MUSICIANS
2018-2019
(see below for Chamber Orchestra Musicians on May 7)
Erik Peterson, violin
As a violinist, Peterson has been a member of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra since 1991. He is also Artistic Director of the Chintimini Chamber Music Festival in Corvallis, Oregon. As an active performing chamber musician, he is often heard in performance with Ivy Street Ensemble and Mendelssohn Trio.
Peterson attended the University of Iowa, the University of Michigan, and Rice University. His influential teachers include Andres Cardenes, Leopold La Fosse, and Camilla Wicks. He is often heard on Oregon Public Radio and Colorado Public Radio performing chamber music as a member of the Ivy Street Ensemble, a trio with flutist, Catherine Peterson, and violist Phillip Stevens. When not performing, teaching, or creating concert opportunities for audiences of all ages, he enjoys spending time with his family, skiing and hiking.
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As a violinist, Peterson has been a member of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra since 1991. He is also Artistic Director of the Chintimini Chamber Music Festival in Corvallis, Oregon. As an active performing chamber musician, he is often heard in performance with Ivy Street Ensemble and Mendelssohn Trio.
Peterson attended the University of Iowa, the University of Michigan, and Rice University. His influential teachers include Andres Cardenes, Leopold La Fosse, and Camilla Wicks. He is often heard on Oregon Public Radio and Colorado Public Radio performing chamber music as a member of the Ivy Street Ensemble, a trio with flutist, Catherine Peterson, and violist Phillip Stevens. When not performing, teaching, or creating concert opportunities for audiences of all ages, he enjoys spending time with his family, skiing and hiking.
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Glêsse Collet, viola
Brazilian violist Glêsse Collet immigrated to the U. S. in 2016. Born in Rio de Janeiro, she moved to Brasilia as a child and spent most of her professional career there. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Brasília. Her MM degree in violin performance is from the Musik Hochschule in Detmold and her PhD in Viola performance is from the Federal University of Bahia. In 1983 she won the position of principal viola in the Symphony Orchestra of Teatro Nacional de Brasília (Brazil) where she played for 5 years. As a member of the Quarteto de Brasília, she has performed throughout Brazil and all over the world. Collet recently retired from the faculty of the Music Department at the University of Brasilia. She founded the University of Brasilia String Orchestra in January 2002. The group is composed of students and focuses on the exploration and dissemination of the repertoire for string orchestras, with particular emphasis on Brazilian music. Read more ... 
Michael W. Davis, violin
While only 26 years old, violinist Michael W. Davis was named Concertmaster of the prestigious Louisville Orchestra, thrilling audiences for 30 years until his retirement from that position in 2015. He previously been a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Captivated at an early age by the beauty of the violin, Michael, a native of Albertville, Alabama, began studying music at age 7. He is a graduate of the world renowned Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University where he was awarded Bachelor and Master of Music degrees with distinction. Michael's biggest musical adventure of 2017 found him performing his original solo violin arrangement of "The Star Spangled Banner" for a sold-out Colorado Rockies game! Featured in numerous chamber music and orchestral recordings, Michael also has two solo albums, Emmanuel and Amazing Grace. Read more ... 
Eric Hollenbeck, percussion
Eric R. Hollenbeck, associate professor of percussion at Colorado State University since the fall of 2003, earned a Doctorate of Music in Percussion Performance from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. He holds a Master's degree from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in Percussion Performance, and a Bachelor's degree in Percussion Performance from Kent State University. Hollenbeck has performed with diverse performing organizations, including principal positions held in Fort Collins and Cheyenne Symphony Orchestras. As a chamber musician,he has appeared with the Chicago Chamber Players and other ensembles. As a recitalist, Eric has performed worldwide and over 30 universities in the United States. In 2008, Eric was awarded the Outstanding Teacher of the Year by Colorado State University. Read more ... 
Jason Lichtenwalter, oboe and English horn
Jason Lichtenwalter holds the Oboe/English horn position with the Colorado Symphony in Denver and the Britt Festival Orchestra in southern Oregon. Prior positions include Principal Oboe with the Dallas Opera Orchestra and Associate Principal/2ndOboe and Acting English Horn with the Honolulu Symphony. He has performed with the Dallas Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, and New World Symphony, among many others. As a featured soloist, he has appeared on oboe, oboe d'amore, and English horn. Lichtenwalter serves as oboe/English horn faculty at the University of Colorado-Boulder and Rocky Ridge Music Center and is the oboist for the Denver educational ensemble, Up Close and Musical. He received oboe performance degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory and Eastman School of Music. Read more ... 
Heidi Mausbach, cello
A graduate of the Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, cellist Heidi Mausbach has enjoyed a fulfilling and diverse orchestral career throughout the US. She has played with the Naples Philharmonic, the Florida Orchestra, and the Minnesota Opera before moving to Fort Collins in 2000. Currently, she is assistant principal of the Fort Collins Symphony and the Cheyenne Symphony. Mausbach is a busy freelance musician, frequently playing in Denver and surrounding areas with Pro Musica Colorado, the Front Range Chamber Players and Colorado Bach Ensemble. She enjoys teaching and offers lessons at her private studio and at Front Range Community College. She is a founding member of Just Chamber Music, a local summer festival for young aspiring music students. During the rest of the year, she coaches at the Chamber Music Acadamy through Off the Hook Arts. Read more ... 
Margaret Miller, viola
As Special Assistant Professor of Viola and coordinator of the Graduate Quartet Program at CSU, Miller teaches viola and chamber music literature and coaches undergraduate and graduate ensembles. She is also on the faculty of the LEAP Institute for the Arts at CSU, a multi-disciplinary program that gives students tools to be successful musicians after they graduate. Prior to joining the CSU faculty in 2004, Miller was violist of the da Vinci Quartet for 18 years. Based in Colorado, the Quartet was in residence at the University of Denver and Colorado College. A dedicated teacher and performer, Miller has given recitals and master classes throughout the West and has given clinics on viola playing and career opportunities. She has been recognized for her teaching by the Colorado Chapter of the American String Teachers Association and the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony. Read more ... 
Catherine Peterson, flute
Catherine Peterson is Assistant Principal Flute with the Colorado Symphony. A regular substitute flutist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra from 2010-2015, she has also performed with the Detroit Symphony and the Cincinnati Symphony. An active chamber musician and educator, she performs with the nationally recognized Ivy Street Ensemble throughout Colorado, and can often be heard on Colorado Public Radio. Peterson is the Flute Practicing Artist for Denver School of the Arts and teaches at Rocky Ridge Music Center and the University of Denver Lamont Summer Academy. She also maintains a private flute studio in Denver, and is Co-Director of Mile High Flute Benders, Colorado’s newest flute choir for all ages! You can learn more about Peterson at www.milehighflutist.com. Read more ... 
Abby Raymond, clarinet
A native of upstate New York, clarinetist Abby Raymond has held the position of Second/E-flat/Assistant Principal Clarinet with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra since 2001. Previously Abby was a member of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, the Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Santiago, Chile. As a soloist, she has appeared with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and the Texas Festival Orchestra. Also active as a chamber musician, Raymond has performed in the Denver area and with the Strings Music Festival, thenLoon Lake Live Chamber Music Festival, and the Chintimini Chamber Music Festival. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music. Raymond teaches clarinet at the Metropolitan State University of Denver and Denver School for the Arts in addition to maintaining a private teaching studio. She has taught at the University of Denver, the University of Colorado in Boulder and Colorado State University. Read more... 
Phillip Stevens, viola Violist Phillip Stevens has been a member of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra since 1996 and is Affiliate Professor of Viola at Metropolitan State University of Denver. He also teaches privately and is active in youth education with the Colorado Symphony, Friends of Chamber Music, and Up Close and Musical. Stevens received his Bachelor's degree at the University of Michigan and completed graduate work at Northwestern University. In 1994 he won first prize in the Viola division of the National ASTA Music Competition. Steven was a founding member of Sheridan Chamber Players while in Chicago and currently is a member of Ivy Street Ensemble in Denver. During the summer he frequently participates at the Chintimini Chamber Music Festival in Corvallis, Oregon, and the Off-the-Hook Arts Summerfest in Fort Collins. He has performed in recital at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall as part of the DCINY Distinguished Concert Artist Series. Read more ... 
Barbara Thiem, cello
An internationally acclaimed cellist, Thiem combines teaching cello and chamber music with her active schedule of performances in Europe and the United States, playing solo recitals with orchestras and chamber music. Thiem is a member of the Mendelssohn Trio and in the summers administers the International Summer Academy of Schloss Ort, Austria. She holds degrees from Cologne, Germany, and from Indiana University where she was awarded the Performer’s Certificate. Thiem has published the translation of Gerhard Mantel’s Cello Technique as well as articles on good postural and practicing habits, which appeared in the ASTA and Suzuki Journals. Presently, Thiem is teaching and performing at Colorado State University. In addition to studio teaching of cello and chamber music, she teaches a three-semester course of cello pedagogy, as well as organizing the Pre-College Chamber Music Program. Read more ... 
Lei Weng, piano
Steinway Artist Lei Weng enjoys a successful international career as an accomplished pianist, a dedicated teacher, and a sought-after adjudicator and clinician. He has performed at many prestigious venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall and China’s National Center for Performing Arts. He has been invited to perform and teach at such music festivals as Tanglewood, Music Fest Perugia (Italy), and Pianoforte-Fest Meissen (Germany). Weng has played with chamber music ensembles throughout the United States and has been soloist with more than thirty orchestras across the U.S., Europe and Asia. A dedicated educator, Weng is the Keyboard Area Head at the University of Northern Colorado. Weng is the Founder and Director of the Colorado International Piano Academy and Colorado Piano Festival, two intensive summer piano programs that take place annually at UNC. Read more ... |
William David, piano
After a distinguished 40-year career as founding member and pianist of the Ames Piano Quartet and faculty member at Iowa State University, William David retired and moved to Colorado in 2012. Since his relocation he has performed with members of the Colorado Symphony and faculty from Colorado State University and the University of Wyoming. He has also taught at the Lamont School of Music Summer Academy at the University of Denver. He recently served as a judge at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Also a distinguished pedagogue, David served a semester as artist–in-residence at National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei, the most prestigious music school in Taiwan. David received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree summa cum laude in piano performance from the University of Michigan. His major teachers there were Gyorgy Sandor and Eugene Bossart. Read more: 
Tamara Goldstein, piano
Pianist Tamara Goldstein enjoys a career as a chamber musician, teacher and recitalist. From a musical family, she earned solo performance degrees at Indiana University (BM),The Juilliard School (MM), and the University of Colorado (DMA). She spends summers on the collaborative piano staff of the Aspen Music Festival and School (since 1999) and teaches piano/chamber music on the faculty of the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music. Current piano faculty posts also include Rocky Ridge Music Center’s adult piano seminar, the Grand Teton Music Festival’s competition pianist, and Very Young Composers, an outreach program of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. Goldstein has traveled with recital partners for performance and teaching engagements on five continents. She has been a guest teaching artist and mentor for universities, secondary schools as well as for private studios. She has served on several state boards. Read more ... 
Lydia Hynson, cello
Cellist Lydia Hynson, was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She participated in the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and youth chamber ensembles until she graduated high school. She attended Lawrence University and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where she completed her undergraduate degree in Cello Performance. She received her master's degree in Cello Performance at Colorado State University, was the cellist in the CSU Zinnia String Quartet, and also received a Certificate in String Pedagogy. Hynson performs in the annual Colorado Mahlerfest and Opera Steamboat and held a position as the Co-Principal for the Longmont Symphony. Hynson also serves as the Secretary for the Fort Collins String Teachers Association, the E-Communications Specialist for the Front Range Chamber Players, and the Managing Director for the Fort Collins All-City High School Honor Orchestra. Read more ... 
Theodor Lichtmann, piano
Born and educated in Switzerland, Theodor Lichtmann received his Gymnasium degree in Classical languages. For his formative training as a pianist, he studied with Irma Schaichet (a student of Busoni and Bartok) in Switzerland and later with Leonard Shure (an Artur Schnabel student ) in New York and at the University of Texas at Austin. Lichtmann was until his retirement Professor at the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver and Chair of the Piano Division. There he appeared frequently as soloist and as partner with his colleagues. He also is often a concerto soloist with the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra. He is a co-founder of the Mendelssohn Trio and continues to be an ardent chamber musician in addition to his busy solo career. He is much sought after as clinician and adjudicator up and down the Rocky Mountain front range. Read more ... 
John McGuire, horn
John McGuire has a vast array of performance and teaching experiences. He has performed with many orchestras around the country, most notably the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas Opera, the Fort Worth Symphony, the New World Symphony in Miami, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. As a soloist he was awarded the title “Yamaha Young Artist,” and he has appeared as a guest artist at many workshops, festivals and schools across the United States. With several world-premiere performances to his credit, he is a passionate proponent for the creation of new solo horn literature as well as a sought-after contemporary music performer. McGuire received his DMA and BM in Music Performance from the University of Alabama, his MM in Performance from Florida State University, and a Performer’s Certificate from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University in Chicago. Read more ... 
Angela Mitchell, soprano
Angela Mitchell has performed extensively in opera and musical theater for over a decade, appearing with such companies as Cleveland Opera Theater and the Akron Symphony. Having recently moved to Denver, she is also in her first season with the Colorado Symphony Chorus. As a light lyric soprano, Mitchell’s recent operatic roles include Musetta in La Bohème and Nannetta in Falstaff. Her musical theater credits include Agnes in I Do! I Do! and Cinderella in Into the Woods. As a strong proponent of contemporary music, Ms. Mitchell frequently collaborates with composers, and gave the world premieres of Voice of the Lake by Margaret Brouwer and Sappho Fragments by Joel Zigman. By day, Ms. Mitchell is the main recruiter for the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music. She holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Houston and a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Science in Business at the University of Minnesota. Read more... 
Felix Petit, violin
Petit began his violin studies at the age of 9 at the Latin American Violin Academy of “El Sistema” in Caracas, Venezuela with maestro Jose Francisco Del Castillo. He has participated in the Latin American Violin Academy Summer Festival, Weathersfield Music Festival, Reina Sofia Music Festival in Spain as well as the Aspen Music Festival. He has had the opportunity to study with many wonderful musicians including Zakhar Bron, Donald Weilerstein, and Almita and Roland Vamos. Petit studied violin with the Vamoses at Oberlin Conservatory and, while there, performed in an Honors Recital and as a 1999-2000 Concerto Competition winner. He has been a member of the New World Symphony Orchestra, Portland Symphony Orchestra in Maine and the Rhode Island Philharmonic. He played with the Colorado Symphony from 2012 until 2016. He currently substitutes with the Colorado Symphony and the Milwaukee Symphony. Read more ... 
Ann Schnaidt, viola
Schnaidt holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music from University of Washington and Colorado State University, respectively. She performed with Fort Collins Symphony for 25 years, serving as principal violist for seven years and also plays with the Larimer Choral Orchestra. She was a member of the Cheyenne Symphony and Greeley Philharmonic Orchestras for many years; and also with the Breckenridge Music Festival Orchestra. She has been a member of the Front Range Chamber Players since 1985. Ms Schnaidt teaches viola, violin, and piano at Front Range Community College and from her home studio, Orca Strings. She has twice been nominated for inclusion in Who’s Who Among American Teachers. She is an accomplished pianist, and collaborates with string players in recitals. Ann has performed solo with the Fort Collins Symphony on both viola and piano. She enjoys writing music and performing “Prayer for Passion”, her composition for solo viola and wild wolf chorus, raising awareness for the plight of Earth’s wildlife. She can often be found running and hiking in the foothills. Read more ... 
Julie Strom, percussion
Percussionist Julie Strom is a two-time-recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship and has performed throughout North America, Asia, and Europe. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music, her Master of Music degree from the Hochschule für Musik (Munich, Germany), and her Doctor of Arts from the University of Northern Colorado. She has performed on Broadway in New York City and has written, produced and performed a one-woman theatrical percussion show entitled, Alice On Time. Other highlights include performing Bartok’s Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion with pianists Martha Argerich and Nelson Goener (Lübeck, Germany), and Darius Milhaud's Concerto pour Percussion et Petit Orchestre with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Based in Denver, Julie performs regularly with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, teaches at Regis University, is lead Teaching Artist with the Colorado Symphony Very Young Composers program, and is the Orchestra Manager for the Denver Young Artists Orchestra. Read more ... 
Charles Tucker, cello
Tucker leads a dual life as lawyer and cellist. He received his Juris Doctor degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. He practices estate planning, probate, business, and real property law with the law firm of Charles C. Tucker PLLC in Fort Collins, Colorado. Before taking up the law, Tucker was a professional cellist and teacher. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Yale University. He performed chamber music concerts at Merkin Hall and the 92nd Street Y in New York City. He was principal cellist of the Naples Philharmonic in Florida and was a cellist in the Santa Fe Opera and the Grand Teton Festival. When Tucker moved to Fort Collins to pursue his law career, he also became principal cellist of the Fort Collins Symphony, a position he held for twelve seasons. He regularly performs with the Front Range Chamber Players and other chamber music ensembles. Read more ... 
Frank Oden, narrator
Frank Oden's performance style is a long-seasoned blend of professional skills gained through a 40 year career as comic actor, musician, lyricist and entertainer. He has written and directed several award winning musical comedies for long running productions and received regular commissions to create and perform his concert length “lyrical narratives” with orchestras across the US and Canada. As a solo artist he tours colleges, clubs, cowboy gatherings and slam events to delight every kind of audience with his signature style of rhyming entertainment. |
Chamber Orchestra Musicians on May 7
Michael Smith, violin
Michael (age 14) studies violin with Erik Peterson of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, and recently started coaching with Edward Dusinberre of the Takács Quartet. Michael attended the summer Junior Artist and Junior Music programs from 2015 to 2018 at Rocky Ridge Music Center where he was the concerto winner in 2017. Michael made his orchestral debut at the age of 12 with the Greater Boulder Youth Orchestra and tied for second place in the Boulder Bach Competition. Michael was a member of the Denver Young Artist Orchestra in 2017, and currently serves as co-concertmaster of the Greater Boulder Youth Orchestra under the baton of maestro Gary Lewis. Michael is a freshman at Boulder High School where he plays in the school orchestra directed by Mr. Ryan Woodworth. His first violin teachers were Jennifer John and Barbara Barber. Other than violin, Michael takes pleasure in playing soccer, skiing, debating, playing video games, noodling around on the piano, traveling, and perfecting his Hollandaise sauce. |
