Sarah started learning about music as a child from her mother, who played the piano. She was first introduced to the flute at age 10, and performed with her church choir and school ensembles. Sarah also competed in the New York State School Music Association’s annual competition.

Sarah earned a BA in Music Performance from Western Connecticut State University. She is a certified Kindermusik Educator, and has been an instructor at Friends School of Wilmington for the past nine years. She teaches private lessons in flute, piano, violin, and guitar.

She has been a member of the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra for the last five years. When asked why she enjoys playing in the WSO, she says, “Having the opportunity to perform with outstanding musicians, such as Linda Lavin, Edwin McCain, and the band Sister Hazel have been a highlight in my career. Getting to play under Dr. Errante’s direction is a real joy. His deep understanding of music and calm demeanor make performing with the symphony exciting.”

Sarah is also a member of the newly formed Wilmington Symphonic Winds, and performs locally with theater groups. Earlier this spring, Sarah performed at the Cameron Art Museum for the Literary Theatre “Twelfth Night” production. The Enter/Exeunt Shakespeare reading series featured local professional actors and musicians.

When not playing music, Sarah loves outdoor activities, exercise, and spending time with her boyfriend, Jason and her dog, Belle.

In addition to serving as principal oboist with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, Rebecka Rose has served as the principal oboist of the Rappahannock POPS Orchestra, VA and has performed with the Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, VA and the Long Bay Symphony, SC.  She has performed in the northern Virginia/DC area and throughout eastern North Carolina.  She maintains a private teaching studio of woodwind students, teaching oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and oboe reed making.  Her students have been accepted to the Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra, North Carolina School of the Arts, Virginia Commonwealth University, George Mason University, and various all-state bands.  

Ms. Rose is the Director of Music at Sneads Ferry Presbyterian and teaches at Carteret Community College in Morehead City, NC.

During her summers, Ms. Rose teaches at the Rappahannock Summer Music Camp in Spotsylvania, VA where she teaches oboe workshops, double reed chamber music, oboe reed making, music theory, and performs in the faculty woodwind quintet. 

Ms. Rose’s principle teachers include Wayne Fritchie, Joseph Robinson, Susan Findley, and Jan Eberle. 
​
Ms. Rose holds a Master of Arts in Music Education from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Oboe Performance from Pensacola Christian College.   

Here is an interview with Rebecka in 2020:

What instruments do you play?
Oboe for WSO and also the English horn, clarinet, and bassoon.

How long have you played your instrument?
I began playing the clarinet in kindergarten, the oboe in fourth grade, and the English horn and bassoon in high school.

How long have you been a Wilmington Symphony Orchestra musician?
I have been performing with the WSO since 2012.

What do you do for a career?
I am an adjunct music instructor for Coastal Community College and Carteret Community College teaching music history and woodwind lessons in addition to maintaining a private woodwind studio. I have also had the privilege of serving as a church musician.

Where did you grow up?
Minnesota, Maryland, and Florida.

What is your favorite song, artist, and/or musical memory?
Hearing the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra perform the tone poem, Don Juan by Richard Strauss during the time I was in elementary school cemented my decision to become a musician. Many of my family members are also musicians, so my favorite musical memories all involve getting to make music with them. An especially special memory was conducting a sacred, choral piece that my dad and son collaborated on for SATB choir.

Favorite meal or restaurant?
I love sushi and I love trying new foods in general.

Favorite beverage?
Just about any hot, herbal tea.

What is your favorite vacation?
My husband, son, and I love getting away to the mountains. Every chance we get to spend some time in the Smoky Mountains seems better than the last.

You're stuck on a desert island... What book, music/album/artist and/or movie do you want with you??
Whatever I'm currently loving at the moment. Too many good choices.....

What's your pet situation?
We have a beagle named Dakota who loves to howl along with my son and I if we practice too close to her.

What do you want people to know about the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra?
The WSO provides the opportunity to hear wonderful music performed by musicians who truly love to play that music. Every concert is a chance to connect with other musicians and the audience and then leave changed for the better by that experience.

How are you keeping yourself occupied while being at home all day?
Teaching, beach walks, cooking, making music, and spending time with my family.

Any words of wisdom to help others through this?
Stay connected to family and friends as much as possible even if you can't be with them in person. Even a short conversation means so much. Also, listening to or playing your favorite piece of music or genre pretty much fixes just about anything!

Mary Jo is an active performer throughout the region and Assistant Professor of Flute and Theory at UNCW. She plays regularly with the UNCW Faculty Woodwind Quintet and other faculty chamber groups. As a winner of the 2006 National Flute Association Performers Competition, Dr. White played in a concert of Newly Published Music at the National Flute Convention in Pittsburgh.

When asked why she enjoys playing with the Wilmington Symphony, White says, “Because we do challenging classical repertoire, the conductor is excellent, and I enjoy collaborating with talented musicians in our community.” Her most memorable experience with the orchestra is performing the Nielsen Flute Concerto with the orchestra a few years back.

In addition to her busy schedule as a professional flutist, Mary Jo enjoys include playing piano and guitar, cooking, and beach walking. And, she loves her little sheltie.

Lisa Gattuso is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she received her Bachelor of Music Education Degree in 2010 and her Master of Music Education Degree in 2014. She also received her National Board Certification in 2017. Ms. Gattuso has taught Orchestra and Guitar at Noble MS and Holly Shelter MS, and is now teaching Orchestra and Music Appreciation at Roland-Grise Middle School. This is her 12th year working in New Hanover County and 3rd year as Orchestra Lead for NHCS.

Ms. Gattuso has been the event chair for the NC Eastern Region Solo and Ensemble Competition for eight years. Students under her direction have participated in All County and State orchestra events, and have received ratings of "Excellent" and "Superior" at the State Music Performance Adjudication Competition as well as Solo and Ensemble. Ms. Gattuso was also a coach for the UNCG Summer Music Camp for eight years and taught orchestra at the NHCS Summer Camp.

In addition to Junior Strings, Ms. Gattuso is also the director of Rockestra, a new program through the WSYO. When outside of the classroom she performs with the Wilmington Symphony, Tallis Chamber Orchestra, performs for weddings and other private events, teaches a private instrumental studio, and loves to travel as much as possible.
​

Kim has been playing horn since the beginning of 8th grade. Kim attended East Carolina University with a double major in Music and Business Administration. Her first performance with The University of North Carolina-Wilmington/Community Orchestra (now the WSO) was on April 21, 1982, when she was a sophomore in high school. Kim says, “it’s nice to glance down the personnel list and see so many players that are still current members of the WSO”. When asked about her most memorable WSO experiences, she said, “A memorable highlight was the opportunity to play with Ray Charles on several occasions while on tour in our area.”

Kim lives in Southport with husband Dean, son Dalton and their dogs -Tucker and Earl. She has worked at The State Port Pilot in many different positions during her 22 years and currently serves as Systems and Media Director. In her spare time she enjoys attending her son’s school sporting events, and doing freelance graphic design work.

In addition to being principal horn in the WSO, she plays horn in various chamber groups, brass quintets and churches in the Wilmington area. If you ask her who her biggest fan is she says, “definitely my Mom who rarely ever misses any of my performances.”

Jim is a physician by trade, a career he came to after pursuing a number of other careers and selling his bassoon at age 49 to return to medical school. He finished his residency at age 56. When he moved to Wilmington about 10 years ago, he attended a Wilmington Symphony concert. Although he hadn’t played in 15 years, it made him think about playing music again. He describes his first rehearsal about one year later, “It was not easy trying to play at age 60 after not playing for 15 years. At my first rehearsal with the symphony, I felt overwhelmed and lost a good portion of time. Steve and the other players were all so friendly and supportive that I knew I wanted to continue.” Nine years later, he is still playing with the symphony.

His mother was not a musician, but came from a family of banjo players and thought he should play a musical instrument. After he became a Doctor in Internal Medicine, his wife Nancy encouraged him to buy a used student instrument and start playing again.

While growing up and in college Jim performed with multiple groups and studied predominately with Ferdinand Del Negro of the Philadelphia Orchestra and studied with members of the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Opera, Sacramento Symphony, and University of California Berkley. He performed with symphonies, small chamber groups, and pit orchestras while working day jobs and raising a family.

When not playing the bassoon, he is learning how to play a “Wind Controller” which is a wind synthesizer. He also enjoys bicycling, swimming and triathlons. He and his wife are involved in El Salvador, assisting in medical and health projects, as well as free clinics and schools here in the U.S.

Jane Radack started playing violin at age 9, due to the influence of her mother, who she says "tirelessly cheered, listened, drove, volunteered, fund raised and convinced my dad it was all worth it!" Although she did not study music in college, she has always known that orchestral ensembles are an essential to the quality of life.

When asked about what attracts her to performing with the Wilmington Symphony, she says, "I love being part of the whole. When we were looking at places to start civilian life, having an orchestra I might be able to be part of was one of the criteria. Steve's musical choices inspire me to work hard and by the end of each rehearsal cycle, I am usually in love with yet another new piece of classical music."

Outside of playing with the symphony, Jane plays violin occasionally with local rock band Lunar Tide. She also keeps very busy with her family, volunteer work with Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, and playing tennis. She lives in Wilmington with her husband Matthew, their children Maggie, Lily, and Chet, and their dog Bubba.

Deborah is a native Wilmingtonian.  She studied music at East Carolina University and returned to Wilmington to accept a job teaching band in the New Hanover County School District, where she taught for 36 years, spending most of that time at Trask Middle School.
 
When asked about any funny anecdotes during a performance, she remembers an experience playing for The Nutcracker when the electronic celeste came unplugged. “As they danced, the music stopped.  They gracefully folded up, went backstage and waited for Dr. Errante to plug it back in.  We started over and they came back out.  The dancers handled themselves beautifully and the show continued.”
 
Deborah has an identical twin sister who is deaf and teaches at the NC School for the Deaf in Wilson, NC.  Deborah says of having a twin, “We still look alike and people get us mixed up. I am able to sign and enjoy learning new signs.  I have always enjoyed being a twin.”
 
She has also played with the Cape Fear Chorale, the Tallis Chamber Orchestra, the Wilmington Symphonic Winds, and local church choirs and orchestras when needed.  When she is not playing her flute, Deborah enjoys restoring furniture, remodeling her home, sewing, and exercising.  She also sings in the choir at her church.

Here's an interview with Deborah in 2020:

What instruments do you play?
Flute, Piccolo, Piano, Organ.
My music education degree required learning all the instrument groups - woodwind, brass, percussion and strings

How long have you played these instruments?
I started playing piano when I was 7 and flute when I was 9, so 58 years.

How long have you been a Wilmington Symphony Orchestra musician?
43 years.

What do you do for a career?
I enjoyed being a middle school band director for 36 years. I am now enjoying retirement.

Where did you grow up?
Wilmington, NC

What is your favorite song, artist, and/or musical memory?
I have a lot of favorites, so it’s hard to narrow it down to one. I enjoy being able to play with my daughter, Sarah Parker, who’s an oboist. This past winter, we played in several small ensemble performances featuring mother and daughter performers.

Favorite meal or restaurant?
I grew up in a family of outstanding cooks. My favorite food would be seafood - especially a home-cooked fish fry with coleslaw and homemade cornbread. This meal requires a lot of work so I enjoy seafood at my favorite restaurant, Cape Fear Seafood.

Favorite beverage?
Iced tea! Everything is better with a refreshing glass of iced tea.

What is your favorite vacation?
My favorite vacation was our trip to England. We were on a tour part of the time and on our own part of the time. I loved London and hope to go back again sometime.

You're stuck on a desert island... What book, music/album/artist, and/or movie do you want with you??
During this quarantine time, I watched Outlander and then read the first book. If I were stuck on a desert island, I could watch and read it all again.

What's your pet situation?
I currently have a dachshund mix named Roo. She keeps us on our toes and gets us out of the house every day for walks. We meet a lot of our neighbors through interactions with the dogs.

What do you want people to know about the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra?
I hope the WSO will come out on the other side of 2020 with strong support and a healthy audience. We started because of the vision and dedication of local musicians who wanted a vibrant community orchestra. I hope we will always retain the feeling of community in our ensemble.

How are you keeping yourself occupied while being at home all day?
At the beginning of our stay at home, I worked on a lot of projects around the house. I’ve done a lot of house painting, yard work and cooking. I am also part of a group that made face masks for New Hanover Regional Medical Center, the Zimmer Cancer Center and Title 1 schools. We’ve walked a lot in our neighborhood.

Any words of wisdom to help others through this?
This is without a doubt one of the most challenging times I have lived through. I think we need to stay connected to people and stay busy with productive activities. There are many ways to contribute even though we are mostly staying at home. One of the most meaningful things I have done is prepare dinner once a week for a young family trying to manage working from home while taking care of their children and helping with online school. I have met a family that I would not have known before. By helping others, it helps me stay positive and not think of all the worries of the times we are in.

David comes from a musical family. When asked about what influenced him to become a musician he gives the credit to his parents, both of whom are retired teachers. His father was a music and technology teacher and his mother was a piano teacher and band director. His first instrument was the piano, and then he learned trombone, which he picked up after watching his dad play in the community band.

When asked about his most memorable experience playing in the Wilmington Symphony, he says, “I especially enjoyed our most recent concert with Noel Paul Stookey. It brought back a lot of great memories from my childhood when my parents would play or sing Peter, Paul and Mary songs to me”. He adds of his commitment to playing in the orchestra, “I really enjoy getting to reconnect with musicians from my past and making new friends in music.”

When not playing music, David works for Sears Home Services as a Sales Project Consultant concentrating in products such as kitchen remodeling, window replacement, and other home products. His favorite hobby is watching sporting events, especially the ECU Pirates, since that is where he attended college. He also plays golf and volleyball.

His favorite quote about trombone players is from Wagner, who said, "Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them."

Dr. Coleman Burgess has been a life-long resident of North Carolina. He’s been in dental practice here since 1986, with a busy practice on 16th Street in Wilmington. He is also a volunteer dentist at the Tileston Outreach Dental Clinic, and St. Mary’s Dental and Medical Clinic.

A man of many talents, he enjoys, music, boating, skiing, and camping. Dr. Burgess loves North Carolina and is an active member of the community. He is a member of the Rotary Club and serves on the classification committee. Currently he is the principal clarinetist for the Wilmington Symphony, where he has also served on the board of directors as well as the player’s committee. Combining his musical interests with his faith, he is a choir member at St. James Episcopal Church where he also serves on the music committee.

Dr. Burgess loves his dog Chip. Twice a week he brings him into the office to give both him and the patients some companionship.

Here's an interview with Coleman in June 2020:

What instrument(s) do you play?
Clarinet

How long have you played your instrument(s)?
48 years

How long have you been a Wilmington Symphony Orchestra musician?
32 years

What do you do for a career?
Dentist in Wilmington NC

Where did you grow up?
Wilmington NC

What is your favorite song, artist, and/or musical memory?
Playing Mozart Parto Parto Ma To Ben Mio with the concerto winner soloist.

Favorite meal or restaurant?
Caprice Bistro escargot and trout... or maybe duck...or maybe steak frites... or maybe mussels...

Favorite beverage?
Green tea

What is your favorite vacation?
Africa photo safari in Tanzania.

You're stuck on a desert island... What book, music/album/artist and/or movie do you want with you??
Rachmaninov concertos

What's your pet situation?
He is spoiled rotten, always happy and happy to go on a walk or “check the mail”.

What do you want people to know about the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra?
We are basically all volunteers, trying hard to produce enjoyable music with a local flair.

How are you keeping yourself occupied while being at home all day?
Dental continuing education with some solo playing and practice.

Any words of wisdom to help others through this pandemic?
This will not defeat us and our friends and family are so important. Stay future focused, but enjoy each day we are given.

Christine comes from a musical family. Her mother, Kathy Meyer, is the principal cellist of the Wilmington Symphony, and was influential in Christine's musical training, saying, "Only practice on the days that you eat." She and her twin brother began playing piano in a Yamaha keyboard class when they were three years old. Christine and her siblings all played in the high school orchestra, and she now holds a Masters in Music and a Masters in Science for Speech-Language Pathology.
 
When asked what attracts her to playing with the Wilmington Symphony, she says, "The orchestra is like a second family to me; looking around I see members that have been in the orchestra since it first started, members that I’ve grown up watching play in concerts, but I also see new faces joining the orchestra from the youth orchestra and new soon-to-be-friends from the community and university."
 
In addition to playing in the Wilmington Symphony, Christine also performs locally with chamber ensembles for weddings, cocktail hours, and church services. She also sings in the choir at First Baptist Church, and still plays the piano!

Equally at home on the concert stage, in front of a classroom, or at a board meeting, Christina Brier performs harp as a soloist, orchestra member, and chamber musician throughout the coastal Carolina region and beyond.

Ms. Brier frequently appears in concert as a member of the internationally award-winning contemporary harp duo Lilac 94 (with harpist Kathryn Sloat). Lilac 94 has performed in a wide variety of venues including the Milwaukee Art Museum (WI),  Fishtank Theater (MO), MISE-EN-Place (Brooklyn), Fringe Arts (PA), Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (NY), Wilson Center (NC) and Satosphère at Société des arts technologiques (Montréal). Recent highlights included performances in Philadelphia in a full production of Karlheinz Stockhausen’s KLANG: The 24 Hours of the Day presented by Analog Arts and producer Elizabeth Huston and capturing Third Prize at the International Harp Competition in Saluzzo, Italy (2018). 

Christina’s latest chamber music endeavor has been the launch of the Brierwood Ensemble. The Brierwood Ensemble– violinist Linda Estep, violist/violinist Clark Spencer, bassoonist Helena Kopchick Spencer, and harpist Christina Brier – is a local chamber ensemble based in Wilmington, North Carolina. A hallmark of Brierwood Ensemble concerts is the inclusion of informal program notes from the stage, with the performers themselves offering insights into the historical and cultural context of the musical selections. The ensemble regularly seeks opportunities to pair music with visual art and literature. Most recently the Brierwood Ensemble performed a multimedia program based on the beloved children’s story The Secret Garden as part of the Seahawk FAM (Family Arts Matinee) series at UNC Wilmington and then again in 2019 in educational performances at select New Hanover County Schools.

As an orchestral musician, Ms. Brier performs as principal harpist with the Carolina Philharmonic and Opera Wilmington Orchestra in North Carolina. Her orchestral engagements have included the North Carolina Symphony, Virginia Symphony, Charleston Symphony, South Carolina Philharmonic, Fayetteville Symphony, Long Bay Symphony, Savannah Philharmonic, Wilmington City Ballet Orchestra, Eastman Philharmonia, and the Pierre Monteux Summer Festival Orchestra. She has been featured as a soloist in orchestral concerto appearances with the Wilmington Symphony, Tallis Chamber Orchestra, Menomonee Falls Symphony Orchestra, and Maranatha Symphony.
 
As noted by Star News, Christina "loves to do outreach for her instrument." In 2018 she co-founded the Brooklyn Arts Music Academy with violinist Linda Estep in the Brooklyn Arts District of Wilmington, North Carolina where she teaches harp and operates as Executive Director. She works as a harp instructor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. A passionate harp educator, she has been asked to present harp-related workshops and masterclasses (both with Lilac 94 and individually) for various harp camps, ensembles, and college programs such as the Connecticut Valley Harp Intensive, Christopher Newport University, Virginia Commonwealth University, GreenSpring International Academy of Music (Richmond, VA), South Carolina Music Educators Association (Columbia, SC), and Urban Youth Harp Ensemble (Atlanta, GA). 

In 2014, Christina spent 6 months touring India performing as a solo harpist and in a duo with Bulgarian flutist Petya Vasileva. Based in Mumbai, the duo performed Bollywood music throughout India, including the major cities of Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Chennai, and Bangalore as well as Muscat, Oman.
​
Christina holds a Master's degree in Harp Performance from the Eastman School of Music where she studied with Kathleen Bride. At Eastman, she earned a certification in Community Music Teaching and was awarded the Willow Hall Press Award for Harp.

Brent is originally from Centereach, Long Island, New York, and has been in Wilmington for the past 4 years, currently in his senior year at UNCW for his BA in Piano. He teaches Violin and Piano at his sister Meredith's studio, Port City Music in the Ogden area. In addition to the viola, he also plays the violin, piano and pipe organ. He plays Viola in the Tallis Chamber Orchestra, and he's a member of the choir at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

When he's not at school, performing, or teaching, he's busy tuning and working on pianos, as well as collecting them. He currently has an inventory of 10 pianos for sale, with another 7 in storage for personal use. About his compulsion for collecting pianos, Brent says "It's a sickness, and I can't help it, nor do I need curing!"

When asked about a memorable experience of playing in the symphony, he recalls, "On one of the recent Christmas concerts, I was playing the keyboard on a Baroque piece that was about 20 minutes long. I had left my music on the keyboard from that morning's dress rehearsal. You might be able to guess where this is going. When I sat down at the keyboard, there was no music in front of me. I could have sworn I left it there! So about 5 minutes prior to the start of the concert, I told Dr. Errante. We ran all over backstage, asking stage crew, looking under tables, under chairs, and then... I found it... in my Viola case! Clearly, I'd made the right choice and took it with me that morning. Yeah, too bad I didn't remember I'd done that!"

So, if you get a chance to see this young, talented musician perform, be sure you don't pass it up! You will be delighted.

Anne grew up in a home that was full of music.  Her mother was a pianist and a special education teacher, so Anne played piano from the moment she could reach the keys.  She first fell in love with the violin at her sister’s first big violin concert.  She asked for three years to switch to violin and her mother finally relented, despite concern about too much competition between the two siblings.  Fortunately, that didn’t happen. 

When asked about memorable concert experiences, Anne says, “We played downtown for the 4th of July fireworks and debuted the ‘Battleship North Carolina March’ by Steven Errante. There was so much energy and excitement that it was definitely a great experience!  Also, our recent Symphony Pops concert was quite memorable because I was able to share the stage with my daughters who are both in the Girls Choir of Wilmington.” Anne’s daughters, Maddie (15) and Camden (12), also play the violin in the Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra. 

Anne loves arranging music and recently started arranging string orchestra versions of pop songs including songs by The Beatles, Katy Perry, and Pink, which keeps her students inspired and excited to play. 

In addition to the violin, Anne also plays the piano, viola, and mandolin.  When she’s not playing with the symphony, she performs in the Tallis Chamber Orchestra, and loves to cook, bake, read swim and spend time with her family.   

Here's an interview with Anne in 2020:

What instrument(s) do you play?
Violin, viola, piano, mandolin and i love to sing

How long have you played your instrument(s)?
I have played violin since I was 12 years old, so 35 years.

How long have you been a Wilmington Symphony Orchestra musician?
I joined the WSO in 1994, so have been a member for 26 years

What do you do for a career?
I am a professional violin and viola teacher and have a studio that I run out of my home. I play professionally with the WSO, Tallis Chamber orchestra and freelance regularly in Wilmington Wilmington and surrounding areas. I am adjunct faculty at Cape Fear Academy were I started their Middle and High School String Orchestras. Lastly I co-direct the Stevenson Stohl Tour Group with my sister, Shelly DiLoreto. This is a group of advanced Middle and High School students who perform a wide variety of music and put on concerts in town and wherever our annual tour takes us.

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Cape Elizabeth, Maine which is 10 minutes south of Portland.

What is your favorite song, artist, and/or musical memory?
I love all different styles of music, so this is a big question for me. I love Bartok and Mendelssohn, Jay Ungar, Joni Mitchell, Ed Sheeran, Abba, Grateful Dead, Billie Eilish and even top 40 music of today. I listen to everything and try to stay relevant.

Favorite musical memories are performing with Linda Lavin when my daughters, Maddie and Camden, sang in that concert with the Girls Choir of Wilmington. Also playing with the WSO with my students, Camden Stohl and Amelia Smith, who won the Richard Deas concerto competition.

Favorite meal or restaurant?
Thai and Chinese food are definitely my favorites. Double Happiness and Indochine are my go-tos.

Favorite beverage?
As boring as this is, water or coffee.

What is your favorite vacation?
My family took a trip to London and Scotland a few years ago. It was amazing. We stayed with friends and were able to enjoy it from a local perspective and not the tourist perspective. My girls are still convinced that we saw the Loch Ness Monster.

You're stuck on a desert island... What book, music/album/artist and/or movie do you want with you??
Probably one of those big collections of music from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Just want to cover all of my bases and have music I can sing and dance to.

What's your pet situation?
We have 2 rescue dogs. Fritz is 12 and is a chihuahua mix and Riley is 13 and is an English Springer spaniel and dachshund mix. We also have a 17 year old cat named Lusie.

What do you want people to know about the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra?
Having local professional symphony is a gift. It is a draw for professional musicians looking for a place to settle down and start their careers, a place for local professionals to perform with other professionals to provide amazing concerts and entertainment to our incredible community and a foundation for our youth symphony to operate under.

The fact that our city has a professional orchestra that has stood the test of time and has been here for as long as it has is a testiment to the love, appreciation and support our community pours into it.

How are you keeping yourself occupied while being at home all day?
I am teaching 44 private lessons weekly via Zoom and facetime. I started a youtube series for students to learn fun songs that are outside of their normal repertoire, such as Somewhere over the rainbow, Amazing grace, etc. I am cooking a lot and trying new recipes that I don't typically have the time to create. I think I have mastered the buttermilk biscuit, so that is very exciting! I am exercising regularly to walk off the biscuits, and playing board games and cards and doing puzzles with my family.
​
Any words of wisdom to help others through this pandemic?
Try to look at what you can do instead of what you can't do with the time you have been given. Also remember that you're not alone. We are all going through this together.