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SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES NEW MUSICIANS TO
JOIN THE 127-YEAR-OLD ORCHESTRA
William Martin, Robert Mottl, Beverly Schiebler and Barbara Liberman Announce Retirement
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 9, 2006 – The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) announced today recent musician appointments and retirements for the upcoming 2006-07 season. Of the seven positions filled, five are new to the orchestra and two were awarded positions after playing last season as one-year replacements with the SLSO.
Carolyn Banham, English Horn/Oboe, was most recently with the Buffalo Philharmonic, where she spent the last three years. She has experience playing with the New York Philharmonic, New World Symphony, New Jersey Symphony and the Memphis Symphony. Banham received her music education from the Manhattan School of Music and Temple University. She replaces Marc Gordon, who retired in September 2005.
Jonathan Chu, Section Second Violin, joins the orchestra after completing his education at The Juilliard School in 2005. He received his bachelor of music degree from Vanderbilt University. Chu most recently played with the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra in 2004, and has served as an alternate with the New Jersey Symphony, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the Nashville Symphony.
Jooyeon Kong, Section Second Violin, most recently attended the Yale School of Music, after receiving her bachelor of music degree from Rice University in 2003. Her orchestral experience includes the Symphonic Orchestra of the Encuentro in 2005, and Banff Summer Arts Festival in 2004.
Andrew Gott, Assistant Principal Bassoon, joins the orchestra from the Virginia Symphony, where he was the Principal Bassoon. He has played with the Buffalo Philharmonic and the New World Symphony. Gott attended Rice University and Ball State University. He replaces Robert Mottl, who announced his retirement after last season.
Jonathan Reycraft, Utility Trombone, joins the SLSO from the United States Naval Academy, where he has been a member since 1999. His additional music experience includes playing with the National Symphony in Washington and the Baltimore Symphony as a replacement player. Reycraft’s educational background includes Indiana University and the University of Maryland.
Two musicians, Bjorn Ranheim, Section Cello, and Joo Kim, Section First Violin, were one-year replacement players with the SLSO last season and have won full-time positions starting this season. Prior to joining the SLSO, Ranheim was a member of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Kim graduated with a masters in violin performance from The Julliard School in May 2006.
With the arrival of the new musicians, the orchestra announced the retirements of four long-time orchestra members, William Martin, Section Viola, 30 years of service, Robert Mottl, Assistant Principal Bassoon, 38 years of service, Beverly Schiebler, Section Second Violin, 43 years of service and Barbara Liberman, keyboardist, 38 years of service.
The SLSO currently has 96 musicians. Open positions include section viola, assistant principal flute and keyboardist.
