Archives: Profiles

Ben relocated to Fort Collins in 2022 with his wonderful family, and recently became a member of the Fort Collins Symphony. He has also been...

Originally from Medellín-Colombia, Cristian Mazo started his musical career in his hometown in the Network of Music Schools. Later on, Mr. Mazo finished his bachelor’s...

A graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, Leslie Stewart holds Bachelor and Masters degrees in Music Performance from the University of Southern California. She was a...

Desireé Anderson has performed in music halls all over the world as a chamber musician, concert soloist and recitalist. She has performed in various music festivals...

Zack Niswender is an active freelance musician and teacher in the Northern Colorado Region. Zack plays with a variety of ensembles and is floored to...

A native of Highland Park, Illinois, David B. Halperin joined the United States Air Force Academy Band in Colorado Springs, CO as a clarinetist in...

Ms Eldridge received her BFA in Harp Performance from Carnegie Mellon University, and her MM from the New England Conservatory. For the past 10 years,...

Leo Thomas Canale grew up in upstate New York. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance from the State University of New York...

Versatile percussionist Carl Dixon is at home with music spanning multiple genres, continents, and instruments.  He can be found performing in concert halls, jazz clubs,...

Michael Tetreault holds a Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY and a Master of Music Degree from the Royal...

Dr. Steve Vaughn, a native of upstate New York, is a freelance musician across the front range of Colorado and is currently Adjunct Professor of...

Kiel joined the Fort Collins Symphony as the bass trombonist in July 2019. Along with FCS, he plays throughout the region as a member of...

Nat Wickham’s first musical inspirations were experienced in his childhood home where both parents were professional performers and music teachers, and all four siblings have...

Daniel Watt, a native of Colorado, is an active freelance musician across the Front Range. Mr. Watt serves as principal trombonist with the Wyoming Symphony...

Mr. McDonald currently plays principal trumpet with the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra and the Boulder Chamber Orchestra, and also holds tenured positions with the Fort Collins...

Stanley Curtis has developed a multi-faceted career as trumpeter, teacher and early-music performer. After studying at the University of Alabama, the Cleveland Institute of Music...

Dr. John McGuire has a vast array of performance and teaching experiences. He has performed with many orchestras around the world, most notably the Dallas Symphony...

Ayo Derbyshire is an active freelancer in Northern Colorado, playing in a variety of chamber and orchestral settings. Ayo graduated in 2019 with a B.A...

Susie McCollum graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in music education. She immediately pursued a master’s degree in bassoon performance at Wichita State University studying with Richard Beene. She...

Bassoonist, Tom Bittinger, has been a member of the Fort Collins Symphony longer than any other current member of the orchestra, beginning his tenure under...

Clarinetist Kellan Toohey is an avid performer whose varied career includes recitals and solo appearances, chamber music, teaching, and orchestral playing. He holds a DMA from...

Gina’s love for music was apparent before she could even read. When she was knee high to a grasshopper, she would listen to her older...

Soto began his musical education with the Orquesta Sinfonica Juvenil of Costa Rica. He studied with Principal Oboist Jorge Rodriguez and cultivated a passion for...

Sandra Tiemens hails from Rochester, Minnesota. She currently serves as a flutist and piccoloist of the Fort Collins Symphony. She is completing a 20-year military...

Kristin Sommer has been a member of the Fort Collins Symphony since 2005, performing on both piccolo and flute. She first became intrigued by the...