Orchestra

Charismatic violinist and presenter Casey Bozell offers performances and music experiences which engage and inspire audiences across the Pacific Northwest. Her bold and colorful playing “draws out strong emotions” (The Linfield Review) and casts new light on traditional repertoire. As a presenter, Casey shares a magnetic enthusiasm for music which, when coupled with her approachable and cheerful personality, widens and deepens audiences and their connection to classical music.

In addition to her role as concertmaster of Orchestra Nova Northwest, Casey is the concertmaster of the Newport Symphony and is also a member of the Portland Opera Orchestra and Oregon Ballet Theatre. Recent solo engagements include appearances with the Newport Symphony, Beaverton Symphony, Linfield Chamber Orchestra, and the Central Oregon Chamber Orchestra as well as guest artist recitals at the University of Northern Colorado, Eastern Oregon University, and Linfield College. An adept chamber musician, Casey is a founding member of the Hammers and Bows piano trio and Element String Quartet.

When not on stage or in the pit, Casey finds herself behind a microphone, as host of the podcast Keep Classical Weird, which has had over 15,000 downloads in more than 80 countries. These fascinating shows cover a wide variety of intriguing topics cherry-picked from the world of classical music, and broken down in inventive, relatable ways. As the Newport Symphony News noted, “Her enthusiasm was infectious…(and she) had no difficulty holding my attention.”

Passionate about developing creativity and musical literacy in young people, Casey serves on the faculty of the Young Musicians and Artists summer camp (since 2010), and she was a Violin and Viola Instructor at Concordia University for 10 years, where she directed the Concordia University String Ensemble. Past positions also include teaching at Corban, Pacific and Marylhurst Universities. Her students have participated in the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Pro-Arte Youth Orchestra, and Oregon All-State Orchestra, with many going on to win college scholarships and concerto competitions across the Pacific Northwest region.

Casey’s greatest mentors include Gerardo Ribeiro, Richard Fuchs, and Harold Wippler. She received her Bachelors of Music Performance from the University of Northern Colorado, and her Masters of Music Performance from Northwestern University. She plays on an 1874 Frederic Diehl violin.

Casey Bozell’s chair is sponsored by Romani Lay & Neville Wellman.

The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.

The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.

Alberta Barnes has been a violinist with Orchestra Nova Northwest since 2015. Originally from Boise, Idaho, she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Violin Performance from the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton, Wisconsin. She currently freelances in the Portland area, and is also a core member of the Newport Symphony. Between gigs, she works full time in the ophthalmic field. When she isn’t playing the violin, she enjoys spending time with family and working at various local craft fairs with her sister.

The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.

Orchestra Nova Northwest violinist Brian Bennett plays many musical roles in the Portland area, including concertmaster for Washington Chamber Orchestra (Bravo! Concerts Northwest) and section violinist with the Portland Chamber Orchestra and the Oregon Coast Music Festival Orchestra. In addition to his private violin and guitar studios, he also teaches violin and theory at Portland’s Community Music Center. Holding a great passion for writing music, Brian is President of MusicTools Software, which creates innovative composition applications. He enjoys art and literature, and loves the outdoors, gem hunting, and photography.

Brian Bennett’s chair is sponsored by Laura Spurrell.

The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.

The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.

Erin Ferree, a native of Las Vegas, began her violin studies at the age of eight, and received her Bachelor of Music Education from Loyola University in New Orleans. She has taught string orchestra in the Gwinnett County Public Schools in Georgia, Washoe County School District in Nevada, North Clackamas School District in Oregon, and the Evergreen Public Schools in Washington. As a clinician, she has judged orchestra festivals and Solo and Ensemble festivals in Georgia, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

Erin’s performance journey has taken her all over the United States, as well as to France and Costa Rica. An Oregon resident since 2001, she has performed with the Portland Chamber Orchestra, Bravo! Vancouver, and Oregon Chamber Players. She also enjoys playing chamber music whenever possible.

When not teaching, practicing, or performing, she can be found perfecting her scone recipe or exploring the Pacific Northwest with her husband and daughter. Erin has been a proud member of Orchestra Nova Northwest since 2002.

The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.

At nine years old, Cherie was seduced by the sound of bluegrass fiddle, and begged her grandparents for a violin. In a hopeful effort to keep her off the streets, they gave in, and soon Cherie was “entertaining” her family with dubious efforts at such favorites as “Hot Cross Buns” and the ever-popular “Twinkle, Twinkle.”

Eventually the family grew weary of these time-tested tunes, so they sent Cherie off for private lessons with Lydia Woods (in Salem) in hopes she could learn something else. Much to their relief, she did.

At Southern Oregon State College, Cherie considered her talent as a violinist and decided the most prudent course of action was to major in Business Administration. Music, however, was always plucking at her heartstrings, so she took a minor in music, all the while taking lessons from Dr. Fred Palmer.

Cherie has been a member of Orchestra Nova Northwest since about 1984 and has also subbed for many other local orchestras, playing both violin and viola (but not at the same time). She attends various workshops and camps during the year where she can feed her chamber music habit to her heart’s content.

Cherie Hull’s chair is sponsored by Purple Thunder.

The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.

The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.

The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.

Jody Morrissette joined Orchestra Nova Northwest as principal second violin in 2002. Prior to moving to Portland, she played professionally in Sacramento, Los Angeles, Topeka, and New York. Originally from Buffalo, Ms. Morrissette holds degrees in music and music therapy. As a board certified music therapist, she has worked in pediatric intensive care, oncology, Alzheimer care, special education, and music theater for adults with disabilities. With violin in hand, previous memorable experiences include the honor of a duet performance with Isaac Stern, the eccentric world of studio recording in Hollywood, theater and opera orchestras, chamber groups, radio, schools, movie soundtracks, playing Irish tunes on the roof of the car in traffic jams, and of course family weddings. When not performing, Jody enjoys exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her family.

Jody Morrissette’s chair is sponsored by Joanne Wakeland.

The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.

Originally from Boulder, CO, Nic earned his Bachelor of Music at the University of Colorado, studying under Oswald Lehnert and members of the Takács Quartet. In the summers during his college years, Nic performed with the Colorado Light Opera and other local music festivals. Upon graduation, he played with the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra and Boulder Chamber Orchestra. He then moved to Portland, OR to study with Carol Sindell at Portland State University where he earned his Master of Music. He currently runs a private violin teaching studio and performs with orchestras such as Orchestra Nova Northwest, Portland Opera, Eugene Symphony, and others. On top of his teaching and orchestral playing, Nic enjoys playing chamber music with friends.

Nic Price’s chair is sponsored by Jessica Chou & Tom Chau.

The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.

The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.

Judy Rompa’s chair is sponsored by Laura Spurrell.

The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.

The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.

Shion Yamakawa is an active violinist in the Portland area. She serves as a concertmaster at the Jewish Community Orchestra of Portland and principal second violinist with the Willamette Falls Symphony. In addition, Shion plays with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in Washington and is a member of Columbia River Strings. She is also an avid chamber musician, performing regularly with her colleagues.

Shion had the privilege of studying violin with Carrie Rehkopf, Jae-In Shin, Tomás Cotik, Carol Sindell, Scott Flavin, and Vali Phillips. Furthermore, she was fortunate to have masterclasses with Charles Castleman, Bella Hristova, Hamilton Cheifetz, David Salness, William Fedkenheuer, Andréa Tyniec, Melissa White, Takács Quartet, Brentano String Quartet, and Pavel Haas String Quartet.

Aside from performing, Shion is passionate about music education and offers violin lessons at her home studio in downtown Portland. She has also served as a violin instructor with several organizations, including Metropolitan Youth Symphony and Central Washington University Preparatory String Program.

Shion earned her Master’s degree in Music with a specialization in violin performance from Portland State University. Prior to that, she completed her Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a focus on Instrumental Specialization at Central Washington University. In addition to her formal education, Shion has undergone extensive training in the Alexander Technique, studying under the guidance of renowned instructors Eve Bernfeld and Rebecca Robbins.

Shion’s dedication and talent have been recognized through various endowed scholarships she has received. These scholarships serve as a testament to her exceptional abilities and commitment to her musical pursuits.

The violin section is sponsored by the Anne Emery Kyllo Fund.

The Viola section is sponsored by Allen L. Dobbins.

Charlyn has played the viola since the seventh grade, and orchestra and chamber music have always provided an enjoyable avocation for her. She was principal viola in the Palatine Hill (Orchestra Nova Northwest) until 1987, when she started her career in nursing. She was also a member of the Portland Opera for 12 years, and rejoined Orchestra Nova Northwest in 1997. Playing chamber music continues to be a passion as well; currently she plays in the Trillium Piano Quartet.

As a nurse she worked for Legacy Health for 32 years, in Pediatrics, Pediatric Oncology, and for the Legacy Cancer Institute. She is also involved in disaster preparedness and response activities in Tualatin.

Her other enjoyable pursuits include travel, beading, and cooking. She shares daily life with her husband and two cats.

Charlyn Wilson’s chair is sponsored by Purple Thunder.

The Viola section is sponsored by Allen L. Dobbins.

The Viola section is sponsored by Allen L. Dobbins.

Cynthia Scott plays regularly with the Portland Chamber Orchestra, the Newport Symphony, the Oregon Coast Music Festival Orchestra, and the Chehalem String Quartet. She has previously been a member of the Portland Opera, the Oregon Ballet Theatre, the West Coast Chamber Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.

Cynthia teaches violin and viola in her own thriving studio, at the Community Music Center, and in the elementary strings program in the Lake Oswego School District. She is co-Director of the Oregon Suzuki Institute, a summer camp for Suzuki students of cello, piano, viola, and violin. She has been a clinician at the Anchorage Suzuki Institute and the Advanced Suzuki Strings Institute at Stanford University.

Cynthia graduated summa cum laude in violin performance from Lewis & Clark College and completed her Master’s in Music (with an emphasis on Suzuki pedagogy) at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati.

In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, quilting, reading, and relaxing with her two cats.

The Viola section is sponsored by Allen L. Dobbins.

The Viola section is sponsored by Allen L. Dobbins.

Katherine Schultz began her musical journey as a violinist at age 3 in her local Suzuki program, but after 11 years of whining about having to practice while standing up her mother finally let her switch to the cello (she would now give anything to be able to practice while standing up.) In attempts to learn to sound less like a violinist playing the cello, she attended Interlochen Arts Academy and earned her BM and MM in Music Performance from Northwestern and Rice Universities.  Along the way she played with groups such as the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and the Houston Symphony, and was awarded a fellowship from the Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox, MA.

Katherine moved from Houston to the Pacific Northwest in 2001, and to this day still maintains an intimate relationship with her Light Therapy Lamp. Her first job was as assistant principal cellist of the Tacoma Symphony. She tired of the drive immediately and thus resigned 12 years later. Katherine currently serves as the principal cellist of the Portland Chamber Orchestra, assistant principal of the Oregon Ballet Theatre orchestra, and a member of the Portland Opera orchestra. She can be found playing with many other local ensembles (some of whom even actually invited or hired her) such as Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, Eugene Symphony, and Cascadia Composers, and music festivals such as Siletz Bay, Sunriver, and Oregon Coast.

Katherine’s first chamber music experience was attending a live performance of the Beaux Arts Trio as a 6-year-old, during which she got the hiccups 3 times. She has since developed a passion for the repertoire and camaraderie of small ensemble performance. In addition to being a featured chamber musician at the Siletz Bay Music Festival, Katherine has performed on the All-Classical radio show Thursdays @ Three with various groups such as the Lovejoy Trio.  She plays with the WildWood and Stumptown string quartets and the viola/cello combo Atomic Duo.

Katherine’s interests include forcing her students to record themselves practicing, hunting for her frisbee in the woods at the disc golf course, and traveling to places that don’t require sleeping outdoors.

Katherine Schultz’s chair is sponsored by Gresham Center for the Arts Foundation.

The Cello section is sponsored by Cliff & Karen Deveney.

Kyle joined the cello section of Orchestra Nova Northwest (formerly Portland Columbia Symphony) in 2015. During the day, he is a practicing attorney with an emphasis in real estate law, making sure to leave time for practicing and performing on the side. Born and raised in Portland, Kyle performed with the Portland Youth Philharmonic and was cello section leader in the Metropolitan Youth Symphony his senior year of high school. During that time, he benefited from his studies with Hamilton Cheifetz. He went on to earn a degree in cello performance at Brigham Young University – Idaho, studying with Robert Tueller. He was the winner of the music school’s concerto competition in 2007 and a quartet competition at Boise State University. He attended the Aspen Music Festival and School in the summer of 2008, and later earned his law degree at Brigham Young University law school. Scarcely a year has gone by since starting the cello at age 11 that Kyle has not been performing with an orchestra of some kind. In addition to ONN, Kyle performs with ARCO-PDX and welcomes the opportunity to perform in chamber and orchestral settings. He lives in Sherwood, Oregon with his wife, Kellie and two children, Wesley and Ella.

Kyle Grant’s chair is sponsored by Eugene & Janet Grant.

The Cello section is sponsored by Cliff & Karen Deveney.

Isaiah Hsu’s chair is sponsored by Jessica Chou & Tom Chau.

The Cello section is sponsored by Cliff & Karen Deveney.

Born in Xinjiang, China, Quinn Kun Liu began her cello studies at age of eight and won her first cello competition at ten. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Cello Performance at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in China and Master’s Degree from University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, where she received a full scholarship.

As an orchestra musician, Quinn has played in a variety of orchestras such as San Diego Symphony Orchestra, Inland Valley Symphony, Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra and Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra in China. Quinn is an active chamber musician and she has been invited to perform in several music festivals in the U.S. and Asia. In addition to music performance, Quinn is very experienced in teaching cello as well as working in music administration. In 2013, she was nominated to coach the cello section in Kurt Sassmannshaus’ Starling Foundation in Cincinnati. In the area of administration, Quinn has been the executive assistant of the Great Wall International Music Academy since 2012. In February 2015, she was the administrative assistant in the Virtuoso Music Academy.

Quinn moved to Portland, Oregon in 2017 and joined Portland Columbia Symphony in 2019. Currently, Quinn manages her home studio in the Bethany area, and has worked as the executive assistant at the Bravo! International Music Academy since 2016.

Aside from music, Quinn has a great interest in fashion, travel, and fine food, and she also works as director of operations at Abroad & Future Inc. for International Education Programs.

The Cello section is sponsored by Cliff & Karen Deveney.

A Midwest native, Anne has made Portland her home since 2015. She began her cello studies at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Wisconsin, and completed her B.M. in Cello Performance at DePaul University in Chicago. There, Anne studied with her beloved Gilda Barston, both in applied cello and in long-term Suzuki Pedagogy. Additional Suzuki training was completed with many prominent teachers at the both the Chicago and Oregon Suzuki Institutes. Studio teachers also included Joseph (Sam) Sciachitano, and in master class with Lynn Harrell.

In addition to her role with Orchestra Nova Northwest, Anne has played summers with the Breval Music Festival Orchestra (NC), the Chicago Civic Symphony, the Idaho State Civic Symphony, and the Green Bay Symphony. She has also performed extensively in the Chicago area with many chamber ensembles.

Anne has pioneered and taught for numerous Suzuki cello programs, including the Chicago Music Institute, Chicago Waldorf School, Baker Demonstration School, Univ. of Wis.-Oshkosh, American Suzuki Institute, Idaho State University, Rose City Music Academy, and many wonderful Suzuki programs in the Chicago area. She served as director of the Idaho State Summer Music Camp, and has maintained private cello studios in Wisconsin, Illinois, Idaho, and now with her own Sato Cello Studio in Beaverton, Oregon. She is an active member of the OSA (Oregon Suzuki Association) and the SAA (Suzuki Association of the Americas).

In Chicago, Anne had an additional 15-year career as a massage therapist, and in Portland studied at the School of Traditional Western Herbalism. She adores gardening, loves cooking, and revels in the abundant nature of Oregon while hiking and gathering medicinal herbs. Her adult children and husband are the joys of her life.

Anne Sato’s chair is sponsored by Pamela Schossau & Tom Trainor.

The Cello section is sponsored by Cliff & Karen Deveney.

The Cello section is sponsored by Cliff & Karen Deveney.

Clinton O’Brien is currently Principal Bass of the Portland Opera orchestra and Orchestra Nova Northwest, and Assistant Principal Bassist with the Vancouver Symphony in Washington. He is also a member of the Rogue Valley Symphony and Hood River Sinfonietta. Clinton appears as solo bass with the Portland based Porchello group and Third Dimension music festival in Astoria. He is also a substitute bassist with the Oregon, Spokane, Olympia and Yakima symphony orchestras. In the summer he has played with Oregon Coast Music Festival and the Sunriver Music Festival. Clinton attended the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Cleveland Institute of music. While studying at Oberlin he was appointed as 3^rd chair bass with the Canton Symphony (OH). He plays an Alessandro Gagliano double bass made in 1713, generously on loan from Mr. Bill Ofstad.

The Double Bass section is sponsored by Slate & Davida Wilson.

The Double Bass section is sponsored by Slate & Davida Wilson.

Andrew Harmon is a double bass performer and teacher in the Portland area, where he plays with the Portland Chamber Orchestra, Symphony Tacoma, and Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, among other ensembles. He joined Orchestra Nova Northwest (formerly Portland Columbia Symphony) in 2019. Before moving to Portland, Andrew was principal bass of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra from 2012–2015 and a member of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra (Springfield) from 2008-2015. He has also performed with the Rockford Symphony, Heartland Festival Orchestra, Opera Illinois, Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra, Madison Symphony (WI) and International Beethoven Project. He has been a clinician with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony (Portland), Vancouver Youth Chamber Orchestra, and the Vancouver and Lake Oswego school districts. A St. Louis native, Andrew studied with members of the St. Louis Symphony, Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera. He earned a B.A. in English and music from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and a MA in the humanities from the University of Chicago. In his free time, Andrew enjoys hiking and biking with his wife and young daughter Estére.

The Double Bass section is sponsored by Slate & Davida Wilson.

Double bassist David Knaub grew up around the fringes of the Eastman School of Music where his father taught, and was babysat by some of the finest future brass players of the world. His long but narrow fingers and his orthodontist directed young David’s interests away from low brass and towards the double bass. “It’s kind of similar,” he says. “The pieces with really good trombone parts usually have really good bass parts too.”

Among his teachers have been bass players from the Rochester Philharmonic, New York City Ballet Orchestra, and the Houston Symphony. David performed seven seasons with the Houston Civic Symphony and the Houston Sinfonietta, and has played with Orchestra Nova Northwest (formerly Portland Columbia Symphony) since 1989. Demonstrating the versatility of the double bass, he has also played in a big band, a cowboy band, a blues band, and in pit orchestras for musicals.

David is a retired mechanical engineer and holds 43 patents. When not practicing, he enjoys biking, hiking, kayaking, and restoring an old house with his biggest fan, Katie.

David Knaub’s chair is sponsored by Katie Urey, in memory of Jack Urey.

The Double Bass section is sponsored by Slate & Davida Wilson.

The Double Bass section is sponsored by Slate & Davida Wilson.

Flutist Adam Eccleston has gained international recognition as a soloist, recitalist, chamber and orchestral musician. At 19 years old, he made his solo debut in New York performing Borne Carmen Fantasy for Flute and Orchestra. He is the winner of multiple awards including the New York Flute Club Competition and most recently, First Prize in the 2021 Golden Classical Music Award International Competition for which he was featured at Carnegie Hall. Adam is the Artist in Residence Emeritus for All Classical Portland Radio Station and sits as Chair of the Recording Inclusivity Initiative. He is also a Radio Host and Producer for the station. Adam can also be seen performing with the Oregon Symphony.

A firm supporter of arts education, Adam has worked extensively with social change organizations, such as BRAVO Youth Orchestras where he is the Director of Orchestral Programs. He is a faculty member of the Global Leaders Program that empowers arts changemakers to grow organizations that impact communities.

A native of New York City, Adam Eccleston grew up in Germany where he studied with Eric Lamb and Thaddeus Watson at Hochschule fur Musik und Darstellende. He currently holds two masters degrees in music performance and music education and studied at SUNY Purchase with Tara Helen O’Connor and Paula Robison at New England Conservatory of Music. In his spare time he enjoys baking and watching reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Second flute and piccolo player Gail Gillespie moved to Portland in 2009, shortly after retiring as principal flute of the U.S. Marine Band, “The President’s Own,” in Washington, D.C. During her 30-year tenure there, she served 26 years as principal flute, and was often featured as a soloist with both the band and White House chamber orchestra. Born in Hawaii, Gail received her Bachelor of Music in Performance, with honors, from the New England Conservatory of Music, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Her primary flute instructors include Jean Harling, Paula Robison, James Pappoutsakis, and Toshiko Kohno. Since “retiring” to Portland, Gail has been an active freelance musician, subbing with the Oregon, Newport, and Vancouver symphonies, as well as other groups in the area. A member of Orchestra Nova Northwest (formerly Portland Columbia Symphony) since 2013, Gail also teaches flute lessons in a studio in NE Portland.

Gail sings alto in the choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church in NE Portland, and often plays flute during services there. The kindness and beauty of Oregon bring her great joy.

Gail Gillespie’s chair is sponsored by Col. Mary J. Mayer, USAF (Ret.).

After a very long hiatus, Alicia Charlton finally came to her senses and joyfully picked up her clarinet again! Principal clarinet of ONN (formerly PCSO) since 2010, Alicia is an active freelance musician, teacher, and clinician in the Portland area. Alicia also holds positions with Portland Chamber Orchestra and Newport Symphony, and is a regular substitute with the Portland Opera orchestra. She has performed in numerous orchestras and musical theater productions, including the Oregon, Portland Festival, Vancouver, and Walla Walla symphonies, Broadway Rose, Lakewood, and Clackamas Repertory theatres, Pixie Dust Productions, and Mock’s Crest’s Gilbert & Sullivan productions. Alicia also delights in exploring the chamber music repertoire with various ensembles at every opportunity, especially with her quartet, Clarinets à la Mode, and with the PCSO Wind Quintet. She has attended the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music Summer Festival in New Hampshire, several International Clarinet Association conferences, and is a regular participant at Into the Woods, a local chamber music retreat, where she plays her heart out with like-minded chamber music aficionados.

Alicia Charlton’s chair is sponsored by the Don Adamson family.

Steve Gordon began his musical education on the accordion at the age of seven, started playing the clarinet in grade school, and took up the saxophone in high school. As principal clarinetist in the Marin Youth Orchestra, his solo performances included Concerto for Clarinet, Strings, and Harp by Aaron Copland, Prokofiev’s Overture on Hebrew Themes, and Mozart’s Symphonia Concertante.

In college he honed his skills on all three instruments, playing periodic gigs in California’s wine country and becoming a member of the award-winning UC Berkeley jazz ensembles. Experience with the jazz ensembles included backing up Sonny Rollins, Hubert Laws, Ed Shaughnessy, and Freddie Hubbard in the 70’s. He also played accordion, clarinet, and saxophone in vaudeville shows at Harvey’s Casino in Lake Tahoe and with a traveling circus for two months during three summers.

After college, Steve attended medical school at UCLA. Music took a back-seat to medical studies for the next several years as he completed a residency at OHSU and established his medical practice. After a hiatus of about 10 years, the lure of music became too difficult to resist and he re-entered the music scene. He has been an active member of Clarinets à la Mode, a chamber music group featuring four clarinets, since 2000. He became a regular member of Orchestra Nova Northwest (formerly Portland Columbia Symphony) in 2014, and recently joined the Ne Plus Ultra Jass [sic] Orchestra, in which he plays clarinet and alto saxophone.

Steve has played accordion at local restaurants and at charity events, and enjoys a world-wide audience on YouTube. This medium brought him to the attention of a movie producer who selected his original composition and performance of “Ravenna” for use in the Sony Pictures Movie Jodorowsky’s Dune (2014). His performances of a variety of music genres on different accordions have a combined total of over 500,000 views.

Steve Gordon’s chair is sponsored by M. Susan & William Smith.

Victoria Racz, B.M., M.M., was the principal oboist, featured soloist, and General Manager of the Oregon Chamber Players for the complete existence of the ensemble (1995-2014). She played principal oboe and was a soloist twice with the Newport Symphony (from 1993 – 2011). She has played oboe and English horn with Columbia Symphony (Orchestra Nova Northwest), American Metropole Orchestra, Oregon Symphony, and other groups in the region, including the Oregon Chorale, Reprise Choir, and ISing Choir. She is principal oboist with the Portland Festival Symphony, Portland Summerfest Opera (Opera in the Park), and Vancouver Master Chorale where she was also a concerto soloist twice. She is also the oboist with the Con Grazia Wind Quintet, the OCP Quartet, Sirens Trio, Double Reed Divas, and Trio Adrato. She has performed with a diverse range of artists including performers such as Jane Siberry, Roberta Flack, Martha Reeves, Kurt Elling, and Jessye Norman. In August of 2020 she won the one-year principal oboe position with Portland’s Columbia Symphony (Orchestra Nova Northwest) for their 2020-’21 Season while their regular principal took a sabbatical, and was also Acting Principal for 2023. In January 2024 she auditioned and won the principal position for PCSO. 

She is the Co-founder, General Manager and primary wind coach for the Junior Symphony of Vancouver, and is in demand throughout the Northwest as a teacher and adjudicator. She has written program notes and/or presented concert talks with organizations such as the Oregon Chamber Players, Junior Symphony of Vancouver, Portland Columbia Symphony, and Newport Symphony. From 1993 to 2000 she was the oboe professor at Marylhurst University in Oregon, and she was hired as oboe professor at Clark College, Washington, in 2022.

Through her annual Northwest Oboe Seminar, she has worked and performed with several world-renowned artists including Humbert Lucarelli, Allan Vogel, Dan Stolper, Nancy Rumbel, Alex Klein, and John Mack, among others.

Several compositions have been written and/or arranged specifically for her by composers/musicians such as Dr. Matt Doran, Norman Leyden, Ray Pizzi, Jean Chatillon, Dr. Gary Powell Nash, and Timoteus Racz.

Victoria Racz’s chair is sponsored by Léon Pluymaekers.

The Oboe section is sponsored by Peter & Ann van Bever.

Ann van Bever has played English horn in Orchestra Nova Northwest since 2002. She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX) and has a law degree from Marquette University Law School (Milwaukee, WI). She practiced law for 17 years before returning to music as a full-time profession. In addition to ONN, she plays oboe and oboe d’amore in the Bach Cantata Choir Orchestra and principal oboe in the Oregon East Symphony (Pendleton), and enjoys chamber music as a member of the Double Reed Divas and the Meadowlark Ensemble. She is a busy freelance player throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington and teaches a small studio of private oboe students.

Ann and her husband, Peter, are avid supporters of music in Portland. Both have served on the board of Chamber Music Northwest, Peter has served on the Portland Opera board, and Ann is a member of the ONN board. Since 1983, she has attended an annual summer chamber music camp in Vermont and in 1997 started a similar chamber music camp in the Portland area called “Into the Woods.” Before moving to Portland in 1993, Ann lived in California, Texas, Florida, and Wisconsin, and was an active musician and supporter of the arts in each of the communities she lived in. In addition to music, she loves food, traveling, reading, and word games.

The Oboe & English Horn section is sponsored by Peter & Ann van Bever.

Margaret McShea hails from Texas, where she received her degree in Bassoon Performance from the University of Texas in Austin. She and her trombonist husband moved to the Pacific Northwest long enough ago to have a native Oregonian son and are never moving again!

Margaret plays both bassoon and contrabassoon with regional symphonies such as the Vancouver (WA) Symphony and Oregon State University Orchestra, and she is also a chamber music specialist, performing regularly with several groups in the area. She has a soft spot for vocal works, and has enjoyed being in the “pit” for countless musical theater and opera productions, as well as on the stage with local choral groups Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, Oregon Repertory Singers, Willamette Master Chorus, Bravo Vancouver, Portland Vocal Consort and Portland Symphonic Choir. In the past few years, she has also branched out into studio recording and music videos with groups such as ARCO-PDX.

When not playing music, Margaret can be found in the great outdoors, gardening or camping and hiking with family and friends.

Margaret McShea’s chair is sponsored by Steve & Diana Gordon.

The Bassoon section is sponsored by Bill & Diana Dameron.

Nicole Buetti has composed extensively for chamber ensembles and large ensembles of various configurations, as well as children’s music and music for media. She spent several years in the Los Angeles area working as a composer in the film and television industries, and has had music commissioned and licensed for use all over the world. She has been honored for her film score work at the Wild Rose International Film Fest, Dodge Grant Association, and Telly Awards Association.

Nicole co-owns Goes to Eleven Media, a music and media company specializing in recorded music for film and television and children’s educational songs.  In 2017, she released her 6th album of songs for kids called Just Be You! which was honored with both a Parent’s Picks Award for Top 5 Best Preschool and Elementary Music CD’s of 2018 and a 2017 Educational CD of the Year by Creative Child Magazine. Her song “Halloween Masquerade Waltz” won Fan Favorite in the 10th Annual Independent Music Awards’ Best Holiday Song category.

In addition playing contrabassoon and bassoon in Orchestra Nova Northwest, Nicole performs in the Vancouver (WA) Symphony, Oregon East Symphony, and the Oregon Coast Music Festival, and is an active freelancer in both Oregon and Washington as well as abroad. She has performed with the Haydn Music Festival Orchestra in Vienna, and as a soloist and chamber music artist with the Assisi Performing Arts Festival in Italy, where she was appointed Composer in 2013. Nicole has also published several works for chamber groups and wind bands, which are available from Forton Music, Brotons-Mercadal Publishing and JW Pepper.

When she is not composing or performing, Nicole teaches bassoon at the University of Portland and has her own private teaching studio. She believes aspiring musicians should be open to different musical experiences – embrace the weird and whimsical. She loves being involved in all styles and genres of music especially music for children.

The Bassoon section is sponsored by Bill & Diana Dameron.

As the daughter of an opera singer and a music store owner it only followed that Jennifer
Harrison would grow up to be a musician. Choosing the instrument which she felt possessed the
most gorgeous tone, she began life as a French horn player at the age of 11. As a teen she had the
fortune of playing at the Tanglewood Music Festival in Massachusetts under the baton of
Leonard Bernstein which sealed her goal of pursuing a music career.

After her studies at Northwestern University, Jen played with the New Mexico Symphony and
thoroughly relished working as a symphonic player. Since moving to Portland, she has been
freelancing across the Pacific Northwest region as a classical and pop rock horn player. In
addition to being principal horn of the Orchestra Nova Northwest, she is currently the principal
horn of the Portland Chamber Orchestra, a member of the following ensembles; Portland Opera
Orchestra, the Portland Brass Quintet, the Sunriver Music Festival orchestra and the Rose City
Brass Trio. Jen is also a regular substitute with the Oregon Symphony, Oregon Ballet Theatre
Orchestra and the Eugene Symphony.

When she is not playing the horn, she can be found doing garden design, hiking the trails of the
Pacific Northwest, and playing guitar, drums or ukulele in local rock bands.

The French Horn section is sponsored by Charles Roberts.

Currently living in Salem, Derek is an active freelancer in the Willamette valley. In addition to Orchestra Nova Northwest, he has played with the Newport Symphony and Vancouver Symphony. In 2018, he received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Portland State University. Derek began his musical studies in saxophone as a child, and later in voice. Not caring for the improvisational nature of the saxophone and after having developed a love for orchestral music, Derek ambitiously took on the challenge as an adult of learning one of the most notoriously difficult instruments: the French horn. While he was attending PSU, he took lessons from Dr. Daniel Partridge and Dr. Melissa Robinson with the goal of being proficient enough to play in the university orchestra by the time he graduated. He fell in love with the instrument and quickly rose to being the principal player of the university’s wind symphony, orchestra, opera, and had a senior recital as a non-major.

In Salem, Derek co-founded the wind quintet, Ventus, plays principal horn with Salem Philharmonia Orchestra, and 2nd horn with Salem Orchestra. He lives with his two Tonkinese cats and works for ODOT as a traffic signal timer. In his free time, he enjoys learning new skills needed to work on his house and tends his garden.

The French Horn section is sponsored by Charles Roberts.

The French Horn section is sponsored by Charles Roberts.

The French Horn section is sponsored by Charles Roberts.

Trumpeter James Smock has enjoyed a varied career playing for symphony orchestras, Elvis tribute artists, chamber ensembles, and rodeo bands. Since 2010 Mr. Smock has been the principal trumpet of the Portland Chamber Orchestra, with concert highlights including “Frankenstein!” (H.K. Gruber) and “The Diary of Anne Frank” (Grigory Frid). James is also an audience favorite at the PCO’s annual performance of Handel’s Messiah.

Mr. Smock has toured internationally with the acclaimed, award winning Elvis tribute artist Justin Shandor, and can also be heard serenading oxen and wild horses every year at the Happy Canyon Indian Pageant and Wild West Show at the famous Pendleton Round-Up. He’s played with the Boise Philharmonic, the Des Moines Metro Opera, the Oregon Symphony, the Chicago and Washington chamber orchestras, and the Britt Festival Orchestra.

James lives outside Longview, Washington with his beloved wife Rebekah and the savage feline Zuul. He has been principal trumpet of Orchestra Nova Northwest since 2018.

The Trumpet section is sponsored by James Jones & Naomi Cytron.

Jason is a proud member of Orchestra Nova Northwest’s trumpet section. Also second trumpet in the Portland Choir Orchestra, Jason is an active freelance musician, and has performed with the Newport and Vancouver (WA) symphonies, as well as Symphony Tacoma. He has performed as a soloist with the Assisi Performing Arts Festival in Assisi, Italy, and can be heard on the popular children’s album Just Be You (by In A World Music Kids) on the album’s title track, “I’m Me.”  He has also done several other recordings for In A World , including “The Zombie Puppet Parade” and “Día de los Muertos.”

Jason received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Trumpet Performance from the University of Northern Colorado, and has studied primarily with Bill Pfund and Dr. Robert Murray. Originally from Colorado, Jason moved to the Portland area for a position at the Monette trumpet company, where he is the Operations Manager.

When not playing the trumpet, Jason can usually be found on the golf course and is the 2019 Club Champion at Camas Meadows. He also enjoys sampling the wines of the Pacific Northwest with his wife Nicole (bassoonist and contrabassoonist with ONN).

Jason Gunderson’s chair is sponsored by Catherine Holder.

The Trumpet section is sponsored by James Jones & Naomi Cytron.

Greg Scholl has played trombone in Orchestra Nova Northwest since 1996; he became principal trombone in 2000. He is also principal trombone in the Vancouver and Newport symphonies, and plays locally in the Portland Brass Quintet and the Portland Festival Symphony. He has performed with the Oregon Ballet Theatre, the Oregon Symphony, the Portland Opera, the Salem Chamber Orchestra, the Portland Chamber Orchestra, the Portland Symphonic Choir, the Willamette Master Chorus, and the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, as well as the Oregon Repertory Singers and the Portland Symphonic Choir. Greg was formerly second trombone in the Austin Lyric Opera, and is currently the trombone and low brass instructor at Pacific University.

He obtained a trombone performance degree at the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with Donald Knaub. Prior to that he studied with Peter Kline and David Brown in San Antonio, TX. Greg plays in the Portland modern jazz duo Dos Hermanos de Hale Bopp. Greg also plays guitar and trombone in a variety of styles with local bands and performers, including the Rhythm Dogs, Goombahttsi, and Elvis Presley Tribute Artist Justin Shandor.

After rejecting the millions of dollars people offered him to play the trombone, Greg obtained a law degree in 1995 from Lewis & Clark Northwestern School of Law. During most business days he can be found practicing law as the director of the capital case team at the Metropolitan Public Defender. He enjoys spending time with his family and dogs, reading, camping and hiking, collecting things like Conan the Barbarian comic books, LP records, and concert recordings of the Grateful Dead, and being married to incredible principal bassoonist Margaret McShea.

The Trombone Section is sponsored by Mardy & Hank Stevens.

John grew up in Hillsboro, and is an active freelance musician on the west coast. He took private lessons locally, and played with the Portland Youth Philharmonic in middle and high schools. John is second trombone with Orchestra Nova Northwest, and plays regularly with Vancouver Symphony, Newport Symphony, and other ensembles around town, as well as occasional appearances with the Portland Opera and the Portland Festival Orchestra. John teaches privately in the Portland-Metro area. He attended Portland State University and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where he received a degree in Music Performance. He was a member of the Marin Symphony, and regular substitute with the Dallas Wind Symphony, Texas Wind Symphony, Garland Symphony, and a founding member of the trombone quartet Slide Handlers while living in Dallas, Texas. John loves the outdoors, movies, and listening to all types of music. He has been married to his amazing wife Karen for over 30 years and loves raising their daughter.

Story about how I came to play trombone:
As a kid, I did not have the hand strength and dexterity needed to play many instruments, and my mom knew this. A few months before instrument selection in elementary school, she started playing lots of classical music with strong trombone parts; Wagner, Mahler, Respighi, Shostakovich, brass quintets, etc. This had the desired effect, as when I was choosing, I asked, “What was that instrument in that Mahler thing?” When I chose trombone, my mother breathed a sigh of relief knowing it was something I could play and stick with. Over 45 years later, I’m still with it, and love to play with ONN and our wonderful low brass section of Greg Scholl, John Ohnstad, and James Kuzmic. Being able to play this amazing music with friends, and under the fabulous leadership of Steven Byess, is both a privilege and a pleasure.

The Trombone Section is sponsored by Mardy & Hank Stevens.

John is the Principal Bass Trombonist of Orchestra Nova Northwest, Oregon Coast Music Festival, Siletz Bay Music Festival, Big Horn Brass, Portland Chamber Orchestra,  Art Abrams Swing Machine Big Band,  and the King Machine .  John is a Voigt Brass Artist and performs on the Voigt J-475 Contrabass Trombone.

John has performed with the Oregon Symphony, the Eugene Symphony, the Vancouver (WA) Symphony, the Newport Symphony, the Oregon Ballet, Portland Opera, Andrea Bocelli, the Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass, the Oregon Bach Festival and the Mt. Angel Abbey Bach Festival.

John Ohnstad’s chair is sponsored by Col. Mary J. Mayer, USAF (Ret).

The Trombone Section is sponsored by Mardy & Hank Stevens.

Will Reno grew up in Brooklyn, NY where he started his musical journey by taking piano lessons at the age of 7. By 16 he was playing timpani in the Hoff Barthelson Youth Orchestra in Scarsdale, NY. Then Will spent the next 6 years getting a Bachelor’s degree and pursuing a Masters degree in music at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. While enrolled at IU JSoM, Will won the audition for Portland Opera’s Principal Timpani spot and moved to Portland in the summer of 2010 to begin his tenure with the Portland Opera. Since then, he has performed with the Oregon Symphony, Eugene Symphony, Portland Chamber Orchestra, Bach Cantata Choir, and many other local groups and orchestras. Will has also toured with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra and performed with artists such as Andrea Boccelli and The Who.

Will lives in SE Portland where you can find him watching his New York Yankees or Indiana Hoosiers. In his free time, he loves to play golf, and find the best food Portland has to offer. Will has been playing with ONN since 2022.

Bethany Evans, a native of Salem, Oregon, began her musical studies at age five. She started studying the harp four years later and found her passion. She received a B.M. in Harp Performance from the University of Arizona summa cum laude and graduated with a 4.0 GPA from the University of Oregon’s Master of Music program in Harp Performance. Ms. Evans also has a law degree from Willamette University College of Law, and a Certificate in Dispute Resolution. She has performed extensively throughout Europe and the United States, including with the World Harp Congress and the Oregon Bach Festival, and has multiple award-winning recordings. She has an active private teaching studio, and is on the faculty of Western Oregon University and Chemeketa Community College as harp instructor. Ms. Evans has an adult harp ensemble in her teaching studio, with which she frequently performs at memory care homes in the Salem area. She was principal harpist for the Salem Symphony, is the principal harpist for Salem Orchestra, and has been the harpist for Orchestra Nova Northwest since 2014. Her greatest devotion is being a mom to her daughter, son, and the muse for much of the art by her amazing husband, Kamron Coleman.

Bethany Evans’ chair is sponsored by Col. Mary J. Mayer, USAF (Ret.).

Described as a “composer of uncommon gifts and unusual methods” in a New York Times profile and as “fearless” by NPR, GRAMMY-nominated Anna Clyne is one of the most in-demand composers today, working with orchestras, choreographers, filmmakers, and visual artists around the world. Clyne was named the 8th most performed contemporary composer in the world and the most performed living female British composer in 2022.

Clyne has been commissioned and presented by the world’s most dynamic and revered arts institutions, including the Barbican, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Los Angeles Philharmonic, MoMA, Philharmonie de Paris, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, San Francisco Ballet, and the Sydney Opera House; and her music has opened such events as the Edinburgh International Festival, The Last Night of the Proms, and the New York Philharmonic’s season.

Clyne often collaborates on creative projects across the music industry, including Between the Rooms, a film with choreographer Kim Brandstrup and LA Opera, as well as The Nico Project at the Manchester International Festival, a stage work about pop icon Nico’s life that featured Clyne’s reimagining of The Marble Index for orchestra and voices. Clyne has also reimagined tracks from Thievery Corporation’s The Cosmic Game for the electronica duo with orchestra, and her music has been programmed by such artists as Björk. Other recent collaborators include such notable musicians as Jess Gillam, Jeremy Denk, Martin Fröst, Pekka Kuusisto, and Yo-Yo Ma.

Clyne’s works are frequently choreographed for dance, with recent projects including the world premiere of choreographer Pam Tanowitz’s dance set to Breathing Statues for the Royal Ballet in London and performances of DANCE by the San Francisco Ballet with choreography by Nicolas Blanc. Her fascination with visual art has inspired several projects including ATLAS, inspired by a portfolio of work by Gerhard Richter; Color Field, inspired by the artwork of Mark Rothko; and Abstractions, inspired by five contemporary paintings. In addition, Clyne seeks innovation through new technology, developing the Augmented Orchestra with sound designer Jody Elff; the technology expands the sound-world of the orchestra through computer-controlled processes, and will feature in Wild Geese for the 2023 Cabrillo Festival.

In 2023-2024, Clyne serves as Composer-in-Residence with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra as part of their Artistic Team, as well as Artist-in-Residence with Symphony Orchestra of Castilla y León. Past residencies include the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, L’Orchestre national d’Île-de-France, Philharmonia Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra. Clyne’s music is represented on several labels and her works Prince of Clouds and Night Ferry were nominated for 2015 GRAMMY Awards. Her cello concerto DANCE, recorded by soloist Inbal Segev, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and Marin Alsop, has garnered 10 million plays on Spotify.

Clyne’s music is published exclusively by Boosey & Hawkes.

With “a voice like a beacon of hope” (Seattle Times), vocalist Jimmie Herrod brings singular power and expressivity to his globe-trotting career as a singer, songwriter, and entertainer on stage and screen. 

Herrod first came to worldwide prominence as a finalist on the NBC nationally broadcast television show, “America’s Got Talent,” earning the rare “Golden Buzzer” recognition from actress Sofia Vergara and returning the following year on the AGT All-Stars series. 

As a solo artist, Herrod has appeared to critical and audience acclaim with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and with the symphony orchestras of San Francisco, Houston, and Oregon, including as a featured soloist for the globally televised PBS “Joni Mitchell Songbook” concert at The Kennedy Center with the NSO, where he shared the stage with musical luminaries like Renee Fleming, Lalah Hathaway, Raul Midon, and Aoife O’Donovan. 

Traversing many musical styles and genres in many languages, including jazz, pop, funk, and his own original songs, Herrod has headlined concerts at the The Luxor Theater (Las Vegas), New Jersey’s South Orange Performing Arts Center, and Portland’s Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, and has since 2017 toured with world-pop band Pink Martini as a featured vocalist. With two EP’s under his belt – his debut “Falling in Love and Learning” and 2022’s “Elated” – Herrod’s singular style and unique voice is poised to make an ever larger impact in the world of music and entertainment. 

Recent appearances include a star turn as Angel in the world premiere symphonic version of the musical “Rent” at The Kennedy Center, where his performance was lauded by Maryland Theatre Guide as “ebullient” and by Broadway World as “moving, textured, and sensitive,” and his 2023-24 season includes a return engagement with the Oregon Symphony, debuts with the Bozeman, St. Louis, and Nashville Symphony Orchestras. 

Herrod is an alum of the Cornish College of the Arts and Portland State University.

Bloco Alegria is Portland’s own Rio-style Samba band celebrating the music, dance, and culture of Brasil. Samba is a popular form of music and dance from Rio de Janeiro.  It has deep African ancestral roots with respect to the drums used, the rhythms, and the structure of the music itself. Since 2010 Bloco Alegria has performed music featuring the heart-pumping rhythms of Rio’s carnaval parades, giving the band its unique sound and vibrancy.

Oregon BRAVO Youth Orchestras

Based on the groundbreaking El Sistema program begun in Venezuela fifty years ago, BRAVO’s motto is Social Change Through Music.  BRAVO provides free musical instruments and instruction to youngsters from some of Portland’s poorest schools – introducing classical music to youngsters who might otherwise never have the opportunity.  In addition to learning skills such as concentration, self discipline, collaboration and communication, they have the life-changing experience of discovering their own creativity and abilities. BRAVO now serves seven schools in North Portland including Elementary, Middle and High Schools.

Featured in ONN’S May 2024 Concert, ¡Adelante! Voices of Tomorrow:

Violins:
Jesus Carmona
Candy Lopez
Lizbeth Arriola Ramirez
Aislin Gutierrez

Viola:
Denise Arriola

Cello:
Alessandro Diaz Ayala

Bass:
Malakai James

Flute:
Stella Arp

Clarinet:
Joseluis Soc-Siquina

Trumpet:
William Deibert

Trombone:
Owen Small

Want to experience more from the BRAVO musicians? Check out upcoming BRAVO concerts!

Information at: www.oregonbravo.org

Freddy Vilches Meneses is a composer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist based in Portland, OR. Originally from Santiago, Chile, Freddy has performed and recorded with several bands in Latin America and the US, and performs regularly with his own Latin ensembles.

His symphonic works have been featured by the Orquesta Filarmónica de Montevideo, the Willamette Valley Orchestra, the Lewis & Clark Orchestra, the Reed College Orchestra, and other orchestras in Bolivia, and the US. His choral works have been performed by Resonance Vocal Ensemble, ACDA NW, and the NAU Choir. His most recent compositions “Latin American Suite” and “Abya Yala Choral Suite” are starting to gain national and international recognition, and are scheduled to be performed next year in Bolivia, Cuba, Canada, and the US.

Freddy holds a PhD in Latin American Literature from the University of Oregon, specializing in Latin American Literature of the 20th and 21st Centuries. His research interests include Latin American literature, music, and film. He is an Associate Professor at Lewis & Clark College in the Department of World Languages and Literatures. He is also instructor of several traditional instruments (charango, cuatro, and Afro-Cuban percussion), and directs the Latin American Ensemble in the Music Department.

Lyric tenor Leroy Bynum, Jr. joined the academic leadership team of Portland State University in August of 2017 as Dean of the College of the Arts and Professor of Voice. Bynum holds degrees from the University of Georgia, where he studied with David Stoffel; the University of South Florida, where he studied with Annetta Monroe; and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, having studied with Joel Carter. Bynum’s studies abroad include the Mozart Conservatory in Salzburg, Austria, where he studied with Werner Krenn; and the Berlin Conservatory in Berlin, Germany, having studied with renowned baritone, Dietrich Fischer Dieskau. Bynum’s other voice teachers include Bennie Middaugh, Bill McGraw, Richard Hughes, and Richard Cassilly. Leroy is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Lambda, and the Blue Key National Honor Societies and was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship for vocal study in Germany from 1990-92.

Active as a performer, Leroy has appeared as a recitalist, and soloist throughout the United States, South America, and Europe. Bynum has sung operatic roles with the Opera Company of Bahia, in Salvador, Brazil, the Munich Opera Company, the German States Opera in Berlin, the Lyric Opera of Salzburg, the St. Petersburg (FL) Opera, Orlando Opera, North Carolina Opera and the Godovsky Opera Workshop.

Dr. Bynum has been a professor of voice and opera for over 30 years, and has directed opera productions in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. Graduates from Bynum’s voice studio have been accepted in graduate programs all over the country, and many are currently maintaining active performance careers.

Titus Underwood is Principal Oboe of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and the 2021 recipient of the Sphinx Medal of Excellence award and a 2021 Midsouth Regional Emmy® winner for his work on « We Are Nashville ». Prior to the NSO, he was Acting Associate Principal of Utah Symphony, and has performed as guest principal of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Miami Symphony Orchestra, and Florida Orchestra. A sought-after freelance performer, Titus has also performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony, Puerto Rico Symphony, and San Diego Symphony. Titus regularly plays principal oboe in Chineke!, the Gateways Music Festival, and Bellingham Festival of Music.

Titus received his Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School, where he studied with Elaine Douvas, and pursued additional studies with Nathan Hughes and Pedro Diaz. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music where he was a student of John Mack, legendary principal oboist of the Cleveland Orchestra, with additional studies from Frank Rosenwein and Jeffrey Rathbun. In 2013, he received his artist diploma from The Colburn School as a student of Allan Vogel.