Sarah Wager
Hailing from Rochester, NY, Sarah Wager was introduced to the double bass in public school at age 10. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Boston University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Music and received her Master of Music from the University of Southern California in 2023. She has attended summer festivals including Domaine Forget, […]
Fédor Malykhin
Fedor Malykhin first came to national attention in 2015 when he made his first solo debut with the Voronezh State Philharmonic performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. Since then, Malykhin has appeared with notable orchestras including the National Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Bashkortostan, Tolyatti Symphony Orchestra and Gnessins Academy Symphony Orchestra. Malykhin has competed across […]
Matthew Oshida
San Francisco Bay Area native Matthew Oshida joins the Phoenix Symphony for its 2024-25 season as a member of the First Violin Section. A versatile recording artist, Matthew has contributed to albums produced by various record labels such as Sony Classical, Hyperion, Claves, and Delos, and has performed on multiple soundtracks for film, television, and […]
Christopher Gaudi
Christopher Gaudi is thrilled to be joining the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra this season as Acting Principal Oboe and has had the great privilege of playing with many of the top American orchestras, teaching across the United States, and performing internationally. Previously, he has served as the Acting Associate Principal Oboe of the San Francisco Symphony, […]
Christopher Witt
Christopher Witt joined The Phoenix Symphony as Associate Principal/2nd Bassoon in 2024. He completed his Masters of Music in Bassoon Performance at the Shepherd School of Music in 2024, studying under Benjamin Kamins. Before this, he attended the Eastman School of Music for his bachelors studying with George Sakakeeny. Witt was most recently seen playing […]
Rolf Haas
Born in Minneapolis, MN, Rolf Haas made his Solo Debut when he was 14 years old with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra under Conductor Lynn Harrell, and has since enjoyed a diverse and far-reaching musical life. In 2013, after years of study with primary mentors Harry Nordstrom, Sally O’Reilly, and Yair Kless, Rolf was given […]
Elise Haukenes
Elise Haukenes is an artist of boundless creative proportions. She is an award-bearing violinist, esteemed contemporary and ballet dancer and nationally ranked gymnast. Deeply inspired by the relationship between music and movement, she is passionate about telling meaningful stories and impacting audiences through interdisciplinary projects. Her enthusiasm for mixed media has been displayed through collaborations […]
Harry Gonzalez
Harry Gonzalez is a trombonist and educator currently based in Phoenix AZ. Professional appearances include the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, Utah Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera, Ft. Worth Symphony, Austin Symphony, and Austin Opera, among others. Gonzalez has spent summers as a fellow with The Orchestra of The Americas, the Aspen Music Festival, and […]
Ryan Williamson
Most recently, Ryan Williamson was invited to return to the Marlboro Music Festival as a 2024 Participant. Ryan was a Regular Member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago from 2022-2024, and has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra, New York City Ballet Orchestra, and Sarasota Orchestra. In October 2021, Ryan gave […]
César Palacio
Lauded by Canada’s German-language periodical Das Journal for his “warm, and elegant playing”, César Palacio is an American orchestral clarinetist, chamber musician, and music educator of Colombian and Peruvian descent. He has enjoyed critical acclaim across North America for his masterful performances on clarinets of all different shapes and sizes. A passionate orchestral musician, Mr. […]
Derek Mitchell
Matt Prendergast
Jenna Daum
Michael Robinson
Michael Robinson is a versatile and engaging performer and educator from Lexington, Kentucky. He joined The Phoenix Symphony as Acting Associate Principal and Second Clarinet in 2023. Michael was the second prize winner of the 2020 International Clarinet Association Young Artist Competition, the winner of the concerto competitions at both the University of Kentucky and […]
Morgen Johnson
Bridget Pasker
Cellist Bridget Pasker began her musical studies at the age of 4. Originally from Dubuque, IA, she studied at the Preucil School of Music before earning her Bachelor’s degree from The Juilliard School. She then moved to San Francisco where she earned a Master’s degree in Chamber Music and Professional Studies diploma from the San […]
Anna Kim Kazepides
Born in Seoul, Korea, Anna Kim Kazepides came to the United States to pursue her music studies at The Juilliard School. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees studying with teachers Joseph Fuchs, Margaret Pardee, Felix Galimir, and Joel Smirnoff. Prior to joining The Phoenix Symphony in September of 1997 as a second violin, Kazepides […]
Dumitru Lazarescu
Dumitru Lazarescu plays second violin. He joined The Phoenix Symphony in the fall of 1982, after his defection in 1980 from Romania, his native country. Born, raised and educated in Romania, Mr. Lazarescu was part of the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra for nine years. He began violin studies at the age of six, attended […]
Cheryl Bintz
Cheryl Bintz, a member of the second violin section of The Phoenix Symphony, grew up near Detroit Michigan and was introduced to the violin at age 10 through a school music program. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from Indiana University, where she studied with James Buswell, Gregory Fulkerson and Rostislav Dubinsky. […]
Tessa Gotman Bock
Tessa Gotman Bock, a native of St. Louis, MO, began her studies at age 5. She received her Bachelor’s degree from New England Conservatory of Music in 2008 studying with Lucy Chapman. She then received a Master’s degree in violin performance from Arizona State University under the instruction of Dr. Jonathan Swartz. In addition to […]
