This month, we welcome a new member of the Houston Symphony family, contrabassoon Adam Trussell, who joined the orchestra in June. Before joining the Houston Symphony, Adam was a full-time member of the Oregon Symphony (2011–2019) as second bassoon and of the Omaha Symphony (2005– 2011) as assistant principal bassoon. He is also principal bassoon … Continued
During these hot summer months, our musicians take a well-deserved break from Houston Symphony activities, but they still keep busy by traveling the world to teach, learn, and play with other musicians—sometimes they even find time for a vacation! Learn how a few of our musicians made the most of this summer. Brian Del Signore, … Continued
A native of St. Petersburg, Russia, Anastasia joined the Houston Symphony second violins in November 2017 having previously performed as a contracted substitute in the first violin section since the 2014–15 season. After moving to the United States at age 17, her musical career took a diversion into jazz and contemporary music. Realizing her passion … Continued
Adam Dinitz joined the Houston Symphony in September 2007 as solo English horn. He held prior positions with the San Francisco Symphony, the Florida Orchestra, and the Sarasota Orchestra, and has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, among others. He has participated in summer festivals, including the Tanglewood Music Center, Aspen … Continued
Violist Daniel Strba began his professional career at age 17 when he became a member of the United States Army Chamber Orchestra in Washington, D.C. where he performed for official state functions at The White House. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Chicago’s DePaul University and a master’s degree from the Cleveland Institute … Continued
Joan DerHovsepian became a member of the Houston Symphony in 1999 and has been associate principal viola since 2010. She is an artist teacher of viola at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music and a faculty guest at the New World Symphony. This summer, she joins the faculty of the National Orchestral Institute. Annually, Joan … Continued
Christian Schubert has been the second clarinetist of the Houston Symphony since 1996 when he was appointed by Music Director Christoph Eschenbach. A native of Burbank, CA, he studied at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where he received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in music performance. His principal teachers have been Kalman Bloch, Robert Marcellus … Continued
In January 2019, Timothy Dilenschneider was appointed associate principal double bass of the Houston Symphony. Prior to joining this orchestra, Timothy was a member of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra under the baton of music director Marin Alsop. He has also performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and The Florida Orchestra. His orchestral … Continued
Maki Kubota hails from Santa Monica, California. In middle school, he signed up to play violin in orchestra, but auditioned without knowing how to play. He deservedly got assigned to the cello instead. He began lessons a few years later at the Colburn School and went on to study at the Peabody Conservatory and Rice … Continued
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
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
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
Anne Leek, oboe, was educated at Juilliard where she received her bachelors of music, masters of music and doctor of musical arts degrees. During her time in New York, she performed on a recital in Carnegie Hall sponsored by the Artists International Contest, which she won. During the 1980s, Anne was solo principal oboe of … Continued
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
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
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
Jonathan Fischer joined the Houston Symphony as Principal Oboe in September 2012, and joined the faculty of the University of Houston in September 2014. Previously, he served as associate principal oboe with the San Francisco Symphony for nine seasons. He has also held positions with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Lyric Opera of Chicago and several … Continued