Backstage Pass: Leonardo Soto, timpanist

Leonardo R. Soto Jr. is the newly appointed Principal Timpanist of the Houston Symphony and the first native Hispanic timpanist to play in a professional orchestra in the United States. Leo served as principal timpanist of the Charlotte Symphony from 2009 until 2018, and the Michigan Opera Theatre-Detroit Opera House from 2003 to 2009. He … Continued

Backstage Pass: Richard Harris, trumpet

Richard Harris joined the Houston Symphony as second trumpet in 2018. Previously, for eight years he was a member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, where he became the only musician in an American orchestra to win auditions for each position in one trumpet section. A Yamaha Performing Artist, he has performed with the Seoul and … Continued

Backstage Pass: Andrew Pedersen, double bass

Andrew Pedersen joined the Houston Symphony Double Bass section in August 2017. A native of Batavia, Illinois, Andrew received his bachelor’s degree from DePaul University and master’s degree from Rice University, where he studied with Robert Kassinger and former Houston Symphony Principal Bass Timothy Pitts, respectively. Other mentors include Paul Ellison, Alexander Hanna and Gregory … Continued

Backstage Pass: Donald Howey, bass

Donald Howey, a member of the Houston Symphony since 1999, has performed with the Grand Teton Music Festival and the Sun Valley Summer Symphony and has been principal and soloist with the Houston Chamber Orchestra. He began playing the bass at age 15 in his hometown of Sudbury, Massachusetts.  Howey completed his Master’s degree in … Continued

Backstage Pass with Allen Barnhill, Principal Trombone

Principal Trombonist with the Houston Symphony, Allen Barnhill joined the orchestra in 1977 and has appeared as a soloist on numerous occasions. Winner of the Swiss Prize in the 1979 Geneva International Solo Competition, he was also featured in the 2008 world premiere of Cindy McTee’s Solstice for Trombone and Orchestra. As an ensemble collaborator, … Continued

Backstage Pass with Nancy Goodearl, horn

Nancy Goodearl, a member of the Houston Symphony since 1981, received a Bachelor of Music degree in performance from the Eastman School of Music and a Master of Music degree in performance from Northwestern University. Since 1987, she has been a member of the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She has … Continued

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