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...
Archives: Profiles
Cristian Mazo
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...
Leslie Stewart
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
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...
Larry Salmen
Summary Bio Larry is a serial entrepreneur in the areas of software technology. He has been developing, integrating and selling technology in his businesses...
Marty Marsh
Growing up, I remember listening to my father play his oboe, and I have loved that instrument and classical music ever since. When we moved...
Charles Grimwood
Charles (“Charlie”) Grimwood believes the Fort Collins Symphony can be a role model for our fractious world. Many people from varied backgrounds and playing very...
Gayle Wunder Third Flute Endowed Chair
Gayle Wunder’s children, Michael and Kristin, endowed this chair to honor the memory of their mother and the time they spent together as children at...
Kate Henry
As Fort Collins Symphony’s newest staff member, Kate Henry is enthusiastic about serving in the new role of Community Engagement and Education Director. Kate brings...
Madgetta Dungy
In 2017, Madgetta Dungy moved to Fort Collins from Iowa City, Iowa with her husband, retired Pediatrician, Dr. Claibourne Dungy, to live closer to their...
Zack Niswender
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...
Paisley Pettine Second Trombone Endowed Chair
Dr. Kenneth Pettine endowed this chair in honor of his wife, Paisley. Paisley has served with great joy for many years as a board member...
Mary A. Kopco Second Flute Endowed Chair
Friends of Mary A. Kopco established an endowed chair to commemorate her outstanding dedication, devotion, and diligence as Executive Director of the Fort Collins Symphony...
Sharyn H. & Larry J. Salmen Third Horn Endowed Chair
In 2021, Sharyn H. & Larry J. Salmen endowed this chair to honor all of the friendships made during Women’s Guild of the Fort Collin...
David Halperin
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...
David Lindstrom
David Lindstrom was raised in the east and educated at the University of Rochester (BA), Colgate (MA) and Penn State (PhD). He moved to Fort...
Pamela Eldridge
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 Canale
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...
Carl Dixon
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
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...
Steve Vaughn
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 Lauer
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
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
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...
Derek McDonald
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
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...
John McGuire
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
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
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...
Tom Bittinger
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...
Kellan Toohey
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 Johnson
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...
Max Soto-Sibaja
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
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
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...