Toledo Symphony

Concertmaster Kirk Toth earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the University of Michigan and was the recipient of the School of Music’s highest award, the Stanley Medal.

Prior to joining The Toledo Symphony in 1983, Mr. Toth was a member of the Rochester Philharmonic in New York and served as a faculty member at Stetson University in Florida.

He has recorded (on the Musical Heritage label with the Toledo Trio) works of Charles Ives, Beach and Parkers. Mr. Toth appears frequently as a soloist on several of The Toledo Symphony concert series. Mr. Toth resides in Sylvania, OH, with his family and enjoys fishing and tennis.

Pat is from the suburban Cleveland area. She received her Bachelors Degree in Violin Performance from Bowling Green State University. Honors there included sharing concertmaster duties in the university orchestra, as well as being selected as a member of the Board of Tutors. Additional study was then done in Boston and San Francisco.

Pat has completed 29 years of service with the Toledo Symphony. Within the last 10 years, she has served as Assistant Concertmaster on several occassions. Also, for the past 6 years she has served in an administrative role, as Assistant to the Orchestra Manager.

Outside of the symphony, she has performed chamber music live for public radio broadcast, has done commercial jingles for radio, and has participated as a studio musician for major recording labels.

Pat is also interrested in the healing aspects of music and sound. She composes and performs her own meditation music for gatherings using various instruments. She is currently studying music and sound in the healing arts through a home study course offered by Dr. John Beaulieu, ND, Ph.D., founder of BioSonic Repatterning.

In her spare time, Pat does arrangements for string quartet and other small ensembles. She loves gardening as well as many different sports.

E-mail: cmuresan@hotmail.com

Romanian born, violinist Cristina Muresan started studying violin at the age of 7. She holds a Bachelor in Music Performance from “G. DIMA” Music Academy Cluj-Napoca, Romania, where she studied with emeritus Stefan Ruha, and a Master in Music Performance from Bowling Green State University, where she studied with professor Vasile Beluska.

Ms. Muresan has performed several concerts across United States and Europe performing in prestigious venues like Concertgebouw Amsterdam and Musikverein Wien and participated in festivals like Spoleto, Italy, Aix en Provence, France, Colorado Music Festival, Boulder, and since 2001 Grant Park Symphony in Chicago. Cristina served as a full time violinist for the Opera Orchestra, Cluj-Napoca, Romania between 1992-1995.

Prior to coming to Toledo Symphony, she performed as concertmaster with the New World Symphony, under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas in Miami Beach, FL. Founding the “Odyssey” string quartet she enjoys yearly recitals in Toledo and she was featured on WGTE’s “Live from FM 91.” The Toledo Symphony featured Cristina as a soloist in several occasions and the daily “Toledo Blade” newspaper characterized: “a strong performance [...] but in terms of timbre, her playing was the more colorful.”

Cristina recorded as a concertmaster for the Bowling Green Philharmonia “The Composer’s Voice” CD released on Albany Records, NY, and “Beethoven Alive” with the New World Symphony broadcasted on CBS’ “Sunday morning.”

Ms. Muresan resides in Toledo where she teaches violin privately.

Her hobbies are French, Italian languages, cooking and traveling.

David Dyer has been a member of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra twice, having auditioned his way in again after five years with the Puerto Rico Symphony. A doubler, he is the only TSO member contracted as both a string (violin) and wind player (recorder). He has also performed with the TSO as a percussionist (Lion’s Roar), keyboardist (MIDI Sampler), viola da gambist, and sawist (musical saw).

Dyer’s musical interests beyond the symphonic world have featured music outside the traditional symphonic repertory, particularly pre-symphonic and new music. He finds a particularly close kinship between the complex rhythms and forms of the late Middle Ages and serial compositions of the early 20th century. He directed the Old West End Baroque Ensemble, formerly in residence at the Toledo Museum of Art, for 9 years, and as a violinist for the Current and Modern Consort of Ann Arbor spent five years performing music by living composers only.

Phone: (419)-475-6177
Email: alice.petersen@utoledo.edu

Bio: Toldeo native, widow of Gary Petersen, graphic designer; three married stepsons, two grandchildren; Pets:four cats, two rabbits; Taught elementary strings, Peoria, IL, violinist in Peoria Symphony String Quartet; Director Collegium Musicum, Ball State Universtiy, 1975-78; TSO violinist since 1978, Opera Orchestra, Universtiy of Toledo partime faculty since 1980, Director Collegium Musicum early music ensemble, occasional music history and Introcution to Music courses.

Founder/Coordinator and performer in area early music ensemble, Musica Antigua de Toledo.

Education: Area violin teachers: Betty Foster, Paul Makara BS in Ed, Master of Music, Doctor of Arts from Ball State University, violin and music history; violin teachers, Otto Feld and Robert Slaughter; doctoral dissertation and emphasis in early music performance; further early music study with New York Pro Musica, Ensemble for Early Music, Helmuth Rilling, Aston Magna Academy, Amherst Early Music Workshop, Vancouver Early Music Workshop, and Madison Early Music; academic year spent in Germany on music study/travel program from the University of Oregon, including violin study with recording artist, Suzanne Lautenbacher, Stuttgart, Germany; violin/chamber music study at Brevard Music Center, Rocky Ridge Music Center, Taos School of Chamber Music, Suzuki and Paul Rolland workshops.

Teaching: a few private students, might be interested in more, preferably intermmediate level.

Hobbies: enjoys travel, gardening and sewing.

Other: Favorite composers, Brahms, Mahler, Josquin des Prez; enjoy folk music and light popular music as well as classical and early music; have almost no time for any non-musical interests because I have too many music interests and activities; active member of Euterpean Music Club and Sigma Alpha Iota Women’s Music Fraternity, Northwest Ohio Alumnae Chapter.

Alice also plays viola and is available for performing on violin or viola, schedule permitting.

She is Coordinator of Musica Antigua de Toledo, area ensemble performing medieval, renaissance and baroque period music, using voices and historical instruments. The group has its own concert series and offers nine educational program:

1. Music in the Middle Ages and Renaissance - Mini-Concert with slides and verbal explanation , for all grade levels
2. Music in the Middle Ages - Participatory program with slides, involving children in story and activities related to the music
3. A Sampling of Medieval Song - Mini-concert with explanation of medieval songs of wandering minstrels, with several period instruments
4. The Recorder, Its History and Musical Companions - Demonstration program showing all sizes of recorder, its use in different periods and numerous other instruments of early periods
5. Music of Colonial America and the Revolutionary War - Mini-concert with pictures and explanation of historical events and music from the early Colonies to close of Revolutionary War
6. Ohio’s History Through Music - Mini-concert tracing the populating of Ohio from natives, through pioneers, 19th-century developments, ending early 20th century
7. "As the Centuries Turn:" Music of the Last Millennium - Music history in a nutshell as it changed in style century by century, aided by posters creating a timeline of events in music and society
8. Inner Structure of Music and Art--Renaissance and Baroque - looking at similarities in basic aspects of music and art and contrasts between the two periods
9. Form and Ornament in Renaissance and Baroque Music and Art -- presenting basic forms in music and architecture, how they are transformed with ornament and how the two periods contrast

Musica Antigua is also available for special performances, entertainment or educational; call Alice Petersen or check for website information at www.MusicaAntiguaToledo.org.

Alice also performs in Strings of Choice, which offers various ensembles, available for weddings, entertainment, etc. The primary ensemble is a string quartet, but others include duos of 2 violins, violin/cello, violin/harpsichord; trios of 2 violins/cello, 2 violins and harpsichord; 2 violins, cello, harpsichord or harpsichord with string quartet. The groups are available at competitive prices and have a large repertoire available. A tape of wedding music excerpts is available for loan. Call Alice Petersen for information.

Principal violist Valentin Ragusitu joined the Toledo Symphony in 1999. Mr. Ragusitu has a long and distinguished career as principal violist, soloist and chamber musician.

Mr. Ragusitu began studying viola at age of 10 in his home country Romania. He received several first prize awards at the prestigious national string competitions in Romania including the well known "Darclee" Competition. Known for his contribution on the Romanian musical scene, in 1993, immediately following his studies at the Bucharest Music Academy he was appointed principal violist of the National Radio Orchestra and Assistant Professor at the Bucharest Music Academy.

In 1995 Mr. Ragusitu came to the United States as a violist of the ÙLipattiˆ String Quartet. He studied at the Leonard Sorkin Chamber Music Institute with Jerry Horner from Fine Arts Quartet, and earned his master of music from Northern Illinois University studying with Richard Young and Vermeer Quartet. During these years Mr. Ragusitu sustained an extensive educational outreach activity.

Mr. Ragusitu's international honors include second prize at the 1996 Shostakovich International String Quartet Competition, second prize at Fischoff Chamber Music Competition in 1997 and fourth prize at the 1997 London String Quartet Competition.

He has recorded on London Olympia label with Romanian Radio Orchestra as a principal violist the complete orchestral works of George Enescu.

Mr. Ragusitu resides in Toledo where he teaches violin and viola privately.

Tim Zeithamel joined the Toledo Symphony Orchestra in 2008.  He began studying the violin at age 3 with his mother, Sonja, co-founder of the Preucil School of Music in Iowa City, IA.
 
Mr. Zeithamel earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Iowa, and a Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music.  He has previously been a member of the Quad Cities Symphony, Assistant Principal of the Cedar Rapids Symphony, and Principal of the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra.
 
His major teachers include William Preucil Sr., Christine Rutledge, and Mark Jackobs.

Reed Anderson has played viola with the Toledo Symphony for 15 years. Reed graduated High School at the Interlochen Arts Academy in 1975. After attending Lawrence University (Appleton, WI) for three years, Reed transferred to the University of Michigan where he completed his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Viola Performance. Reed's professional career has included two years as Assistant Principal with the Shreveport Symphony (LA) and two years as Principal Viola with the Wheeling Symphony (WV) where he also performed with the Wheeling String Trio. Reed is a current member of the Toledo Symphony String Quartet and has often performed chamber music over the years as a part of the Toledo Symphony's Chamber Music Series and its Music Today Series. Reed's teachers have included David Holland, David Becker, Francis Bundra, Nathan Gordon and Donald McInnes. Reed now resides in Sylvania with his wife Diana, a violinist with the Toledo Symphony for 17 years, and their two sons Max and Ian. Both Reed and Diana maintain an active private teaching studio in Sylvania.

Mihaela Ragusitu joined the TSO in 2002 as section violist. From 1999-2001 she was a section violist in the Louisville Orchestra. A native of Romania, she began to study violin at the age of 7 and then she was accepted into the Music High School ,,G. Enescu" on viola.
She studied in her native country, earning her bachelors degree at the Music Academy in Bucharest. During her studies she won First Prize at the National String Competition form 1885-1889.

Mihaela attended many summer festivals and toured with the Chamber Orchestra of the Music Academy in Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, and Germany. Upon graduation from the Music Academy she played for 1 year with the National Orchestra (1995-1996). In 1996 she came to United States and obtained her master degree in music performance from Northern Illinois University where she studied with Richard Young from Vermeer Quartet. Currrently, she maintains a private teaching studio in Sylvania, OH.

Mihaela lives in Sylvania with her husband Valentin Ragusitu, principal violist on the TSO and their 4 sons: Chris, Alex, Eddie and Tony.

Martha Reikow was born in Chicago, Illinois where she began her study of the piano at age five and the cello four years later.

She earned her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees at Michigan State University where she studied with the renowned cello teacher, Louis Potter, Jr. Her other teachers included Frank Miller, principal cellist with the Chicago Symphony, and March Chanteaux, acting principal cellist with the Detroit Symphony. She also received extensive coaching with the Juilliard String Quartet while they served a residency at Michigan State University.

Ms. Reikow has been a member of the New American Chamber Orchestra, the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Civic Orchestra where she was assistant principal cellist. She joined The Toledo Symphony in 1987 as its assistant principal and principal cello in 1995.

Martha also enjoys early music, gardening and antiques. She lives in Toledo with her sons, Paul and Philip.

Robert Clemens began his musical studies at the age of nine in his hometown of Lima, Ohio. By the time he graduated from high school, he'd studied with six different teachers. His early education gave him the opportunity to perform for and study with Carter Breay, Steven Kates, Paul Olefsky, Janos Starker and Peter Howard. He has been a member of the TSO cello section since 1986.

Six years of advanced study at Bowling Green State University provided Bob with a wealth of opportunities to perform in a variety of musical settings. He has continued to pursue his varied musical interest, performing opera, chamber music, and as a soloist with ensembles throughout the Midwest.

A tireless champion of the cello's expressivity and flexibility, he has performed extensively in ensembles which take the cello out of its conventional Classical role. In addition to his performances as a cellist, Mr. Clemens' speaking voice can also be heard by TSO audiences. His readings have lent drama to concerts throughout the region for over a decade. It is a role he relishes, as it provides him with yet another opportunity to "reach out" to audience members.

He reaches out in a personal way, as well, by maintaining a private studio, where he provides intensive one-on-one lessons to a number of dedicated students. In this way, he has the opportunity to help others find the gift of music-making for themselves.

In his spare time, Robert enjoys listening to music (jazz is his favorite) as diverse as Edgard Varese and Eminem, gardening, backcountry camping, and gourmet cooking with his wife, GeorgAnn.

Renee Goubeaux, cello, has been a member of the Toledo Symphony since 2003.  In the summers she performs in Yellowstone  Park with the Lake String Quartet. 

Renee is a Columbus native and began playing cello in a public school strings program.  She went on to earn performance degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Western Michigan University.   In 2007 she began training in cello pedagogy through the Suzuki Association of the Americas and currently teaches cello at the Toledo Symphony School of Music.

Renee has been a young artist at the Scotia Festival in Halifax, a semi-finalist at the Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition, and principal cello at the National Orchestral Institute.  Her European performances include recitals in Poland with the Medea String Quartet and concerts with Opera Theatre of Lucca Festival Orchestra and as part of the World Expo in Lisbon, Portugal.  She lives in Toledo with her husband, Robert.

"Music is certainly emotional expression and in my teaching I helped students give musical voice to their feelings - as a therapist, I still encourage people to find their emotional voice."

Sally has a BM and MM in strings from University of Michigan and a MSW from University of Michigan. She has performed 2 summers with the Colorado Philharmonic (now called National Repertory Orchestra) and 32 seasons with TSO. Having joined TSO in 1967 when she was in graduate school, she and Bart were engaged and married in her first season. She also played through 2 pregnancies (her kids grew up asking "Is this a Toledo night?")

Sally’s two children are Carrie, who is a cellist (has subbed with TSO) and social worker now living in Washington state, and Aaron, a student in marine biology at Northeastern University in Boston. Her pets include Hobbes and Magnificat (Maggie) as well as temporary custody of Carrie's cat Antigone (Tiggy). She's got an attitude problem and gives new meaning to the term "hissy fit".

Currently, she works in private practice as a psychotherapist with 10 years of experience as a medical social worker in hospice. She also was director of children's programs for a large Ann Arbor organization. Her hobbies include gardening and hiking, but the truth is, the orchestra schedule doesn't leave much time for many hobbies!

"I have no real favorite to perform except that I love big, romantic stuff when the floor shakes under your feet. Verdi Requiem, Brahms, Dvorak, Berlioz... you get the picture. I'm a fan of public radio and enjoy the mix - easier than putting something on myself. Musical favorites are of course cello pieces. My favorite CD is called "Romance", short, romantic cello/piano pieces featuring one of my favorite cellists who was also my college roommate - Dorothy Lewis, accompanied by her husband Cary. They're 2/3's of the Lanier Trio with Bill Prucell, concertmaster of Cleveland. They record on Gaspar and their CD's are great. (New recording of Mendelssohn trios just hit the market).

"My years at TSO have spanned a number of conductors, lots of changes and struggles, but through it all, the orchestra has matured, improved and has remained a very satisfying organization to work for."

Teaching:
She is no longer teaching because of career change. She has many years of teaching Suzuki cello, including clinics and workshops all over the US and Canada with many former students playing professionally.

Richard Alleshouse, Toledo Symphony principal double bass, may not have come from a musical family, but he and his wife have created one. Dick proudly talks about the musical accomplishments of his wife, Connie, a flutist who has performed with the Toledo symphony and Toledo Concert Band and is currently a flutist with the Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra and Toledo Symphony Flute and Harp Duo. Also, his daughter, Sharon, plays violin with the Solano Symphony Orchestra in California, and son, Eric, plays double bass in the Firelands Symphony, Mansfield Symphony, and substitutes in the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. The whole family performs with the Lakeside Summer Symphony.

Dick began his career with the Toledo Symphony, under the direction of Joseph Hawthorne in his junior year as a music scholarship student at Bowling Green State University in 1961. After a year with the Columbus Symphony he returned as principal bass under Serge Fournier. His teachers have been Paul Laycock at Norwalk (OH) High School, Seymour Benstock at BGSU where he earned a bachelor’s degree, and Theron McClure at Ohio State, where he earned a master’s degree. Other bass teachers include Joseph Hearne of the Boston Symphony, Robert Gladstone of the Detroit Symphony and Larry Hurst formerly of University of Michigan now at Indiana University.

As the selected representative from the Toledo Symphony in 1971, Dick performed with the 150-member World Symphony Orchestra, directed by the late Boston Pops Conductor, Arthur Fiedler.

During the summer, he plays with the Toledo Concert Band in the Music Under the Stars Series, conducted by Sam Szor, and has been principal double bass in the Lakeside Summer Symphony, Lakeside, OH, for 30 years. He has also performed as principal bass with the Toledo Opera, played electric and string bass in many Ken Shaw productions, and has taught double bass at BGSU and the University of Toledo. Many of his students have pursued professional careers in music. He formerly was a string specialist for Sylvania Schools and conducted the orchestras at Sylvania, Northview High School and McCord and Arbor Hills Junior High Schools.

In his spare time, Dick enjoys tennis, volleyball and boating as hobbies. He belongs to the International Society of Bassists and is a member of the United States Power Squadron, a boating organization. Other memberships include Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Kappa Psi, and Kappa Kappa Psi fraternal organizations.

Richard's Favorite Links:
International Society of Bassists
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
United States Power Squadron
Boat U.S.

A graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, he received his BM and MM from University of Michigan. Married to Sally (cellist in the orchestra), he has a daughter (Carrie) in Washington state, and a son (Aaron) near Boston (a bi-coastal family)

Bart teaches part-time (instrumental music) in Ann Arbor Public Schools. And during the summer, he is on the faculty of the New England Music Camp in Sidney, Maine.

Teaching:
Double Bass in Ann Arbor - has room for a few more students

Also, he would be happy to talk with parents of young musicians (middle and high school) who are interested in a summer camp with a good balance of music, recreation, and social activities in a beautiful setting (www.nemusiccamp.com)

Bill McDevitt started bass when he was 10 years old and studied with Henry Loew, former Principal Bassist of the St. Louis Symphony, for 10 years. Bill then graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music in 1996 and studied bass with Lawrence Hurst. Afterwards, Bill went to Miami Beach and played with the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas for three years.

Bill has been performing with the Toledo Symphony since 1999. He keeps himself busy composing music - of which one of his compositions, “The Millennium Overture”, was premiered by the Toledo Symphony in March of 2000 at Sauder Farm and Craft Village in Archbold, OH. Bill's first symphony was premiered by the Toledo Youth Symphony Orchestra in May, 2003 and he was one of nine composers commissioned to write a fanfare in celebration of the TSO's 60th Anniversary (performed in May, 2004). Bill is actively writing new pieces and taking on commissions for those who request them. He also teaches Double Bass and Electric Bass at the Professional Building at 1838 Parkwood, Toledo, OH.

Bill can be reached at wdmcd2@yahoo.com.

Aaron grew up in Columbia, Missouri, and attended Central Missouri State University where he met his wife, Michelle, a flutist.  They have a sweet, fun one year old daughter named Kaelee who keeps them moving.  Aaron received a Bachelor of Music Education from Wichita State University in 1993, a MM in Double Bass Performance from Indiana University in 1996. He has performed with the Michigan Opera Theatre, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Wichita Symphony, Evansville Philharmonic, and Wichita Jazz Orchestra.  He has also had the fortunate opportunities of playing on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean and performing with Mickey, Minnie and Donald at Disney's Epcot Center.

Aaron’s hobbies include sports, jogging, reading, and playing with Kaelee. The family enjoys going to the zoo, attending baseball games, and eating ice cream.

Teaching:
Double Bass, Electric Bass, Guitar, Piano
Teaching Area: Perrysburg, OH.

Joel Tse joined The Toledo Symphony in 1998 as principal flute, after three years in that position with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, FL. He has performed as guest Principal Flute with the English Chamber Orchestra, and held positions in the Erie Philharmonic, and the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan. Joel has made chamber music appearances throughout Europe, Russia, South America, Greece, Turkey and Israel.

His family came to the United States from Hong Kong when he was a child, and he grew up in Phoenix, AZ. Joel received a Bachelor’s degree from the Eastman School of Music, a Master’s degree from Northwestern University, and a Performance Diploma from the Royal Academy of Music in London. His teachers include Bonita Boyd, Walfrid Kujula, Jeffrey Khaner and William Bennett and his recordings include the New World Symphony, American-Soviet Youth Orchestra, and the Eastman Philharmonia and Wind Ensemble. Joel plays on a French flute made by Louis Lot, #2770, circa 1880. This past summer, Joel performed with the Pacific Music Festival’s 10th year anniversary orchestra at the invitation of Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor. Recently, he received a grant from the Mellon Foundation to present local recitals that demonstrate the influence of the French flute on the modern instrument.

Away from the flute, he enjoys cooking, tennis, and making pottery.

Michele Tosser joined the Toledo Symphony in 2003 as Second Oboist. Prior to joining the Toledo Symphony, Ms. Tosser was Principal Oboist of the South Dakota Symphony and Dakota Wind Quintet. She holds as Masters of Music (2006) from the Cleveland Institute of Music where she was a student of John Mack. Ms. Tosser received a Bachelor of Music (2001) from Mannes College of Music where she was a recipient of the prestigious Performance Award. During her undergraduate studies she was a student of Richard Dallessio and Elaine Douvas. Ms. Tosser has attended The National Repertory Orchestra, National Orchestral Institue, Kent-Blossom Music Festival, and Domaine-Forget. Ms. Tosser is a faculty member at Heidelberg College where she teaches oboe. In her free time she enjoys reading, watching movies, knitting, and working out. Ms. Tosser is originally from Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

Joan Weiler has been associate principal/second bassoonist of the Toledo Symphony since 1989. This season she is serving as acting principal bassoonist. She grew up in Columbus, Ohio and has performed with the Columbus Symphony and the Columbus Opera Orchestra.

Ms. Weiler received her master’s degree in performance from Temple University where she studied bassoon with Bernard Garfield, principal bassoonist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She received her bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Ohio State University where she also has completed coursework for a doctorate and was the winner of the DMA Concerto Competition.

In 1987, Ms. Weiler performed under the direction of Leonard Bernstein for the inaugural season of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival in Germany. She was a finalist in the Fernand Gillet Double Reed Young Artist Competition in Graz, Austria and toured Japan for three weeks with the Ohio State University Concert Band. She has taught on the faculties of the University of Toledo, Heidelberg College, Ohio Wesleyan University and Wright State University.

When not performing with the orchestra, she enjoys being at home with her husband, daughter, and their three cocker spaniels.

Nora Schankin has been a member of the TSO bassoon section since 1986. She grew up in Ann Arbor and also graduated from the University of Michigan with a BME and MM. Nora has taught privately for many years. In addition to playing with the Toledo Symphony, Nora has played with the Michigan Opera Theater and the Detroit Symphony. She is married to Joe DeMarsh, a tuba player, and they have 2 children, Helen and Nick.

Nora Schankin has been a member of the TSO bassoon section since 1986. She grew up in Ann Arbor and also graduated from the University of Michigan with a BME and MM. Nora has taught privately for many years. In addition to playing with the Toledo Symphony, Nora has played with the Michigan Opera Theater and the Detroit Symphony. She is married to Joe DeMarsh, a tuba player, and they have 2 children, Helen and Nick.

I grew up in San Jose, CA, a product of an outstanding public school music program. My parents were encouraging of my love of music and provided piano lessons from an early age. From 1979-1981 I was a member of the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps – a world class music ensemble from Concord California. (www.bluedevils.org)

In 1982, I received a BA from San Jose State University where I'd studied with the ever patient Dr. William George. After a two year stint as an insurance salesperson, phone solicitor and other such jobs, I decided I'd rather play the horn, and so went on to The Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where I studied with Lowell Greer, earning a Master of Music in 1987.

In 1990, I won a great job: Co-Principal horn of The Toledo Symphony! While playing in the TSO is a dream come true, I also enjoy attending music competitions. Over the years I've done fairly well, earning a first prize-winner in The 1989 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition as a member of The Taft Wind Quintet, as well as placing as a finalist in four previous American Horn Competitions and winning the second prize in 1997 and 2001. I've had the pleasure of being a guest recitalist in California, Nevada, and New Mexico as well as a featured soloist on a number of occasions with The Toledo Symphony.

I truly enjoy teaching and have found that my own playing improves when I must address the problems of young players. From 1992-1996 I taught brass for the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps of Toledo and for three semesters in 2000/2001, I served as acting Associate Professor of Horn at Bowling Green State University. I'm currently accepting private students. Please contact me at my symphony office: 419-418-0041.

Emilie Sargent has enjoyed performing as Second Horn with The Toledo Symphony since 1998. She loves the challenge of closely matching other musicians that performing in the second position provides. Emilie is a faculty member at Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio, teaching Horn as well as Music Appreciation and Music Industry courses. She received her Bachelor (1993) and Master (2002) of Music degrees from the University of Michigan, where she is currently enrolled in the AMusD program in Horn Performance. Emilie resides in Waterville, Ohio with her husband Mike Bielski and their three retired racing greyhounds.

Emily Price Dietz has been a member of the symphony’s horn section since 2000. She earned a bachelor of music degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studied with Douglas Hill, as well as a master of music degree from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, where she studied with Randy Gardner. She has participated in the Music Academy of the West and National Orchestral Institute summer festivals and has played with the New World Symphony, the Milwaukee Symphony, and several other regional orchestras and chamber groups. An enthusiastic chamber musician, she has played extensively in brass and woodwind quintets, and is currently a member of the Great Lakes Brass Quintet and the Ann Arbor Symphony Woodwind Quintet. Ms. Price Dietz is also busy as a horn instructor, teaching lessons, sectionals, and masterclasses at the middle school, high school, and college levels. She resides in Ann Arbor with her husband, composer Christopher Dietz.

Mel was born and raised in New Jersey; educated at the State University of New York, College at Fredonia, and The University of Michigan where he earned a Doctorate. He joined the Toledo Symphony in 1974 as a member of the trumpet section, and currently is the program annotator and lecturer for the Symphony.

Garth Simmons is the principal trombonist with the Toledo Symphony and adjunct associate professor of trombone at Bowling Green State University. He began playing trombone at age nine in his hometown of Billings, Montana. After leaving the West at age 17, he earned his Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, studying with Frank Crisafulli. Garth continued his studies at Aspen Festival with Per Brevig, and at the Eastman School of Music with John Marcellus, earning a Masters degree and Performer’s Certificate. In the middle of his graduate study at Eastman, Mr. Simmons won a one-year position as principal trombone in the Florida Symphony Orchestra.

Following his graduation from Eastman, Garth spent several years in Chicago, where he enjoyed a highly successful career as a freelance musician. During this time he held the position of second trombone with both the Chicago Sinfonietta and Elgin Symphony Orchestra, while continuing his studies in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Other notable performing credits from this time include Sir Georg Solti’s Carnegie Hall Project, the Schlossfestspiele Heidelberg, Germany, the Chicago Opera Theater, and soloist with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra.

In 1997, Mr. Simmons left Chicago to become the principal trombonist with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, a position he held until 2000. While in Birmingham, Garth was on the faculty of Birmingham-Southern College and the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

In addition to his duties with the TSO, Garth maintains an active schedule as a soloist and chamber musician. He is regularly featured as a soloist with the TSO, including performances of Christopher Rouse’s Trombone Concerto in March of 2008.  Mr. Simmons has presented numerous recitals as a visiting artist, including appearances at the University of Alabama, Northern Illinois University, The University, of Toledo, and Northwestern University.  He can be heard on several recordings with the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Orchestra of the Assumption Grotto, and the  Asbury Brass Quintet.  Garth has also performed as a substitute and extra with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. 

He resides in Toledo with his wife and Daughter.

Phone: (419) 241-1272
E-mail: Nrochott@mail.lisd.k12.mi.us
A graduate of the Honors program at the University of Toledo with a B.A. in Music and Classics (Latin and Greek), Sally received her MM in Tympani from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

She is married to Neil, a school psychologist and behavioral specialist, and they have 2 boys, Adam (9) and David (6). The Rochottes live on a small hobby farm, where they have goats, chickens, two dogs, three house cats, numerous barn cats, a rabbit and bees.

Sally does a lot of gardening, reading and needlework, and volunteers at the school library. As a family, they enjoy camping, hiking, biking and fishing together. (Mom holds the record for biggest bass). Everyone takes care of the bees and animals together, and the boys are involved in 4-H and Little League as well as piano lessons.

One of Sally’s favorite composers to play tympani on is Mahler and she enjoys listening to Richard Strauss and Bach, and playing Bach on marimba.

Teaching:
Tympani and Orchestral Percussion
Would like more students from Blissfield, MI, and possibly Toledo.
Master classes are available
Negotiable Fees

Robert Bell was named Managing Director of the Toledo Symphony in May, 1984, and President and CEO in 1997. A performer, teacher and administrator, he was the principal timpanist for the Symphony from 1956 through the 1983/84 season. Mr. Bell, who studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the University of Michigan, was Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Toledo, beginning in 1964, and continuing until his appointment as Managing Director. In addition to being the orchestra’s principal timpanist for over 25 years, Bell participated in the inception of school programs, combining brass and percussion, and eventually in the formation of the Symphony’s percussion ensemble. He has been an active performer in many local and regional groups, and during an interval in the 1960’s, lived and performed in Germany with the Deutsche Opera in Berlin and the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. His administrative responsibilities have ranged from stage manager, librarian, personnel manager, assistant manager to associate director. Twice he was named interim manager.

Valrie Kantorski is a pianist in Northwest Ohio, a nationally certified teacher of piano, and has been a member of the Toledo Symphony for nearly 20 years.

As a Symphony musician, Valrie has the honor of holding the Jonathan F. Orser Chair, a keyboard endowment that she has faithfully supported on piano, harpsichord, celesta, organ, and synthesizer for the orchestra since the Chair's inception. In addition to her role as the primary keyboard artist, she is sought after as a piano soloist and chamber musician. (Contact the Symphony office for information on private performances by Valrie and other Toledo Symphony musicians.)

As a piano teacher, she maintains a private studio for intermediate and advanced students, and is able to augment her 30 years of teaching experience with the continuously honed skills of a professional performer, a combination that is especially suited to helping students who wish to enter into or pursue a performance career. She has been on the faculties of Florida International University, the University of Miami, Florida State University and Bowling Green State University as an adjunct instructor of piano.

As a pianist, Valrie debuted as a soloist at the age of 16 in her native Miami, playing Beethoven and Mozart piano concerti with Florida orchestras. She has performed in Europe and in venues throughout the United States, including New York's Carnegie Recital Hall. She has performed on National Public Radio, on numerous recording labels, and as a collaborative pianist for nationally known solo artists.

Valrie has been a member of the Kantorski-Pope Piano Duo, an ensemble that has been on the roster of the Touring Artist program of the Ohio Arts Council. The Duo was awarded the prestigious Virginia E. Schrader Residency in Performing Arts, and was a three-time winner of the Graves Duo Piano competition. She has appeared as a soloist with the Toledo Symphony, performing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21, and most recently, Manuel deFalla's Nights in the Gardens of Spain.

In her spare time, Valrie enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling, and is a budding gardener, golfer, and geo-cacher.

Teaching:
Available for piano lessons.
Will accept students, children through adult.

Richard Alleshouse, Toledo Symphony principal double bass, may not have come from a musical family, but he and his wife have created one. Dick proudly talks about the musical accomplishments of his wife, Connie, a flutist who has performed with the Toledo symphony and Toledo Concert Band and is currently a flutist with the Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra and Toledo Symphony Flute and Harp Duo. Also, his daughter, Sharon, plays violin with the Solano Symphony Orchestra in California, and son, Eric, plays double bass in the Firelands Symphony, Mansfield Symphony, and substitutes in the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. The whole family performs with the Lakeside Summer Symphony.

Dick began his career with the Toledo Symphony, under the direction of Joseph Hawthorne in his junior year as a music scholarship student at Bowling Green State University in 1961. After a year with the Columbus Symphony he returned as principal bass under Serge Fournier. His teachers have been Paul Laycock at Norwalk (OH) High School, Seymour Benstock at BGSU where he earned a bachelor’s degree, and Theron McClure at Ohio State, where he earned a master’s degree. Other bass teachers include Joseph Hearne of the Boston Symphony, Robert Gladstone of the Detroit Symphony and Larry Hurst formerly of University of Michigan now at Indiana University.

As the selected representative from the Toledo Symphony in 1971, Dick performed with the 150-member World Symphony Orchestra, directed by the late Boston Pops Conductor, Arthur Fiedler.

During the summer, he plays with the Toledo Concert Band in the Music Under the Stars Series, conducted by Sam Szor, and has been principal double bass in the Lakeside Summer Symphony, Lakeside, OH, for 30 years. He has also performed as principal bass with the Toledo Opera, played electric and string bass in many Ken Shaw productions, and has taught double bass at BGSU and the University of Toledo. Many of his students have pursued professional careers in music. He formerly was a string specialist for Sylvania Schools and conducted the orchestras at Sylvania, Northview High School and McCord and Arbor Hills Junior High Schools.

In his spare time, Dick enjoys tennis, volleyball and boating as hobbies. He belongs to the International Society of Bassists and is a member of the United States Power Squadron, a boating organization. Other memberships include Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Kappa Psi, and Kappa Kappa Psi fraternal organizations.

Richard's Favorite Links:
International Society of Bassists
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
United States Power Squadron
Boat U.S.

David Dyer has been a member of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra twice, having auditioned his way in again after five years with the Puerto Rico Symphony. A doubler, he is the only TSO member contracted as both a string (violin) and wind player (recorder). He has also performed with the TSO as a percussionist (Lion’s Roar), keyboardist (MIDI Sampler), viola da gambist, and sawist (musical saw).

Dyer’s musical interests beyond the symphonic world have featured music outside the traditional symphonic repertory, particularly pre-symphonic and new music. He finds a particularly close kinship between the complex rhythms and forms of the late Middle Ages and serial compositions of the early 20th century. He directed the Old West End Baroque Ensemble, formerly in residence at the Toledo Museum of Art, for 9 years, and as a violinist for the Current and Modern Consort of Ann Arbor spent five years performing music by living composers only.

Alan Taplin has been a member of the Toledo Symphony¹s horn section and brass quintet since 1981. He has been an arranger for the Symphony since 1980. Alan has performed with the Detroit Symphony, Louisville Orchestra and the Des Moines Metro Opera. Very active as a freelance/chamber musician in Ohio and Michigan, he has recorded commercially in Detroit, Chicago and Toledo.

Mr. Taplin has a Bachelor and Masters degree from the University of Michigan in horn performance, with minors in brass instruments, music theory and music history. He studied horn with Louis Stout and Harry Berv, composition with Leslie Bassett and orchestration/arranging with James Dapogny. He has served on the faculties of Olivet College (80-83), Concordia College (83-91), Heidelberg College (91-99), and the University of Toledo (99-present).

Alan Taplin lives in Springfield Township with his wife Carrie (also a horn player-Michigan Opera Theater), his daughter Emily 13 (also a horn player), and Lily 6 (not yet a horn player).