Caitlin Gotimer, Soprano
Katherine DeYoung, Mezzo-soprano
Carla Kountoupes, Violin
Ann McMahon Quintero, mezzo-soprano
Rubén Rengel, Violin
Described as an “excellent soloist” of “great virtuosity” (NY Concert Review) delivering “thrilling” performances (Boston Globe), Venezuelan violinist Rubén Rengel is quickly gaining recognition as a remarkably gifted artist. Rubén was the winner of the Robert F. Smith Prize at the 2018 Sphinx Competition, the…
Zlatomir Fung, Cello
Elaine Heltman, Principal Oboe
The Santa Fe Symphony’s Principal Oboist, Elaine Heltman, hails from Saddle Brook, New Jersey, and graduated from Ithaca College School of Music. While leading a high school marching band in New Jersey, she also studied with Joseph Robinson, former Principal Oboe of the New York Philharmonic.
In 1981, Heltman’s career as a professional oboist was ignited when she was appointed to the Filarmónica de Caracas, Venezuela. Greg Heltman joined her there on Valentine’s Day, 1981; they married in 1988 and have been inseparable ever since.
In 1982, the Heltmans moved to Israel to perform and teach. Elaine performed regularly with the Jerusalem Radio Symphony and Israel Chamber Orchestra, and taught oboe at the Beersheva Conservatory and at Kibbutz Ein Charod. In 1983 they moved to New Mexico with dreams of starting their own orchestra, a dream realized in 1984. With the help of some fellow musicians, they created the unique orchestral model that is the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra.
In the more than 30 years since, Elaine has performed as Principal Oboe of The Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, with the Musica Cammerata Ensemble and in many other chamber ensembles. She played in Albuquerque for many years with the New Mexico Woodwind Quintet and was Principal Oboe with the Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque.
Elaine is the adjunct oboe teacher at the New Mexico School for the Arts and works by day as a Project Manager at the State Land Office in the Office of General Counsel. In addition to teaching online lessons, lately she’s been sewing masks for Operation Bandana New Mexico and tending a large backyard vegetable and flower garden.
Toby Appel, narrator
Toby Appel was born in Elmer, N.J., was a winner of Young Concert Artists and has appeared throughout the U.S. and abroad as a recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician. He was a former member of the Lenox, Audubon and Tashi quartets and has appeared…
David Tolen, percussion
David Tolen lives in Santa Fe and is principal percussionist of The Santa Fe Symphony. He performs regularly at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, where he was a featured soloist in 2015, as well as performing as a timpanist with the Santa Fe Pro Musica chamber orchestra. Rounding out his work with local organizations, Tolen has collaborated with the Santa Fe New Music Ensemble for events including a presentation of Kaija Saariaho’s Six Japanese Gardens in conjunction with Santa Fe Opera’s American premiere of Adriana Mater.
A percussionist with The Santa Fe Opera since 2000, Tolen’s passion for opera has taken him to Florida, where he was principal percussionist with Sarasota Opera. South Carolina’s Spoleto Festival USA featured Tolen as a soloist; he has also toured throughout Japan, performing in percussion ensemble concerts and a series of youth concerts with marimbist Mayumi Hama. His contemporary music concerts include a performance and recording of Marc Neikrug’s Through Roses with violinist Pinchas Zukerman.
A full-time elementary school teacher, Tolen received a “Teacher Who Inspires” award from Santa Fe Partners in Education in 2015. He has earned degrees from Texas Tech University and the University of Michigan under the direction of Alan Shinn and Michael Udow, respectively. Tolen’s work can be heard on Equilibrium and Koch International recording labels.
Terry Pruitt, principal double bass
Terry Pruitt is principal bass with The Santa Fe Symphony. He also plays bass with the New Mexico Philharmonic. Originally from Alton, Illinois, Terry became hooked on the double bass at the age of ten. While completing his degree in music performance at Southern Illinois University, he studied with Henry Loew of the St. Louis Symphony and played with the St. Louis Philharmonic.
After a year with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Terry was principal bassist with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra for 16 years. In summers, Terry has performed at the International String Orchestra Festival in Eisenstadt, Austria and the Bear Lake Festival in Utah. He returns regularly to Santa Cruz, California for the Cabrillo Music Festival. He has taught at several universities, and currently teaches privately.
When not practicing, teaching, or performing on the bass, Terry can (or can’t!) be found exploring the back roads of the Southwest on his BMW motorcycle.
Stefanie Przybylska, Principal Bassoon
Principal bassoonist with The Santa Fe Symphony, New Mexico Philharmonic and the New Mexico Symphony orchestras, Stefanie Przybylska has appeared as a featured soloist in works by Mozart and John Williams. Stefanie has performed with the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Music in the Mountains (in Durango, Colorado) and with Chatter Sunday in Albuquerque. She co-founded and directed the Bosque Bassoon Band, a group composed of both amateur and professional bassoonists, dedicated to performing chamber music written for bassoon ensemble both at concert venues and at informal settings such as schools, hospitals and grower’s markets. The group has commissioned original works and performed at two International Double Reed Society conferences.
Before moving to Albuquerque, Stefanie freelanced in Chicago, where she played with the Chicago Symphony for more than a decade in the U.S. and abroad. She also served as principal bassoonist for the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Lake Forest Symphony and the Illinois Philharmonic, performing as an extra musician for other ensembles including the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra.
As an undergraduate student at The Juilliard School, she was selected by national audition to participate at the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont, under whose auspices she performed, toured and recorded. She later went on to earn her Master’s Degree from Northwestern University and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
Brynn Marchiando, Principal Trumpet
Brynn Marchiando lives and works in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as a performer and music educator. Inspired by her grandfather, who was also a trumpet player, she completed her undergraduate degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Denver Lamont School of Music, and her graduate degree in Trumpet Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music.
She has been a fellow at both the Tanglewood Music Center and Aspen Music Festival. Brynn has performed at the International Trumpet Guild Conference as both a jazz artist in the jazz competition in Thailand in 2005, as well as in a featured recital with her husband, John, as Marchianduo, in 2014. She currently plays 3rd /Associate Principal Trumpet in the New Mexico Philharmonic and Principal Trumpet in the Santa Fe Symphony.
Brynn enjoys playing all genres including traveling Broadway shows, jazz, and Latin bands. She has played with greats such as Bobby Shew and Clark Terry, and has appeared with Stiletto Brass Quintet, Fountain City Brass Band, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Utah Symphony Orchestra and Santa Fe Opera. She is a founding member of the Breaking Brass Quintet.
Brynn is a professor at the University of New Mexico, where she teaches jazz improv, jazz theory and keyboard, and is a member of the faculty ensemble the Enchantment Brass Quintet. Brynn’s primary teachers include Alan Hood, Charles Schleuter, Raymond Mase and Kevin Cobb. She is a Shires Performing Artist.
Lori Lovato, Principal Clarinet
Lori Lovato is clarinetist for The Santa Fe Symphony, New Mexico Philharmonic, Sphinx Symphony in Detroit, San Juan Symphony, and Opera Southwest Orchestra. She has also appeared with the Napa Valley Festival del Sole, Albuquerque Chamber Soloists, Music at Angel Fire, Chamber Music Albuquerque, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, Santa Fe New Music, the Orquesta Sinfónica de Monterrey, Mexico, and toured with the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players.
Ms. Lovato is a graduate of Northwestern University and the University of New Mexico. Prior to her performing career, Ms. Lovato was the band and orchestra director at West Mesa and Cibola High Schools in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In addition to maintaining a private clarinet studio, she often performs in musical outreach programs through the community.
Byron Herrington, Trombone
Byron Herrington, Principal Trombone with The Santa Fe Symphony, has been a symphony member since 2002. Born and raised in the dusty flatlands near Lubbock, Texas, he has been active as a performer, teacher and conductor in Albuquerque since 1981.
In addition to his role with The Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Byron is a founding member of the New Mexico Philharmonic, where he is second trombone. He played with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra for 30 years until NMSO ceased operations in 2011. He is also the Director of Wind, Brass, and Percussion Studies at Albuquerque’s Thomas Jefferson Middle School, and was co-conductor of the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program’s Junior Symphony.
Byron received his degree in music education from the University of New Mexico. He also attended the University of Oklahoma, studying trombone with Irvin Wagner, conducting with Guy Fraser Harrison, and studying music theory and analysis with Gail Boyd DeStwolinski and composition and orchestration with Michael Hennagin. He has studied trombone with Jay Friedman, Frank Crisafulli, Edward Kleinhammer, Arnold Jacobs of the Chicago Symphony, Ralph Sauer of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Joseph Alessi of the New York Philharmonic.
Anne Eisfeller, principal harp
Anne Eisfeller is the Principal Harpist of The Santa Fe Symphony, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, and Opera Southwest. She has also performed with the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, The Santa Fe Opera, Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque, and El Paso Symphony. During the summer she is a guest faculty member of the Assisi Festival in Italy and the harpist for the Oregon Coast Festival, Britt Festival, and Sunriver Music Festival in Oregon.
Anne received Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Indiana University, both with High Distinction. While at IU she studied with Peter Eagle and was a teaching assistant in harp and music theory. Further studies were with Susann McDonald of the University of Southern California and Myor Rosen of the New York Philharmonic. She is a harp specialist for the Albuquerque Youth Symphony and has a private studio in Albuquerque.