THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY HIRES NEW MUSICIANS

Viola, violin and cello positions filled after recent auditions

(PHOENIX) – After numerous auditions, The Phoenix Symphony has announced its most recent hires in the orchestra. Four new musicians will be joining the Symphony at the start of its 2007-08 season.

“Each one of these musicians is an excellent performer and a welcome addition to the orchestra's membership,” said Michael Christie, the Symphony's Virginia G. Piper Music Director. “I look forward to working with them to create another great Phoenix Symphony season.”

The new members of the orchestra are:

Weijing Wang will join the orchestra as principal viola. A native of Shanghai, Wang currently performs as principal viola for the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and as principal viola of the Chicago College of Performing Arts Symphony. She was a Second Prize winner of the Chicago Viola Competition in 2006 and a First Prize winner of the China National Viola Competition in 2003. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Roosevelt University.

Gal Faganel joins the orchestra as associate principal cello. He has performed with the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Opera, and the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra. He won First Prize in the Slovene National Competition for piano trio, and First Prize at the Croatian National Competition for cello octet. He holds bachelor and master of music degrees from the University of Southern California.

Peter Lorenzo Anderegg joins the orchestra as section cello. Currently he performs with The Springfield Symphony Orchestra in Massachusetts. He has also performed with the UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra, the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, the Aspen Festival and Chamber Symphony Orchestras, and the Bershire Symphony Orchestra in Massachusetts. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University, and a master of music degree from The Julliard School.

Jing Zeng was a one-year section violin with The Phoenix Symphony in the 2006-07 season, and was named to the permanent seat in section first violin for the 2007-08 season. Ms. Zeng has performed with the Virginia Symphony and the Cleveland Pops Orchestra. She has held positions with the Akron Symphony, Canton Symphony, National Repertory Orchestra, and has performed with the New York String Seminar Orchestra, Pacific Music Festival and the Morningside Music Bridge in New York City, Japan and Canada. Ms. Zeng holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

In addition to these recently filled positions, a search for The Phoenix Symphony's next concertmaster is ongoing. Most recently held by Borivoj "Boro" Martinic-Jercic, additional auditions for this position will be held in September.