faculty
Strings
Andrzej Grabiec*, violin
International soloist, recitalist, chamber musician and conductor; performed extensively throughout countries of Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific; First Prize winner, International Competition for Chamber Music Ensembles in France; prize winner, Wieniawski and Thibaud International Violin Competitions; concertmaster, American Sinfonietta; former concertmaster, Polish National Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra; recording artist, Summit Records, Albany, Vifon, Natural Soundfields labels, and Polish Radio and Television, ORF (Austrian Radio, Vienna), West German Radio (West-Deutsche Rundfunk).
Zuo Jun , violin
Hailed as one of the most gifted Chinese violinists of his generation, Zuo Jun began violin studies at age six and is a graduate of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music where he studied with Professors Shen Guan En and Zheng Shi Sheng. In 1988, Zuo Jun’s talent was noticed by Fredell Lack and he went to the United States to study with her and subsequently with Berl Senofsky and Ariana Bronne.
Zuo Jun has been a first violinist in the Houston Symphony from 1994 to 2004. Prior to joining the Houston Symphony, he was a member of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra for a season. He has also appeared as soloist with many renowned symphony orchestras, such as the Shanghai Opera Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Radio Orchestra, Shanghai Ballet Orchestra, Jupiter Symphony Orchestra (New York), Julius Grossman Orchestra (New York), National Repertory Orchestra (Colorado), San Antonio Youth Symphony, Lake Charles Symphony Orchestra, and New Tokyo Symphony Orchestra.
Zuo Jun has been a prizewinner in prominent national and international competitions, including the first prize in the China National Violin Competition in Shanghai in 1986. Also, he was awarded prizes in the Kingsville International Music Competition in 1990, the American Music Teachers’ National Association Competition in 1989, the Corpus Christi Young Artists Competition in 1989, and the National Violin Competition of China in 1984. In 1984, Zuo Jun was invited by the China Ministry of Culture to perform in Beijing to celebrate the 35 th anniversary of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. In that same year, he gave a solo recital as part of the “Spring of Shanghai” Music Festival.
Critics have praised Zuo Jun’s performances for his musicality and technical brilliance. He was featured on “Good Morning America” (ABC) in 1990, interviewed by NHK in 1987, and performed live on Singapore national television in 1986 and 2004.
Fredell Lack*, violin
C.W. Moores Professor of Violin; laureate, Queen Elizabeth of Belgium International Competition; former faculty Meadowmount; recipient of many teaching awards; winner, Brooklyn Academy Young Artists Award; more than 20 European tours, 35 broadcasts for the BBC in England,and seven for Radio RIAS in Germany; soloist with orchestras including Halle Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic, Concertgebouw, Stockholm Philharmonic, symphonies of Berlin, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Houston, and the New York Philharmonic; recordings. Vox, CRI, Bay Cities, Centaur, and Albany.
Kyung Sun Lee*, violin
First prizes - Washington and D'Angelo International Competitions; third prize Montreal International Competition; laureate, Tchaikovsky and Queen Elizabeth Competitions; Asst. Prof. of Violin, Oberlin College (2001-2007); Festivals: Aspen, Seattle Chamber Music, Green Mountain Chamber Music, EuroArt, and Great Mountains; soloist with Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic, Orchestre de Chambre Français Albéric Magnard, CityMusic Orchestra of Cleveland, Jupiter Symphony, Prime Philharmonic, Missouri Symphony Orchestra, and Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, among others; recordings on EMI, Audite Records, and Good International; education, B. M., Seoul National University; M. M. and Artist's Diploma, Peabody Conservatory; post-graduate studies, The Juilliard School; teachers: Nam Yun Kim, Sylvia Rosenberg, Robert Mann, Dorothy Delay and Hyo Kang.
Lucie Robert, violin
Violin professor, Manhattan School of Music and Mannes College of Music; Soloist, performed over thirty different works with orchestras including Montreal, Toronto and Mexico City; Recitalist and chamber musician, appearances throughout U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia; Broadcasts and recordings for NPR, CBC Radio Network, Radio Canada, Radio France and Aureus Records; her violin students have been prizewinners in international competitions such as Indianapolis, Young Concert Artists, Paganini, and Sendai; jury member of several competitions including 2006 Montreal International Violin Competition
Wayne Brooks*, viola
Principal Violist of the Houston Symphony. Born in Los Angeles, Mr. Brooks joined the orchestra as Associate Principal Violist after graduating from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. In 1985 he won the position of Principal Viola. In February 2002 he commemorated his 25th season with the Houston Symphony, performing Berlioz' Harold in Italy with Christoph Eschenbach and the HSO.
In addition to appearances as soloist with the Houston Symphony, Mr. Brooks has appeared in chamber music performances with Joseph Silverstein, Lynn Harrell, Yefim Bronfman, Garrick Ohlsson, and Christoph Eschenbach. He has participated in concerts of contemporary chamber music in the Houston Symphony's INNOVA series, in performances with Da Camera of Houston, and in chamber music festivals in Craftsbury, Vermont, and Lake City, Colorado. Since 1993 he has been the violist of the Houston Symphony Chamber Players, serving on the faculty of Japan's Pacific Music Festival, and touring Japan (1993, 1994 and 1995) and Europe (1994 and 1997). He has also appeared at Chicago's Ravinia Festival in 1996 and 1997. With the Houston Symphony Chamber Players he has recorded works of Webern and Berg.
He served as an Associate Professor of Viola at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University from 1985 through 2001, where he taught both solo repertoire and classes focusing on the study of orchestral repertoire. Former students of Mr. Brooks perform in the New World Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, Richmond Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony, Chiara Quartet, and Borromeo Quartet. In 1995 Mr. Brooks gave the Houston premiere of Alfred Schnittke's Viola Concerto with Christoph Eschenbach and the Houston Symphony.
Matthew Dane, viola
Faculty, University of Colorado, Metro State College of Denver; titled chairs, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, Colorado Music Festival; member, Boulder Piano Quartet; founder, Brightmusic Ensemble; chamber music performances with Colorado Quartet, Context (Houston), Athelas Ensemble (Denmark), Colin Carr, members of Brentano Quartet, and Orchestra 2001; former faculty, University of Oklahoma, Heifetz Institute, Greenwood; past positions with Oklahoma City Philharmonic (Principal), Houston Ballet, Hannover (Germany) State Opera, Journal of the American Viola Society (Editor); recordings, Albany, Koch. Matthew Dane's web site»
Rita Porfiris*, viola
Member, Houston Symphony since 1995; principal, Indianapolis, New World Symphony and Schleswig-Holstein Orchestra; section, Radio-Sinfonie Orchester Berlin, Baroque Orchester Berlin; Plymouth String Quartet; recipient, Prix Mercure; prize winner, Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, William Primrose Viola Competition; recital and solo appearances, Merkin Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Salzburg Mozarteum; recordings, Opus One and Modern Masters. For more about her, visit her web site and her blog.
Karen Ritscher, viola
Faculty, Oberlin Conservatory of Music; former faculty, Shepherd School of Music; and former principal, Dallas Opera and Houston Grand Opera Orchestras.
Edward Arron, cello
Has appeared as a soloist with orchestra, recitalist,and chamber musician throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Artistic Director, Metropolitan Museum Artists in Concert; artistic director, Alpenglow Chamber Music Festival (CO); artistic coordinator, Caramoor Virtuosi. Guest appearances with the Tokyo and Shanghai Quartets, Silk Road Ensemble. Edward Arron's web site »
Vagram Saradjian*, cello
Prizewinner, International Cello Competition, Geneva, and International Tchaikowsky Competition; concert tours to Europe, Asia, Scandinavia, Greece, and Latin America; appearances with leading orchestras and conductors, such as Gergiev, Kondrashin, Rostropovich, M. Shostakovich, and Temirkanov; recitals in Washington, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Los Angeles; undergraduate and graduate studies with Mstislav Rostropovich, with top honors from Moscow Conservatory
Greg Sauer, cello
Greg Sauer, Associate Professor of Cello, joined the Florida State University College of Music in 2006. A native of Davenport, Iowa, Sauer attended the Eastman School of Music and the New England Conservatory. His principal teachers included Ada Marie Snyder, Charles Wendt, Paul Katz, Laurence Lesser, Bonnie Hampton and Colin Carr. Prior to his arrival at FSU, Mr. Sauer taught at the University of Oklahoma for eleven years, and was named Presidential Professor in 2005. Other teaching positions have included a visiting professorship at the University of California at Los Angeles, and instructor for summer programs such as the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts and the Hot Springs Music Festival.
Praised for his versatility, Mr. Sauer has appeared in recitals at the Old First Concert Series in San Francisco, the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, and the Brightmusic Concert Series in Oklahoma City, among many others. Mr. Sauer is a prizewinner in the Hudson Valley Philharmonic and Ima Hogg National competitions, and has performed concertos with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, the Houston Symphony, the Quad City Symphony, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, and the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra. Mr. Sauer holds the position of assistant principal of the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra and served nine seasons as principal cellist of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra.
As a member of the Fidelio String Quartet, he has performed in concerts throughout the United States, including festival appearances at Tanglewood, Aspen Music Festival, Round Top Music Festival, and Chamber Music West. Mr. Sauer serves as co-Artistic Director of Chamber Music Quad Cities, and has appeared in chamber music settings recently with Santa Fe Promusica, at the Garth Newel Music Center, the Colorado Music Festival, and the Boulder Modern Music Festival.
Eric Larson, double bass
Member, Houston Symphony; former principal, Haddenfield Symphony; participant, Tanglewood and Schleswig-Holstein music festivals and National Orchestral Institute; faculty, Boston University-Tanglewood Institute.
Sandor Ostlund, double bass
An active and versatile performer as a soloist, and as a chamber, early music, and orchestral musician, as well as being in demand as a double bass clinician. He has been invited to teach and perform at clinics and universities across the country and has performed in recitals throughout the United States. Dr. Ostlund has played with the Detroit Symphony, the Washington Bach Consort, the Washington National Cathedral Baroque Orchestra, the Wolf Trap Opera Company, Context, the Houston Grand Opera, the Houston Ballet, among others.
Woodwinds
Aralee Dorough, flute
Principal flutist of the Houston Symphony. She received her bachelors degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in 1983 as a student of Robert Willoughby. She continued her studies with Thomas Nyfenger at the Yale School of Music until winning the position of 2nd flute with the Houston Symphony in 1985. In 1991 she was named Principal Flute. She appears regularly as a soloist with the orchestra. Recently she performed the Mozart concerto in G with music director Hans Graf. In 1993 she recorded the same concerto with Christoph Eschenbach and the Houston Symphony for the IMP label. She performed the world premiere of Bright Sheng’s Flute Moon, commissioned by the Houston Symphony, in a concert broadcast on PBS. She has a lso appeared with harpist Marisa Robles and baroque specialist Nicholas McGegan. Aralee has toured extensively throughout Europe and Japan, and performed at Chicago’s prestigious Ravinia Festival as a member of the Houston Symphony Chamber Players, often in collaboration with Christoph Eschenbach at the piano.
Christina Jennings, flute
Assistant Professor, University of Colorado at Boulder; winner, Concert Artists Guild International Competition (2001); first prize winner, Houston Symphony Ima Hogg Competition and William C. Byrd Competition. Christina Jennings' web site »
Robert Atherholt, oboe
Principal oboist of the Houston Symphony since 1984. Numerous solo appearances and festival residences all over the world. Education: bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Juilliard School of Music. Atherholt won the position of principal obo of the New Jersey Symphony only after two years of graduation. Additional principal oboe positions include: the Opera Orchestra of New York, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. Performed as guest principal oboist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in performances of Mahler’s 7th Symphony under Bernard Haitink. Later served as acting principal oboist on the BSO European tour 2000 under the direction of Seiji Ozawa. This season he has appeared as guest principal oboist of The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. As principal oboe of the Houston Symphony he has distinguished himself as a soloist performing numerous concerti with the orchestra, including the Mozart concerto and the world premier of Schumann/Picker Romances and Interludes, both of which he later recorded with this orchestra under Christoph Eschenbach. Solo appearances around the world. He has performed with Spain’s Orquesta Sinfonica del Principado de Asturias Oviedo in 1999 and in Japan’s Pacific Music Festival in 1995. He has toured Japan and Europe as part of the Houston Symphony Chamber Players and recorded Schoenberg’s Woodwind Quintet, Opus 26 with that group. As a chamber musician, he appears regularly with Da Camera of Houston and has appeared at Marlboro, the Pacific Music Festival, Ravinia, Caramoor Orcas Island and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. During the summer he serves as principal oboe of the Sun Valley Summer Symphony and the Grand Teton Music Festival.
He is professor of oboe at the Shepherd School of Music, Rice University, and conducts guest clinics at various festivals and universities across the country including the National Orchestral Institute and The New World Symphony. This season he will be traveling to China to work with students at the Beijing Conservatory. His students play in orchestras throughout North America, Switzerland and Israel; many of them as principal oboist themselves.
Anne Leek*, oboe
Associate principal, Houston Symphony; former member, Pittsburgh Symphony; winner, Geneva International Music Competition; soloist, New York Philharmonic; concertized and recorded with Boston and St. Louis symphonies; recordings on DGG, Koch, Schwann and Gramola labels; European duo tours with Christoph Eschenbach
Randall Griffin*, clarinet
Principal, Houston Ballet Orchestra; has performed as acting Associate Principal, Houston Symphony and principal, Orquesta Sinfonica Municipal de Caracas, Venezuela; appearances as soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe, South America, and the U. S.; active clinician and adjudicator
David Peck, clarinet
With a varied career encompassing symphony, opera, chamber music and teaching, clarinettist David Peck enjoys the full benefits of a life in music. A native of southern California, Mr. Peck is long-time principal clarinet of the Houston Symphony Orchestra. Recordings of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto with the HSO, under Christoph Eschenbach, and of several major chamber works with the Houston Symphony Chamber Players make up the core of a diverse discography.
Formerly a student of Mitchell Lurie and Frank Salazar, he is now a highly regarded pedagogue himself. After many years of teaching at Rice University's Shepherd School and at the University of Houston, Mr. Peck currently maintains a home studio. He is a regular participant in the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival, the Idyllwild Arts Chamber Music Festival, and the Santa Barbara Chamber Music Festival.
Eric Arbiter, bassoon
Eric Arbiter has played with the Houston Symphony as Associate Principal bassoonist since 1974 and performed with them as soloist on several occasions. He was named Acting Principal Bassoonist in the 1999 season, and continues in that position from the 2001-through the 2007 season. He will resume his Associate Principal position in December of 2007.
He attended the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, toured with Music from Marlboro in 1973. He then received a scholarship at the Juilliard School of Music and completed his Masters of Music at the Cleveland Institute of Music in 1973 where he was also on scholarship. He performed with Peter Serkin at Alice Tully Hall on a chamber music recital in New York in 1973. Mr. Arbiter has performed as a chamber musician with Da Camera, the Harvard Chamber Players, the San Antonio Chamber Players, and the Greenbriar Players. Orchestral experience includes the Marlboro Music Festival Orchestra under Pablo Casals and Alexander Schneider, the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra, the Ohio Chamber Orchestra and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. He performed the Mozart Bassoon Concerto, as soloist, with the Galveston Symphony in September 2007.
He served as Assistant Professor of Music at the Shepherd School of Music and chair of the wind department from 1975—1996 teaching Bassoon from 1974—1985 and Woodwind Repertory and Chamber Music from 1985—1996. In 1986, he taught at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music while on sabbatical from the Houston Symphony. He has recently taught master classes at the University of Texas and Austin and the University of Houston for the Texas Music Festival.
He lives in the Houston Heights with this wife Katherine of 30 years and their two children, Daniel 22 and Julie Ann 18. Photography became an interest at Oberlin. While mostly self-taught, he has several photographic mentors through their work and writings. He has had 7 one-man shows in Houston and one in Austin. His most recent exhibit was entitled A Visual Musical Offering. The exhibit appeared at the Cloister Gallery at the Christ Church Cathedral from December, 2006 through January, 2007.
J. Jeff Robinson*, bassoon
Currently, acting associate principal and contrabassoon, Houston Symphony; principal, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra; soloist, Houston, Chautauqua, New Mexico symphonies; chamber music appearances, Chautauqua Wind Quintet, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Winds of Texas, Greenbriar Consortium, performances with National Symphony, Grand Tetons Festival Orchestra, Santa Fe Opera Orchestra; B.M., Eastman School of Music, studio of K. David Van Hoesen
* University of Houston faculty member
Brass
Mark Hughes , trumpet
Mark Hughes “knows how to spin out a long line with the eloquence of a gifted singer.” He refined this “singing” style of trumpet playing while studying at Northwestern University with Vincent Cichowicz of the Chicago Symphony. After receiving a B.M. in Trumpet Performance from N.U. in 1983, Mr. Hughes was selected to be in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and a scholarship student with Adolph Herseth, the Principal Trumpet with the Chicago Symphony. While in Chicago, Hughes also helped form the much recorded Millar Brass Ensemble.
Hughes is presently in his second season as Principal Trumpet with the Houston Symphony. Before coming to the Houston Symphony, he was Associate Principal Trumpet with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for twelve years. Prior to joining the ASO, Hughes toured with Richard Morris as the popular organ and trumpet duo “Toccatas and Flourishes,” under Columbia Artists Management. While touring he had the distinction of appearing as soloist in all of the Continental United States as well as portions of Canada.
Mr. Hughes continues to appear as soloist with local orchestras and to give recitals. At a recent recital given at Emory University with University Organist, Timothy Albrecht, the Atlanta Journal and Constitution commented, “Here was creative collaboration of the highest order.”
Mr. Hughes lives in Bellaire, TX with his wife Marilyn and their two children, Thomas and Caroline.
Jim Vassallo*, trumpet
Principal trumpet of the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and the Houston Ballet Orchestra. With Houston Grand Opera he has been featured as a soloist with soprano Kiri Te Kanawa in Handel’s “Let the Bright Seraphim,” and toured to Cairo, Egypt in the acclaimed production of Showboat. Likewise, he has performed in numerous world premiers with Houston Grand Opera including John Adams’s Nixon in China and Carlyle Floyd’s Cold Sassy Tree. Mr. Vassallo has also been f eatured as soloist in recent productions with Houston Ballet in Aaron Copland’s “Quiet City” and Leroy Anderson’s “Trumpeters Lullaby”. During the summer months he has been known to perform with the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra, the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra the AIMS Festival Orchestra in Graz, Austria.
Roger Kaza,* horn
Associate principal, Houston Symphony since 1995; principal horn, Chautauqua Symphony; former member, Vancouver, St. Louis, Boston, Boston Pops, and Portland (ME) symphony orchestras; soloist, St. Louis, Houston, Vancouver, St. Louis Philharmonic, and other orchestras; prizewinner, The American Horn Competition, 1987; active master class artist and conductor; faculty, University of Houston; former faculty, Rice University, University of Missouri, University of Illinois, Boston University Tanglewood Institute
Philip Stanton*, horn
Member, Houston symphony; former member, United States Navy Band; former faculty, Michigan State and Sam Houston State universities
Brian Kauk* , trombone
Currently principal trombone with the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and the Houston Ballet Orchestra. Mr. Kauk joined the Moores School of Music faculty as Trombone affiliate artist and became a member of the Moores Brass Quintet in 1995. He has performed extensively with the Houston Symphony Orchestra including 2 international tours and recordings. Mr Kauk has performed in the Grand Teton Music Festival and teaches at the Texas Music Festival during the summer.
David Waters, trombone
Member, Houston Symphony; faculty, Shepherd School of Music; performances in all areas: solo, chamber music, jazz ensemble, show orchestras, and recordings.
David Kirk, tuba
Principal, Houston Symphony since 1982; faculty, Shepherd School of Music-Rice University; guest tuba with the Boston, Chautauqua, Cincinnati, Chicago, Pittsburgh symphonies and the Philadelphia Orchestra
* University of Houston faculty member
Percussion
Paula Page*
Principal, Houston Symphony since 1984; former member, Pittsburgh and Oklahoma symphony orchestras; guest harpist, Boston, Cleveland, Atlanta symphony orchestras; principal, Grand Teton Music Festival; frequent chamber music performer; featured performer, national conferences, American Harp Society, World Harp Congress; faculty, Shepherd School of Music-Rice University,
Festival-Institute at Round Top
Brian Del Signore*
Principal Percussion, Associate Principal Timpani Houston Symphony since 1986; performances with Pittsburgh Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, former student of Alan Abel; teaches select graduate percussion students at the Moores School of Music.
Matthew Strauss
Currently, percussionist, Houston Symphony and timpanist, American Symphony Orchestra at the Bard Festival. He has performed as a member of the percussion section of the Chicago Symphony throughout the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 seasons. Regular performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the New Jersey Symphony, and the Harrisburg Symphony. Other orchestral appearances with the Baltimore Symphony and San Diego Symphony, among others. Recent solo appearances include performances with the Akron Symphony, New Hampshire Music Festival, Reading Symphony and Delaware Symphony. As active chamber musician, he has performed with various ensembles, including the Chicago Chamber Musicians, among others and is founding member of the Battery Four Percussion Group. He is a performing artist and clinician for the Pearl/ Adams Corporation and Zildjian.
Blake Wilkins*
Director of Percussion Studies, Moores School of Music, University of Houston; former member, Oklahoma City Philharmonic; specialist in solo classical marimba and contemporary music; active composer; recipient of Percussive Arts Society Composition Award; original works recorded on Albany Records label.
* University of Houston faculty member
