Musicians

An Award-Winning Orchestra

The award-winning Western Piedmont Symphony Orchestra is comprised of talented musicians from all over Western North Carolina. Many of the musicians have played in the orchestra from it's inception. Many are former Youth Symphony members. 

VIOLIN-1

Ross Snyder
Concert Master
Freiman Family Chair
Anna Boyle, Associate Concert Master
Kelsey Philbrick, Assistant Concert Master
Jenna Ames
Maria Lemp
Wilson Pace
Naiara Sanchez
Jonathan Sullivan
Nicole Wendl

Violin-2

Michelle Lie, Principal
Fry Street Quartet Chair
Luke Benton, Associate Principal
Molly Barrett, Assistant Principal
Melissa Alderman
Laura Blankenship
Elizabeth Boyle
Nan Freeman
William Freeman
Mary Ellen Watson

Viola

Edwin Kaplan, Principal
Timothy Gudger, Associate Principal
Dean Burgos
Kathryn Estes
Elda Franklin
Kathryn Middel
Margaret Neville
Diana Stone

Cello

Serafim Smigelskiey, Principal
Kontras Quartet Chair
Sarah Rocco Ross, Associate Principal
Allison Bormuth
John Hunsucker
Kimberly Pfleeger
Benjamin Smith

Bass

Aaron Craven, Principal
Phil Barringer, Associate Principal
Earl Anderson
Nathaniel Goldsmith
Tonya Steward

Flute

Laura D. Stevens, Principal
First Chair Society   
Broyhill Family Foundation Chair
Lissie Okopny Shanahan

Piccolo

Peter Shanahan

Oboe

Anna Morris, Principal
Jessica Warner

English Horn

Jennifer Roberts

Bassoon

Paige West-Smith, Principal
Stephanie Lipka

CONTRABASSOON

Rebecca Libera

Clarinet

Douglas Miller, Principal
David Allen

 

BASS CLARINET

*To be filled*

Horn

Frank Merritt, Principal
First Chair Society
Hickory Daily Record Chair
Christopher Griffin
Mary P. Boudreault
Eddie Little

Trumpet

Luke Boudreault, Principal
William Lawing
Timothy Phillips

Trombone

Christopher Nigrelli, Principal
Mark Stephens

Bass Trombone

Alexander Witt

Tuba

Edward L. Baity, Jr.

TIMPANI

Charles Smith
First Chair Society
Adam Neilly Family Chair

Percussion

Shawn Roberts, Principal
Rick Cline
Stephanie Wilson

Harp

Helen Rifas

Keyboard

Aaron Ames

Librarian

Luke Benton

Personnel Manager

Mary P. Boudreault

Properties Manager

Phil Barringer