Musicians

An Award-Winning Orchestra

The Western Piedmont Symphony Orchestra is the professional orchestra of the western foothills of North Carolina and is comprised of talented acclaimed musicians from across Western and Central North Carolina. 

VIOLIN-1

Dan Skidmore, Concertmaster
Freiman Family Chair
Kelsey Philbrick, Assistant Concertmaster
Angela Allen
Galina Johnson
Rachael Kistler-Igo
Emmeline MacMillan
Wilson Pace
Luke Stikeleather
Jonathan Sullivan
Nathan Thomeer
RJ Wohlman

Violin-2

Nathan Southwick, Principal
Luke Benton, Associate Principal
Molly Barrett, Assistant Principal
Melissa Alderman
Elizabeth Boyle
William Freeman
Deborah Olivier
Mary Ellen Watson

Viola

Alvoy Bryan, Jr., Principal
Timothy Gudger, Associate Principal
Dean Burgos
Kathryn Estes
Maria Kindt
Claudia Malchow
Kathryn Middle

Cello

Samuel Magill, Acting Principal
Dr. Gary McDougal Chair
J. Alexandra Johnston, Associate Principal
Allison Bormuth
Natalie Parker
Sarah Rocco Ross
Elijah White

Bass

Aaron Craven, Principal
Michael DiTrolio, Assistant Principal
Earl Anderson
Tonya Steward

Flute

Laura D. Stevens, Principal
Lissie Okopny Shanahan

Piccolo

Peter Shanahan

Oboe

Anna Morris, Principal
Matthew Covington
Teil Buck

English Horn

Matthew Covington

Clarinet

David Allen, Principal
Daniel Garcia

BASS CLARINET

Matthew Libera

Bassoon

Paige West-Smith, Principal
Stephanie Lipka

Contrabassoon

Rebecca Libera

Horn

Timothy Papenbrock, Principal
Christopher Griffin
Eddie Little

Trumpet

Luke Boudreault, Principal
William Lawing
Timothy Phillips

Trombone

Jeremy Marks, Principal
Mark Stephens

Bass Trombone

Aleksandr Witt

Tuba

Edward L. Baity, Jr., Principal

TIMPANI

Charles Smith
Adam Neilly Family Chair

Percussion

Shawn Roberts, Principal
Stephanie Wilson

Harp

Helen Rifas

Keyboard

Ashley Clasen

Orchestra Librarian

Michael DiTrolio

Personnel Manager

David Allen

On Leave of Absence

Laura Blankenship, second violin
Mary Boudreault, second horn