Brigham Young University-Hawaii, where she served on the faculty. Yana is an active chamber musician, frequently performs at the Freimann Chamber Music series, has aired on classical radio stations in Chicago and Seattle, has performed as a guest artist at the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, and has taken part in numerous sound recordings.
She is married to the Philharmonic's second oboist, Pavel Morunov, and together they are raising two lively toddler daughters.
Timothy Tan
Assistant Concertmaster, John and Julia Oldenkamp Chair
Timothy Tan
Raised in Winston-Salem, NC, Tan studied at the NC School of the Arts, Boston University, and Carnegie Mellon University with professors including Vartan Manoogian, Stephen Shipps, Peter Zazofsky, Roman Totenberg and Andrés Cárdenes. Summer studies and festivals include the Brevard Music Center Summer Institute, IU String Academy, Eastern Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, Kent Blossom Music Festival as well as participation in 2 European tours with NCSA, Disney's All American College Orchestra, and the World Youth Orchestra in Malaysia. Prior to joining the Ft Wayne Philharmonic, he was a member of the WV Symphony and Sarasota Opera also having performed in Charlotte, Richmond, Indianapolis, Nashville, Youngstown, Maryland, Fairfax Symphonies and Erie and Boston Philharmonic. He currently spends summers with his wife, Colleen, as members of the Lake String Quartet performing at the Lake Hotel in Yellowstone National Park.Zulfiya Bashirova +
Principal Second Violin, Wilson Family Foundation Chair
Zulfiya Bashirova +
Betsy Gephart
Assistant Principal Second Violin, Eleanor and Lockwood Marine Chair
Betsy Gephart
Joining the Philharmonic in the fall of 1989, Betsy was easily convinced it was the perfect position for her. Not only was it a rewarding musical position with great colleagues to perform with, but the city of Fort Wayne also nurtured her number one pastime of family history research, with the Allen County Public Library’s fabulous Genealogy Center. More than thirty years later, her opinion has not changed.
Betsy began her musical training on piano at the age of five and added violin at age 10 through her public school’s strings program. While growing up, she enjoyed performing chamber music, especially two-piano recitals, with her parents and sister, and continued her piano studies through college. She received both her Bachelors and Masters of Music degrees from the University of Michigan, where she studied violin with Jacob Krachmalnick. Before coming to Fort Wayne, she performed with the South Bend Symphony and the Springfield (IL) Symphony, among others.
Betsy married Geoff Gephart in 1999 and they have two children. When not involved with the Philharmonic, she continues to follow her passion for family history. In 2018, she helped found the Northeast Indiana Jewish Genealogy Society, and she has developed a database of Fort Wayne Jewish Families for that organization. She also serves as the librarian for Congregation Achduth Vesholom, where she is a member. Betsy is a past member of the Board of Directors of Northeast Indiana Public Radio and has been active in the local alumnae chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota. She treasures whatever time she has with her children and is always ready to dive into a good book.
Marcella Trentacosti
Wayne L. Thieme Chair
Marcella Trentacosti
Born and raised in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Marcella Trentacosti has been a full-time section violinist in the Fort Wayne Philharmonic since 1976. Marcy graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Music Education and in 2008 completed a Master of Music from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. She participated in the Rome Festival Orchestra in Rome, Italy; the Civic Orchestra of Chicago ; Bach, Beethoven, Breckenridge Music Festival in Breckenridge, Colorado and served as Concertmaster of the Marion Philharmonic.
As an educator she has taught at Snider High School, Woodside Middle School, Canterbury School and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. In 2012, she received an Arts United Artie Award for “Outstanding Music Educator.”
Trentacosti maintains a private teaching studio for the IPFW Community Arts Academy, teaches violin and String Techniques for the PFW Department of Music and is the Director & Founder of the PFW Community Arts Academy Summer String Camp.
Marcy is an active member of Sigma Alpha Iota in which she has held several offices, ASTA (American String Teachers Association), IMEA, serves on the board of the Philharmonic Friends and is currently faculty adviser for the SAI Zeta Psi Collegiate Chapter.
Marcy is married to bassoonist, Mike Trentacosti.
Michael Acosta
Michael Acosta
Michael Acosta hails from Los Angeles, where he was born into a very musical family. His parents are both professional musicians who teach and perform in LA and as a result, Michael began his violin studies early on at the age of three. In high school, Mr. Acosta attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA) where he served as concertmaster and principal second violin of the school’s symphony orchestra. Mr. Acosta performed at weddings and other events with the La Folia Chamber Ensemble, served as a member of the American Youth Symphony, and was an assistant instructor at the family operated Evergreen Music Conservatory throughout his high school studies.
Mr. Acosta received his Bachelors of Music from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2009, where he studied with the accomplished concertmaster Alexander Kerr. During this time, Michael taught for the IU string department pre-college program in addition to performing with numerous local orchestras including the Bloomington, Carmel, and Columbus Symphony Orchestras. After completing his undergraduate studies in 2013, Mr. Acosta returned to Los Angeles where he performed as a member of the New West and Tulsa Symphony Orchestras, and returned to LACHSA as an instructor to coach chamber music and private lessons.
In 2017 Michael received his Master’s of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Michigan, where he studied with Danielle Belen and was the concertmaster of the University Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Acosta has attended numerous summer music festivals, most notably of which include the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival in Rendsburg, Germany (2013/2015), National Orchestral Institute (2016, concertmaster), Marrowstone Music Festival (2014/2016, concertmaster), Aspen Music Festival (2008), and Interlochen Center for the Arts (2004-2006).
More recently, Michael performed as a member of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, the Toledo Symphony, the Kalamazoo Symphony, and is proud to now be a member of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic.
David Ling
David Ling
David Ling began his studies at age 5 in Canton, Ohio, and went on to receive a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College. He also has a Master of Music degree from Cleveland Institute of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the State University of New York, Stony Brook. He has played with the Grant Park Symphony and the Canton Symphony. Ling also plays piano and cites his other interests as politics and Carl Jung.Laura Marcus
Laura Marcus
Alexandra Tsilibes
Alexandra Tsilibes
Alexandra Tsilibes, Section Violin in the FWPhil since 2000, comes from Rochester, N.Y. She began playing at age 5 and gave her solo debut with the Rochester Philharmonic at 16. Alex went on to earn a Bachelor of Music with High Honors from the Eastman School of Music and a Master of Music from Stony Brook University. She also minored in Spanish at the University of Rochester and has an orchestral studies certificate from Wayne State, plus a pharmacy technician certificate from Ivy Tech. Alex has been a member of the Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Flint and South Bend Symphonies and has participated in numerous festivals, including in Aspen, CO, Heidelberg, Germany, and Spoleto, Italy and at Des Moines Metro Opera. She has performed with the Indianapolis and Carmel Symphonies and under the late Sir Georg Solti and Alexander Schneider at Carnegie Hall. She and her husband, Akira Murotani, Third Trumpet with FWPhil, have a daughter, Elizabeth. Besides being a private violin instructor, Tsilibes enjoys cooking and traveling.
Pablo Vasquez
Pablo Vasquez
Pablo Vasquez, a member of the core Violin section, has been with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic since the early 90's
Born in La Paz, Bolivia, he began playing when in his teens. He has studied at the National Conservatory of La Paz, with El Sistema in Venezuela, at the University of Maine chamber music program and Cincinnati University. Pablo also works as an archetier, repairing and restoring string instrument bows. His other interests include chamber music, cooking and languages.
Kristin Westover
Kristin Westover
Kristin Westover has been a core section violinist in the Fort Wayne Philharmonic since 1990.
She received a B.S. degree in Violin Performance and Business at Indiana University, South Bend, and a Master of Music in Violin Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Her previous orchestra positions were with the South Bend Symphony, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and numerous summer festivals. Ms. Westover also taught at Goshen College for eight years. She has worked as a tax preparer and in the Education and Finance departments of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. She is currently a private violin teacher. Her interests and hobbies include reading and playing chamber music.Emelinda Acosta
Emelinda Acosta
Born and raised in Illinois, Emelinda completed her Bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance from the University of Illinois in 2012, studying with The Pacifica Quartet and Sibbi Bernhardsson, and her Master’s degree in Music Performance from Northwestern University in 2014, studying under Gerardo Ribeiro. During her school studies, Emelinda participated in the Green Mountain Music Festival, Meadowmount School of Music, Triada Music Festival, Camp Musical des Laurentides in Canada and the Harpa International Music Academy in Iceland.
In 2014, Emelinda won the Concertmaster chair of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, launching her career as a violinist in the Chicago area. Her many accomplishments include performing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, multiple performances at Carnegie Hall, radio performances in Chicago with YoYo Ma, and many other orchestras and chamber ensembles such as the Chicago Philharmonic, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Quad Cities Symphony, Springfield Symphony, Chicago Opera Theater, Zafa Collective, Rockford Symphony, Peoria Symphony, Heartland Festival Orchestra, Southwest Indiana Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, and Carmel Symphony. She has made guest soloist appearances with Trinity University Orchestra, the South Loop Orchestra, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago performing such works as the Sibelius violin concerto, Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen, and the Brandenburg Concertos.
Emelinda has acted as teaching faculty at music festivals such as the Meadowmount School of Music, Illinois Summer Youth Music and the Elgin Chamber Academy and has been on the teaching artist faculty of the Glenbrook North and South High Schools in the Chicago area. In 2020 she founded Lieta Music, a chamber music performance and music education initiative that brings string quartet performances and masterclasses to neighborhoods, meeting places, restaurants, and schools in her community.
Emelinda maintains a private studio of violin and piano students in the Fort Wayne area, is on the teaching faculty for Harpa International Music Academy music festival and is proud to be a member for the Fort Wayne Philharmonic.Lipeng Chen
Lipeng Chen
Lipeng Chen joined the Fort Wayne Philharmonic as violinist in 2017. Lipeng began her career in 1998 as a full-time violinist with the Chongqing Symphony Orchestra in China. She was an Associate Concertmaster with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and the Chicago Arts Orchestra. She has performed with the China National Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Rockford Symphony, Hong Kong City Chamber Orchestra, Guangzhou Symphony, Illinois Symphony, Portugal Lisbon Symphony, and other regional and national orchestras.
Lipeng has performed with many world-famous musicians, including maestros Riccardo Muti, Jaap Van Sweden, Andrew Constantine, and Michael Tilson Thomas; soloists Joshua Bell and Gil Shaham; and legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma. She was invited to music festivals such as Eastern Music Festival Faculty Orchestra, ICICLE Music Festival, Cantan International Music Festival, Great Wall Music Festival, Asian Youth Orchestra. She has toured and performed in China, Macao, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tokyo Japan and throughout the United States.
Following in the footsteps of Yo-Yo Ma’s Citizen Musician initiative, Lipeng is a strong believer and advocate of community enrichment through classical music. She has many years of experience in community engagement, having served as string ensemble leader for MusiCorps Music Education & Advocacy Program under the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and brought classical music to many Indiana and North Carolina communities through the educational outreach programs of the Muncie Symphony and the Eastern Music Festival Faculty Orchestra.
She has passion for teaching and maintains her music studio. Her students have won violin and piano competitions in Illinois, Indiana, China, and Hong Kong.
Lipeng studied, with full scholarship, at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and Ball State University.Janet Guy-Klickman
Janet Guy-Klickman
Dianna Joiner
Dianna Joiner
Violinist Dianna Joiner is a native of Greenville, South Carolina. She is currently assistant concertmaster of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, a member of the West Virginia Symphony, and recently joined the Fort Wayne Philharmonic as section violin. During the 2021-2022 season, Dianna was a member of the first violin section of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. In addition to regularly performing with the Indianapolis Symphony, she plays with the Pro Music Chamber Orchestra in Columbus, Ohio, and several other ensembles in the region. Prior to her time in Indianapolis, she was a member of the Canton Symphony Orchestra, Akron Symphony Orchestra, and the Cleveland Pops Orchestra.
Dianna has participated in summer music festivals including the Britt Music and Arts Festival, New Hampshire Music Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, Breckenridge Music Festival, Round Top Festival Institute, Colorado College Summer Music Festival, and the Brevard Music Center Institute and Festival. Dianna was on the faculty at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory and Community Music School from 2018-2021 where she maintained both a Suzuki and traditional violin studio. She has also served on the violin faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music Preparatory Program and Hathaway Brown School.
Dianna received a Bachelor of Music degree from Vanderbilt University and a Masters in Music Performance from the University of Texas at Austin. She also completed a post-graduate degree in violin performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Her former teachers include Carolyn Huebl, Brian Lewis, and William Preucil.
In her spare time, Dianna enjoys exploring coffee shops and going on adventures with her husband, violist Patrick Miller, and their corgi named Poe.Linda Kanzawa
Linda Kanzawa
Colleen Tan
Colleen Tan
Maryland native Colleen Tan began studying the violin at the age of nine. Her principal violin teachers include Robert Gerle and Piotr Milewski. Colleen earned her Master of Music in Violin Performance at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, which she attended through the graces of a full scholarship. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music in both Violin Performance and Instrumental Music Education at The Catholic University of America, where she was a Ward scholar, graduating magna cum laude. Her summer training included performing at the Brevard Music Festival as a Repertory Training Fellow, Opera Teatro di Lucca (Italy) and with the Summer Opera Theater Company (Washington, DC). She has performed chamber music in many of the embassies in Washington, DC, for West Virginia Govenor Joe Manchin at the Govenor's Mansion, and for the West Virginia Legislature.
An avid lover of all genres of music, Colleen has performed with the Montclaire String Quartet, Cincinnati Ballet, Harrisburg Symphony, and with the Washington Concert Opera. She was a member of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and served as a conductor for the West Virginia Youth Symphony Youth Strings Ensemble. She is a violinist in the Lake String Quartet, the quartet in residence at Yellowstone National Park and is a founding member of String Shift.
Serving as Orchestra Director at Canterbury School, Colleen teaches and directs orchestras for students in grades three through twelve. She has established a Middle School Chamber Orchestra and a High School Camerata ensemble to complement the orchestra program. Ms.Tan has served on the string faculty at Marshall University. A strong believer in service, she has served as President of WV ASTA Chapter and Vice President of the WV Orchestra Directors Association. She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity and Pi Kappa Lambda. She is the current chairperson for the American String Teachers Association's national ASTACAP Committee. A National Board Certified Teacher in Orchestra for Early Adolescents and Young Adults, she has enjoyed conducting bands, honors orchestras, and presenting at national ASTA conferences.She maintains a private violin studio in Fort Wayne. Colleen is married to Philharmonic violinist Timothy Tan and they are blessed with two young musicians.
Viola
Derek Reeves
Principal, Tod S. Kovara Chair
Derek Reeves
Fort Wayne Philharmonic Principal Violist Derek Reeves began his musical studies at the age of 2 1/2. A graduate of Indiana University, he was the recipient of the prestigious Performer’s Certificate, as well as having earned Bachelor and Master of Music degrees. Prior to coming to Fort Wayne, he held the positions of Associate Concertmaster of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Concertmaster of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, and Associate Concertmaster of the Evansville Philharmonic. He has also performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra.
Mr. Reeves has performed as soloist with The Erie Chamber Orchestra, The Niagara Symphony Orchestra, The Fort Wayne Philharmonic, The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, The Indianapolis Philharmonic Orchestra, The Carmel Symphony Orchestra and The Gateways Festival Orchestra.
As a chamber musician, Mr. Reeves has been the violist of the Philharmonic’s own Freimann Quartet since 2003. He has participated in the Spoleto, Aspen, Gateways, and Prizm International Music Festivals and is also in demand as a recitalist, guest artist, recording studio musician, and arranger.
Mr. Reeves also maintains a robust teaching schedule, teaching viola at The Purdue University Fort Wayne School of Music, designing curriculum and teaching for the Phil’s “Club O” program, and keeping a private studio of violin and viola students as well. He performs on a viola made by Mark Womack in 2005 and lives in Fort Wayne with his wife Patricia and son, Preston.
Debra Welter
Assistant Principal, Charles and Wilda Gene Marcus Family Chair
Debra Welter
Debra Welter is the Assistant Principal Violist of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. She has held this position since 1995 and is also a frequent guest on the Freimann Chamber Music series.
Originally from Racine, Wisconsin she earned her Bachelor of Music degree from DePaul University and her Master of Music degree from the University of Akron, both in Viola Performance. Her principal teachers were Roland Vamos and Rami Solomonow. Before joining the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Deb served as Principal Violist of the Evansville Philharmonic. She has also been a member of the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, Akron Symphony, South Bend Symphony and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. She has participated in the Aspen Music Festival, Bowdoin Summer Music Festival and the Spoleto Festival (Charleston, South Carolina). She also served as Librarian of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic from 1998 to 2007. In addition to performing with the orchestra, Deb also maintains a small private teaching studio.
Deb is married to David Welter who is a Program Manager for Regal-Beloit and occasionally plays clarinet with the orchestra. When not performing or teaching Deb enjoys being a “swim mom” to their son Noah, a competitive swimmer for the SWAC and Woodside Middle School swim teams. Other interests include vegetarian cooking, swimming and downhill skiing.
Deb’s viola is a 2008 Landolfi copy made by William Bartruff of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Fun fact: Deb can be found on the silver screen in the orchestra scene of the movie “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”.
Debra Graham
S. Marie Heiney and Janet Myers Heiney Chair
Debra Graham
Musical Journey
I started hearing my mother play piano and loved her playing—especially her favorite Debussy. I began viola in grade 4 through my school music program and just loved the sound of the instrument. I love Bach and Brahms…anything.
Philharmonic & Community
Advice for young musicians: Love music, but if you want to make it your career, be prepared for many hours of hard work and sacrifice.
What I enjoy most: When people come up to me after concerts and say how much the music touched them.
Life in Fort Wayne
Favorite local spots: a restaurant, Promenade Park, the Conservatory.
Life Offstage
I’m into plants and gardening (and spend too much money on it). I run and conduct an orchestra for amateur adults called the Fort Wayne Terrible Orchestra.
Fun Facts
• I hate cantaloupe.
• I eat chocolate every day.
• My favorite breakfast is yogurt with fruit and granola.
• I like drinking green tea, but only loose leaf (I’m a snob about it).
Bio Highlights
BMus Wheaton College
MMus Indiana University
Rolland String Workshop
Maestri Conducting Workshop 2023
Pacific Northwest Conducting Workshop 2025
Bruce Graham
Bruce Graham
Bruce A. Graham has played viola with The Phil since 1991.
He began playing at age 11 and also plays guitar and electric bass. Graham grew up in Minnesota and studied at Wheaton College, where he earned a Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance, and at Eastman School of Music, where he received a Master of Music in Viola Performance. Before joining The Phil, he was Principal Viola of the Knoxville Symphony. Graham is secretary/treasurer of the Fort Wayne Musicians Association, American Federation of Musicians Local 58. His other interests include tennis, jazz and rock music and playing electric bass in a church worship band. He and his wife, Debra, have one daughter, Catherine.Theodore E. Chemey III
Theodore E. Chemey III
Violist Theodore E. Chemey, III, has played with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic since 1991.
Born in Philadelphia, Chemey began playing at age 10 and also plays trombone. He has a Bachelor of Music degree in Viola from Oberlin College and previously played with the Toledo Symphony and the Lima Symphony Orchestra. Chemey also is an Air Traffic Control Specialist and enjoys skiing. He and his wife, Susan, have three children, Alexander, Michael and Natalie.Patrick Miller
Patrick Miller
Patrick Miller joined the Fort Wayne Philharmonic as a violist in May 2024. Before this, he held a one-year position with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra during the 2022-2023 season. Patrick has also performed with renowned orchestras like the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. An accomplished chamber musician, he has collaborated with artists such as Jinjoo Cho and members of the Cavani String Quartet. Patrick holds a Bachelor of Music from Indiana University and a Master of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he received the Robert Vernon Viola Award in 2018. Beyond his musical achievements, Patrick enjoys working out at Orangetheory Fitness, playing golf, and indulging in his love for coffee. He cherishes time spent with his wife, violinist Dianna, and their corgi, Poe.Javier Otalora +
Javier Otalora +
Cello
Andre Gaskins
Principal, Morrill Charitable Foundation Chair
Andre Gaskins
Principal Cellist of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Andre J. Gaskins enjoys a diverse musical career as cellist, conductor, composer and music educator. Maintaining an active schedule as a performing cellist, his recording of Martinu’s ‘Concertino’ for the Summit Records label was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Awards, in the category of ‘Best Performance by a small ensemble (with or without conductor)’. Solo appearances with orchestra have included performances with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the Central Jersey Symphony, the Richmond Philharmonic, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, the Fort Smith Symphony, the Carmel Symphony Orchestra and the Butler Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Gaskins has appeared as solo cellist from historic venues as the Grand Philharmonic Hall in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation to the cities of Indianapolis, Richmond, Cincinnati, Ann Arbor, Concepcion (Chile), Okinawa (Japan) and Beijing (China). Mr. Gaskins has served as the Music Director and Conductor of the Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra, the Columbus Ballet Orchestra, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Symphony, the Earlham College Orchestra and the Youth Orchestra of Greater Columbus. He has served as Assistant or Associate conductor with the Richmond Symphony, the Columbus State University Philharmonic and the New World Youth Orchestra.
As an orchestral cellist, Mr. Gaskins served as the principal cellist of the Columbus (GA) Symphony Orchestra, the LaGrange Symphony and the Richmond (IN) Symphony. He also performs regularly as a substitute with the cello section of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. While pursuing doctoral studies at Indiana University, he served as the teaching assistant to world-renowned cellist, Janos Starker. He also studied conducting with David Effron and composition with David Dzubay.
An aspiring film composer, Mr. Gaskins has composed and performed original music for short films, documentaries and commercials. His music has been heard in commercials produced for American Express, Valspar and Chevrolet.
Mr. Gaskins has been a faculty member of the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Eastern Illinois University, Earlham College and the Brevard Music Center. In February of 2012, Mr. Gaskins made his Carnegie Hall debut, performing in Weill Recital Hall.
Deborah Nitka Hicks
Assistant Principal, Judith and William C. Lee Family Chair
Deborah Nitka Hicks
Deborah Nitka Hicks, Assistant Principal Cellist with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, has been a member of the orchestra since 1992.
Born in Worcester, MA, she began playing at age eight. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Houston in 1988 and studied for the Master of Music at the New England Conservatory of Music and the University of Houston, receiving her degree in 1990. Before joining the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Hicks served as Assistant Principal Cellist of the Houston Ballet Orchestra. She has performed with the Houston Symphony and the Central Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra and has participated in the Grand Teton Music Festival since 1992. She resides in Fort Wayne with her husband Andrew, bass trombonist for the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, and her beloved dachshunds. She gives private cello lessons and also enjoys traveling and cooking.
Brian Klickman
Section Cello, Linda and Joseph D. Ruffolo Family Foundation Chair
Brian Klickman
Elizabeth Lee
Elizabeth Lee
Elizabeth Lee has been a member of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic since 2019. She began her cello studies at the age of ten with Metta Watts in Philadelphia. Elizabeth earned her bachelor's degree in cello performance from Lynn University, where she studied under David Cole, and her master’s degree from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she was mentored by Alan Rafferty.
David Rezits
David Rezits
David Rezits, a cellist with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic since 1991, previously was Principal Cello with the Haifa Symphony in Israel, Assistant Principal Cello with the Florida Orchestra, and Associate Principal Cello with the Rio de Janeiro Symphony.
Rezits has worked with conductors such as Leonard Bernstein, Kurt Masur, Seiji Ozawa, Maxim Shostakovich and Robert Shaw. He often performs with his father, Joseph, a concert pianist. David received a Bachelor of Music Performance degree from Indiana University, a Master of Music Performance degree from State University of New York, and a Master’s in Education from Indiana University. His past teachers include Janos Starker, Bernard Greenhouse and Eva Janzer. He has taught and performed in Israel, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and the USA. Rezits is the author of a celebrity classical musician’s cookbook, “Culinary Harmony,” which has been in print since 1997. Besides cooking, his interests include tennis, hiking, wetland restoration, animals, and traveling. David also volunteers in the community assisting in ESL classes for Burmese and Hispanic adults.Matthew Fields
Matthew Fields
Peter Opie
Peter Opie
Bass
Vacant
Principal, Anita Hursh Cast Chair Honoring Adrian Mann
Vacant
Kevin Piekarski
Assistant Principal, Giuseppe Perego Chair
Kevin Piekarski
Musical Journey
Started playing bass at 12 years old. I was a tall kid for my age. The size and low sounds of the bass appealed to me, and not too many other kids seemed interested in the bass!
Philharmonic & Community
Advice for young musicians: You must put forth the effort to practice with some regularity. The more proficient you are, the more you will enjoy it!
What I enjoy most: I am grateful for the opportunities that I have had via living in Fort Wayne. My experiences here have been fruitful and beneficial, and I met my sweetheart here!
Life in Fort Wayne
I am an avid cyclist; I find the River Greenway to be a tremendous asset to our city and use it frequently!
Life Offstage
Jazz; I am the third generation of jazz musician in my family! When I was young, I remember listening to my dad's LPs of the Oscar Peterson Trio from the early to late 1960s, and being inspired to delve into playing jazz!
I'm no fun!
Fun Facts
My jazz trio was invited to visit Plock, Poland (Fort Wayne's sister city) in 1996 to play several concerts. It was an amazing experience for me since my family's heritage is Polish!Andres Gil
Andres Gil
Brian Kuhns
Brian Kuhns
Brian Kuhns, who plays double bass, has been with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic since 1997.
Born in Terre Haute, he considers Fort Wayne his hometown. He began studying music at age 10 and also plays guitar. Kuhns received a Bachelor of Music Performance from Indiana University, Bloomington, in 1991. He was a member of the LaRoque D’Antheron, France, International Piano Festival orchestra in 1989 and won a Fellowship Award to the Aspen Music Festival in 1991. Kuhns is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Roth Wehrly Graber and names golf and cookouts as his hobbies. He has three children, Sebastian, Joshua and Olivia.John Tonne
John Tonne
John Tonne began his study of the Double Bass under the tutelage of Kevin Piekarski of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic at age 19. He attended Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he earned a Bachelor of Music Performance degree studying with Bruce Bransby, former Principal Double Bass of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In 2007, he joined the Fort Wayne Philharmonic as part-time Section Bassist before leaving to pursue opportunities in Europe. After several years spent in Germany and then Seattle, WA, he returned to his former position with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic in 2023.
Flute
Luke Fitzpatrick
Principal, Rejean O'Rourke Chair
Luke Fitzpatrick
Musical Journey
I was 10 years old when I started playing the flute. I wanted to play the trumpet, but we owned a flute, so the decision was made for me!
One of my musical heroes is my flute teacher Bonita Boyd, professor at the Eastman School of Music. She taught me about music and life and still inspires me every day.
I personally love the Verdi Requiem and think it is one of the greatest works ever written.
Philharmonic & Community
Advice for young musicians: Remember that progress isn't linear, discipline is key to growth, and always be patient with yourself.
What I enjoy most: I love getting to perform live music with my colleagues on stage and build relationships with our wonderful audiences!
Life in Fort Wayne
I love the restaurants in Fort Wayne; my personal favorites are Proximo and BB's Kitchen. I also frequent all of the wonderful coffee shops we have here in town.
Bio Highlights
BM - Eastman School of Music
MM - Carnegie Mellon University
AD - The Colburn School
Principal Flute, Des Moines Opera & Sarasota Opera Companies
Vivianne Bélanger
Virginia R. and Richard E. Bokern Chair
Vivianne Bélanger
Vivianne Bélanger joined the Fort Wayne Philharmonic as the second flute in 2012. She was the second flute-piccolo in the Drummondville Symphony Orchestra in Canada from 2012-2020. In addition, Vivianne has performed with ensembles such as the Minnesota Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Lexington Philharmonic, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, the Ostrich Symphony Orchestras and I’Orchestre de la Francophonie.
A native of Montreal, Canada, Vivianne began playing the flute at age nine. In the years to follow, her passion for music grew, leading to the pursuit of a Bachelor in Music Performance from the McGill University Schulich School of Music in 2006. She went on to earn her Master of Music Performance and a Certificate in Performance from DePaul University. Her teachers include Mathieu Dufour, Denis Bluteau and Carolyn Christie.
While performing is her first love, Vivianne is associate flute instructor of flute at Purdue University Fort Wayne and keeps an active private studio through the Community Arts Academy where she teaches all ages.
Third Flute / Piccolo
Hillary Feibel
Mary-Beth Gnagey Chair
Hillary Feibel
Oboe
Orion Rapp
Principal, Margaret Johnson Anderson Chair
Orion Rapp
Orion Rapp is Principal Oboist of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, a position he has held since the fall of 2013. He has also served as Principal Oboist of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra since 2009, where he is regularly featured as a soloist.
Orion maintains an active performance career outside of Indiana. He has performed as principal oboist with the San Diego Symphony, the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, and the Opera in the Ozarks Opera Orchestra. He has also performed with the San Diego Lyric Opera, and the La Jolla Music Society Summerfest Orchestra. Orion made his New York debut in 2013 in a production of Benjamin Britten’s opera, “The Rape of Lucretia."
An avid educator, Orion regularly coaches chamber music and teaches oboe reed-making at the historic Interlochen’s Summer Arts Camp. In addition, he has taught undergraduate chamber music at Rutgers University, and for three years Orion was a conductor and woodwind coach for the Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey in Princeton, New Jersey. Orion is featured performing and teaching on the multimedia that accompanies Bruce Pearson’s and Ryan Nowlin’s nationally distributed band method books, Tradition of Excellence.
Orion is currently a doctoral candidate (DMA) at Rutgers University and he holds a Masters degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. His previous teachers include Nathan Hughes (principal oboist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra), Frank Rosenwein (principal oboist of the Cleveland Orchestra), and Dwight Parry (principal oboist of the Cincinnati Orchestra).
Pavel Morunov
Fort Wayne Philharmonic Friends' Fellow, Rikki and Leonard Goldstein Chair
Pavel Morunov
Pavel Morunov is a full-time member of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic in the oboe section. He is also serving as the oboe professor at Purdue University Fort Wayne School of Music. Prior to that, Pavel was a member of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra as the English horn, and later as the Assistant Principal Oboe player.
Pavel Morunov is a native of Russia. He received his education at Gnessins' Russian State Academy of Music in Moscow where he studied with Professor Anatoly Liubimov, former Principal Oboe player of the Russian Academic State Symphony Orchestra. During the last three years of his study at the Gnessins’ Academy Pavel served as a full-time member of Moscow theater orchestra “The New Opera”. After receiving his Bachelor and Graduate School diplomas he was admitted into the post-graduate program at the Academy but had left the country to continue his education in the United States. Pavel received his Master of Music degree from Northwestern University, where he studied with the former Principal Oboe player of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mr. Ray Still. In the summer 2005 Pavel attended Aspen Music Festival as a recipient of the Noyce Bowers Oboe Fellowship. He received the dedicated English horn fellowship for the summer of 2006 and 2007 from the same festival. Pavel received Professional Studies Diploma from Mannes College of Music, the division of the New School University, where he studied with Professor Elaine Douvas, Principal Oboe player of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. In the spring of 2003 Pavel became a recipient of the Collins Distinguished Graduate Fellowship of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed his doctoral degree in music performance in 2015. Pavel is married to Johanna Bourkova-Morunov, Associate Concertmaster of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, and together they are raising three young children.
Third Oboe / English Horn
Jonathan Snyder
Marilyn M. Newman Chair
Jonathan Snyder
Clarinet
Campbell MacDonald
Principal, Howard and Marilyn Steele Chair
Campbell MacDonald
Laurie Blanchet +
Acting Principal, Howard and Marilyn Steele Chair
Laurie Blanchet +
Bassoon
Dennis Fick
Principal, George and Linnéa Bartling Chair
Dennis Fick
Dennis Fick, Principal Bassoonist of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, has been with the orchestra since 1978.
A student at the UCLA School of Music, Fick left his studies there to accept the position of Principal Bassoonist of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. His career has included positions as Principal Bassoonist of the National Symphony Orchestra of Peru, the Amigos de la Musica Chamber Orchestra of Lima, Peru and the Jerusalem Symphony. He also was Assistant Principal Bassoonist of the Kansas City Philharmonic. Fick has appeared as soloist with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic on numerous occasions, as well as with other orchestras. Born in Los Angeles, he first studied piano at the age of 5 and began playing bassoon at age 11. His teachers include Don Christlieb, Frederick Moritz and Mordechai Rechtman. His other interests include SCUBA diving and motorcycle riding.
Anne Devine
Joan and Ronald Venderly Family Chair
Anne Devine
Horn
Kimberlee Hebdon
Principal, Mr. & Mrs. Arthur A. Swanson Chair
Kimberlee Hebdon
Kentucky native Kimberlee (Kimmi) Hebdon is the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Principal French Hornist. This is her first season with the Philharmonic.
Kimmi’s love for music grew quickly when at age 7 she took part in an “instrument petting zoo” with the Billings Montana Symphony Orchestra and she was able to try out the horn for the first time. She started playing the French horn in school when she was 12. Kimmi spent her high school years in Kentucky playing and soloing with the Louisville Youth Orchestra and playing side by side with professionals in the Louisville Orchestra. She spent her summers at the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts and at the Interlochen Summer Institute and Festival as the Moe and Francine Endowed Music Scholar. She was also the recipient of the William Tolbert Whittenberg Scholarship for Performing Arts Excellence through the Fund for the Arts Campaign which helped fund her college education.
Kimmi is a recent graduate of Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music and studied under internationally recognized hornist Gail Williams. She was a member of Northwestern’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. During her time at Northwestern, she loved playing in chamber groups and performing with the brass ensemble. She has attended the Brevard Summer Music Festival and the Aspen Summer Festival as a Conducting Academy Fellow. Other teachers who have contributed to her success are Jon Boen of Northwestern University, Diana Morgen of the Louisville Orchestra, and Mr. John Little.
Outside of music, Kimmi loves being outdoors, watching sports, playing with her dog, and spending quality time with her family and friends.Vacant
Acting Second, John D. Shoaff Chair
Vacant
Michael Galbraith
Walter D. Griest, MD Family Chair
Michael Galbraith
Michael Galbraith has played Third French Horn for the Fort Wayne Philharmonic since 1990. A native of Interlochen, Michigan, he holds Bachelors’ degrees in History and French Horn Performance from Southern Methodist University, a Masters in French Horn Performance from Indiana University in Bloomington and a Masters in Historic Preservation from Ball State’s College of Architecture and Planning. He has performed with orchestras in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Texas. He serves as a Board member of the Philharmonic, representing the musicians.
In addition to his work at the Philharmonic, he is also the President and CEO of the Downtown Fort Wayne Economic Improvement District (DID). He oversees all aspects of the 99-block district’s efforts to be the “vibrant urban core of Northeast Indiana.” He also serves as Administrator for the Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA) serving the 11 counties of Northeast Indiana and helping to fund over $264 million in projects since 2016. He is a member of the Quest Club, and serves on the Boards of Greater Fort Wayne, The History Center, and ARCH, Inc.
Previous to his role at the DID, he served as Director of the Road to One Million at the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership from 2016-2019 overseeing regional talent attraction efforts as well as the Regional Development Authority. Since 2006, he had worked with ARCH, Inc., Fort Wayne’s nonprofit historic architecture preservation group. From 2011 to 2016, he served as the Executive Director. Through his work with ARCH, he authored and published comprehensive studies that cover the historic architecture of Steuben County, LaGrange County, Wells County, Allen County and Adams County for the State of Indiana.
Michael is married to Janet Mackay-Galbraith, who is on faculty at Canterbury School and is also an administrator at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. His two daughters, Cate and Amelia attend McGill University (Montréal, QC) and Whitman College (Walla Walla, WA) respectively.
Katherine Loesch
Katherine Loesch
Trumpet
Andrew Lott
Principal, Gaylord D. Adsit Chair
Andrew Lott
Andrew Lott has been Principal Trumpet of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic since 2015 and Trumpet Professor at Purdue University-Fort Wayne since 2016. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Trumpet Performance from Baylor University in 2012 where he was a student of Wiff Rudd and a member of the first Baylor Trumpet Ensemble to win 1st place at the National Trumpet Competition. He received his Master’s Degree from Indiana University where he was a student of John Rommel and served as the Associate Instructor of Trumpet. In 2018, Andy soloed on Shostakovich Concerto for Piano, Trumpet and Strings and Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and performed Copland’s Quiet City with the Purdue Fort Wayne Symphonic Wind Ensemble. He has also performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony and Houston Symphony.Dan Price
George M. Schatzlein Chair
Dan Price
Daniel Price joined the Fort Wayne Philharmonic as Second Trumpet in June of 2023. He has performed with numerous orchestras including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Des Moines Symphony, New World Symphony, and National Repertory Orchestra. He was also a fellow with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.
Daniel enjoys a wide variety of musical genres and has performed extensively for musical theater productions, big bands, show choir festivals, and in commercial bands.
He studied at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and University of Georgia’s Hodgson School of Music for his bachelors and masters degrees, respectively. His principal teachers include John Rommel, Philip Smith, and Mark Ridenour.
In his free time, Daniel enjoys cooking, hiking, studying history and spending time with his wife and chocolate Labrador mix.Akira Murotani
Charles Walter Hursh Chair
Akira Murotani
Akira Murotani plays third trumpet with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. A position he has held since 1998.
Murotani began playing at age 13. In addition to his position with the Philharmonic, he is a trumpet instructor at Goshen College. Murotani received a BMusEd with a minor in mathematics from Luther College, then went on to earn a MM and DMA from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Murotani performed at the Spoleto Festival in Italy for two summers and has played with the Grand Rapids and South Bend Symphonies. Murotani and his wife, Alex, Philharmonic violinist, have a daughter, Ellie. Murotani lists home repairs and jazz among his other interests.
Trombone
Kevin Dombrowski
Principal, W. Paul and Carolyn Wolf Chair
Kevin Dombrowski
Musical Journey
One of my earliest musical memories was watching the middle school band visit my grade school when I was in 1st grade. It was always a highlight of the year for me to watch them come play.
I was 10 years old when I began playing the trombone.
My favorite piece to perform is Symphonic Metamorphosis by Paul Hindemith. The trombone parts are challenging and fun, and the piece as a whole is really one of my favorites.
Philharmonic & Community
Advice for young musicians: Practice and remember that we play music because it is fun.
What I enjoy most: I am lucky that I get to make a living playing music. There is a lot that goes into being a musician that is not glamorous, but I would still choose this over most other professions.
Life in Fort Wayne
My two favorite go-to restaurants in Fort Wayne are Ophelia's and Kim Vu Vietnamese Cuisine.
Life Offstage
My fiancé and I love to hike and ride bikes, but we are also huge board game enthusiasts. I also play hockey, golf, and tennis on a regular basis, when the seasons permit.
Fun Facts
• Before playing in Fort Wayne, I was a member of orchestras in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Seoul, Korea.
• I have many published arrangements for different trombone ensembles with Cherry Classics Publishing.
• I have played ice hockey since I was four years old.
• I can do a really good Daffy Duck impression.
• I have travelled to over 25 different countries.
Bio Highlights
Principal Trombone, Fort Wayne Philharmonic
Brian Johnston
Brian Johnston
Musical Journey
I had one of those iSpy books from the 90s. There was a page that had all the brass instruments, and I knew I wanted to play one of them. I especially liked the trombone because of the slide.
Jay Friedman is a musical hero of mine. Some of what he's accomplished as a trombonist has still not been recreated to this day.
I was 9 years old when I started playing.
My favorite piece to perform is Mahler's 9th Symphony.
Philharmonic & Community
Advice for young musicians: In order to be successful, you need to strive to be better than the person you were yesterday.
What I enjoy most: I enjoy that the Fort Wayne Phil now feels like home after nearly 7 years here.
Life in Fort Wayne
I enjoy the nature trails in Fort Wayne. A great place to walk or ride your bike.
Life Offstage
I enjoy new music, even though it's not as commonly appreciated as Beethoven. I like seeing the limits of standard orchestral repertoire being challenged.
I like to talk with people before a performance—it calms me down.
When not making music, I’m usually trying trombone equipment like mouthpieces or trombones, always on the search for better gear.
I can't see myself doing anything else.
Favorite Movie: Shawshank Redemption
Favorite Book: The Outsiders
Comfort Food: Pizza
Fun Facts
• I play on a very old trombone, a 1960s Mount Vernon Bach 42, which has been customized in almost every way possible.
• I'm a spicy food aficionado who actively seeks spicy food challenges, including some of the hottest peppers in the world: Carolina Reaper and Pepper X.
• My dog Leo was the best man at my wedding.
• I cook BBQ in my spare time; my smoked meat of choice is burnt ends.
• I'm a frequent blood donor. I've donated close to 4 gallons of blood in my lifetime!
Bio Highlights
Tenor & Alto Trombone, Fort Wayne Philharmonic
Career highlights include performing with many of the country’s finest orchestras: The Chicago Symphony, Houston, Detroit, Utah, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Columbus, Toledo symphonies & the Detroit Opera.
Bass Trombone
Andrew Hicks
Andrew Hicks
Tuba
Seth Carter
Principal, Sweetwater Sound and Chuck and Lisa Surack Chair
Seth Carter
Musical Journey
My earliest musical memories were taking guitar lessons as a kid and singing in church.
When I first began playing tuba in sixth grade, I remember constantly watching videos of Oystein Baadsvik on YouTube because he did things I had never heard done on the instrument. As I got older, I was lucky enough that a few of my musical inspirations like Warren Deck, Don Little, and Aaron Tindall and Matt Good became my mentors.
Philharmonic & Community
Advice for young musicians: The key to making a living in music is to have a strong work ethic/willpower combined with the ability to adapt and be receptive to advice and critique.
What I enjoy most: I enjoy collaborating with my colleagues on a weekly basis playing great music!
Life Offstage
I enjoy listening to a wide variety of music, from Hip Hop to Country to Classical, though Rock and Blues were my biggest influences growing up. When not performing, I enjoy playing basketball and working out. I'm from Paris, Texas, where they have an Eiffel Tower with a cowboy hat on top!
I started on the trombone and had to really be convinced to play the tuba at first. I was a terrible trombonist. The first piece of music that blew my mind was seeing the Dallas Symphony Orchestra perform Mahler 2nd Symphony. Growing up, Wind Band was much more popular than orchestra, so I had never experienced music like that before.
Fun Facts
• I'm a twin!
• If I wasn't a musician, I would probably be a mailman.
Bio Highlights
Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Texas
Master's Degree from the Colburn Conservatory of Music
Winner of the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium and Tuba Festival
Former Principal Tuba of the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra
Timpani
Andrew Nowack
Principal, William H. Lawson Chair
Andrew Nowack
Percussion
Alison Chorn
Principal, June E. Enoch Chair
Alison Chorn
Kevin Kosnik
Second, North American Van Lines funded by Norfolk Southern Foundation Chair
Kevin Kosnik
Kirk Ethridge
Patricia Adsit Chair
Kirk Ethridge
Harp
Anne Preucil Lewellen
Principal, Fort Wayne Philharmonic Friends Chair
Anne Preucil Lewellen
Anne Preucil Lewellen joined the Fort Wayne Philharmonic as the Principal Harpist in the fall of 1987.
She has appeared as soloist with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic on numerous occasions and performs regularly on the Freimann Chamber Series.
Ms. Lewellen graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree and from the Curtis Institute of Music with a Performance Diploma.
In addition to her duties with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Ms. Lewellen also performs and records with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. She spends the summer in Jackson Hole, WY where she has been a member of the Grand Teton Music Festival since 1999.
Organ
Irene Ator
Robert Goldstine Chair
Irene Ator
Piano
Alexander Klepach
English, Bonter, Mitchell Foundation Chair
Alexander Klepach
Alexander Klepach, Principal Pianist of The Phil, began his musical studies at age 5 in his hometown of Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine.
He gave his first public recital at age 8 and made his first appearance with a symphony orchestra at age 12. He was educated at the Special Music School in Kiev and graduated from the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory in 1986 with a Doctorate of Music in Piano Performance. Strongly opposed to the communist regime, Klepach wasn’t allowed to perform abroad and was forcefully recruited into the Soviet Red Army. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992, Klepach performed with the National Philharmonic of Moldova, the Symphony Orchestra of Europe in Madrid, and The National Chamber Orchestra of Russia as a piano and harpsichord soloist. He has concertized throughout Europe, Asia and the United States and has performed as recitalist with his wife, Olga Yurkova. He came to the United States in 1998 and has been with The Phil for 12 years.
