Orchestra Roster - AIMS Graz

2023 AIMS Festival Orchestra Roster

Conductors

Marzio Conti
Martin Lukas Meister
Marius Stieghorst

VIOLIN

Heather Wittels, Concertmaster
Sondra Jones Brudnak, Assistant Concertmaster
Barrie A. Cooper, Principal 2nd Violin
Mateus Belloni
Anna Bernhard
Emily Bustos
Patricia Cole
Carol Dylan
Sean Elliott
Leila Fanien
Laura Hourt
Katie Klocke
William Knuth
Viktor Petek
Barbara Schaefer
Nathanael Turner
Sarah Umlauf
Therese West

VIOLA

Julius Wirth Fuentes, Principal
Jackson Alderman
Michael Brennan
Yuri Hughes
Eddy Malave
Santiago E. Osorio
Matthew Umlauf

CELLO

Benjamin Mekinulov, Principal
Jacqueline Bustos
Danielle Karppala
Rahel Lulseged
Danny O’Connell
Diana Lauren Osorio
Belinda Viesca Petek

BASS

Lee Philip, Principal
Shion Kim
Gabriel Preusse
Ella Sharpe

FLUTE

David DiGiacobbe
Hunter Green
Kim O’Hare Bonacorsa

OBOE

Theresa Bridges
Cosimo Conti
Mark Debski

CLARINET

Randy P. Glasner
Roy Park
David H. Thomas

BASSOON

Juliette Angoulvant
Leann Currie
Andrew Salaru

HORN

Cade A. Araza
Sophia Filippone
Hannah Messenger
Victor Valenzuela

TRUMPET

Ben Hauser
Erik Larson
Mario Mojica

TROMBONE

Gabriel Gilliland
Mal Layne

BASS TROMBONE

Daniel Pendley

TUBA

Josh Lesperance

TIMPANI & PERCUSSION

James Jacobson, Principal
Lee Hinkle
Eric Plewinski

PIANO & CELESTE

Chao-Hwa Lin, Principal

HARP

Christine Heger
Elke Paternusch
Mona Smale

ORCHESTRA STAFF

David DiGiacobbe, Manager & Woodwind Coordinator
Kimberly O’Hare Bonacorsa, Assistant Manager
Olivia Ren, Principal Librarian
Barbara Schaefer, Assistant Librarian
Daniel Pendley, Stage Manager
David Thomas, Chamber Music Coordinator
Eddy Malave, Strings Coordinator
Victor Valenzuela, Brass Coordinator
James Jacobson, Percussion Coordinator
Mark Debski, Audition Training Seminars

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I am proud to say that I am passing on some of what I learned at AIMS to my students, who consistently win state and regional vocal competitions, secure leads in the opera at UM, and go on to graduate schools and conservatories in the US. Thanks for your inspiration!

Jo Ella Todd

soprano ’75, ’76

The AIMS experience is necessary for any opera singer that doesn’t want to just ’fall into’ the European music scene. With dedication and diligence, one can come away with a wealth of knowledge and preparation.

Marsha Thompson

soprano ’00; Meistersinger Competition Finalist

Acting and audition classes at AIMS had a direct and immediate impact on my career. I completed my first professional audition right after AIMS for the Salzburg Festival young artist program, and got offered a contract on the spot! I don’t think I could have achieved that result before my summer at AIMS. I would encourage any young, ambitious classical or opera singer to participate in AIMS. It certainly changed my life.

Alexandra Flood

soprano '13 - Meistersinger Finalist

The knowledge and guidance I received from the faculty has changed my perception of my own singing and artistry for the better. I feel as if I can walk out onto a stage, into an audition, and into the world with this new-found confidence. I’m more passionate about my dreams and have a burning desire to see them through.

Robert Cardwell

baritone '17 - Opera Studio

Everyone I had ever known who had gone to AIMS in the past couldn’t stop raving about it, and now I know why. It was my best summer ever!

trombone ’00-’01

The music, the people I met, and the atmosphere were so incredible! My experience with AIMS is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Jennifer Metheny

soprano ’97

AIMS was a wonderful experience of learning, performing, and seeing a dedicated staff in action. I am personally better from being blessed to have had this opportunity. Many thoughts continue to filter down from this unique and outstanding musical studies program.

Nancy Marriott

soprano ’98 & '16 - Opera Studio

AIMS has given me a true sense of where I need to work from – how I measure up and areas I need to strengthen for a future in classical singing. I learned more about my voice and how to maximize its use in one week at AIMS than I had in three years.

Eldric Bashful

tenor ’03, ’04, ’06

I want to thank all of you for being a vital part of my growth into an emerging professional artist. Being a part of AIMS last summer opened my eyes to the professional world of music and helped me understand who I am as an artist and what I needed to accomplish to transition from a student to a professional musician. Thank you SO much for inspiring me to work hard in the practice room; to connect my entire body when I perform; to walk into auditions not expecting anything but to have fun sharing my craft; and to go after career opportunities knowing that they will not come to me. I appreciate it more than words can express!

Kayla Bailey

soprano '13 - Opera Studio

I learned SO much and had a fabulous time with all my new friends, colleagues, and contacts. I am very thankful for all of the opportunities to sing that I was given.

Aidan Soder

mezzo-soprano ’99, Meistersinger Competition Finalist

During the six-week program at AIMS, I received voice lessons and coachings. I also took my first German class and became attracted to the German language. My affinity for German caused me to take a particular interest in its poetic-song companion, the Lied. It is an aspect within standard solo vocal literature that I admire. Mr. Harold Heiberg, my vocal coach at AIMS, who specialized in Lieder, taught me how to appreciate and utilize the language in song performance. This was my first in-depth experience with song interpretation that illuminated musical collaborations not only between the poet and composer, but also between the singer and pianist. It was an exciting time as a developing musician.

Makeda Hampton

soprano '05 & '06 - Opera Studio

I had the chance to work with so many good and serious singers as well as top-notch teachers…that alone was worth it, but I carried away so much from the program that the cost was minuscule compared to what I learned. Contrary to being burnt out by six weeks of intensive music studying, at the end of AIMS I was more eager than ever to go to my university’s music library and check out as many books on Lieder and opera as I could carry. I realized the true quality of the AIMS music instructors when the first book I checked out happened to be edited by not one, but five AIMS instructors.

Jeremy Peterman

student pianist ’03, ’04; staff pianist ’05- ’16