2026 AIMS Festival Orchestra Roster
Conductors
Lukas Beikircher
Marzio Conti
Alfred Eschwé
Patrick Hahn
Marius Stieghorst
VIOLIN
Heather Wittels, Concertmaster
William Knuth, Assistant Concertmaster
Barrie A. Cooper, Principal 2nd Violin
Jason Bendler
Jackson Chang
Grace Chen
Funda Cizmecioglu
Patricia Cole
Shannon Flanigan
Tamara Freida
Gabrielle Gans
Katrina Johnson
Inna Langerman
Cheng-Yin Janine Lin
Eric Loew
Tegwen Sak
Nicholas Whitley
Jonathon Winter
Marina Xavier
Yehong Xiong
VIOLA
Julius Wirth Fuentes, Principal
William Ford-Smith
Catherine Frey
Adrian Jackson
Eddy Malave
Molly Sharp
Victor Torres
Drew Vella
CELLO
Anthony Kitai, Principal
Brett Andrews
Tyler Brown
Ricardo Flores
Kanyun Li
Sophie Lyman
Jason Mooney
Alex Norberg
BASS
Justin Kujawski, Principal
Austin Beck
Gregory Galand
Emma Goldberg
FLUTE
James Blanchard
David DiGiacobbe
Frances Tate
OBOE
George Corbett
Eli Stefanacci
Theresa Zale Bridges
CLARINET
Nathan Kock
Maya Mueller
David H. Thomas
BASSOON
Valerie Curd
Caleb Hutchings
Luis Torres
HORN
Erin Harrigan
Nathaniel Page
Nathan Spergel
Victor Valenzuela
TRUMPET
Noah Bender
Wesley Duncan
Sophie Urban
TROMBONE
Ellie Abbott
Liam Melvin
BASS TROMBONE
Daniel Pendley
TUBA
Logan Wadley
PERCUSSION & TIMPANI
James Jacobson, Principal
Lee Hinkle
Parker Olson
PIANO & CELESTE
Chao-Hwa Lin, Principal
HARP
Christine Heger
Elke Paternusch
Mona Smale
ORCHESTRA STAFF
David DiGiacobbe, Manager & Woodwind Coordinator
James Blanchard, Assistant Manager
Eric Farnan, Principal Librarian
Jonathon Winter, Assistant Librarian
Daniel Pendley, Co-Stage Manager
William Ford-Smith, Co-Stage Manager
David Thomas, Chamber Music Coordinator
Eddy Malave, Strings Coordinator
Victor Valenzuela, Brass Coordinator
James Jacobson, Percussion Coordinator
George Corbett, Audition Training Seminars
9
CLOSED SECTIONS for 2026
Viola
Cello
Flute
Oboe
Clarinet
Trumpet
Trombone
Bass Trombone
Tuba
Percussion & Timpani
Piano & Celeste
Harp
