Carla Kountoupes, Violin

Carla Kountoupes, violinist, is a member of The Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra, Arizona Opera Orchestra, Santa Fe Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, and Piazzolla da Camera Piano Trio. She has toured and performed professionally with orchestras and chamber ensembles in Central America, Taiwan, Germany, and all...

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.

Dana Winograd, Principal Cello

Originally from Los Angeles, cellist Dana Winograd received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in performance from the Juilliard School in New York where she studied with Harvey Shapiro and Channing Robbins, as well as members of the Juilliard String Quartet for chamber music. After graduation, Dana led an active freelance career in New York City, including performances at Carnegie Hall with the American Composer’s Orchestra and the American Symphony, Broadway appearances (both in the pit and on stage) with Phantom of The Opera, Cats, Beauty and the Beast,and Once Upon a Mattress, as well as playing backup for Rod Stewart, Luther Vandross, Lyle Lovett, Manhattan Transfer, and Harry Connick Jr.

Since moving to Santa Fe in 1999, Dana has been a member of the New Mexico Symphony (now New Mexico Philharmonic), Santa Fe Pro Musica, and is principal cellist of the Santa Fe Symphony. She has appeared as soloist with the Santa Fe Symphony, the Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque, the Plainfield Symphony in NJ and the Julius Grossman Orchestra in NY.

An active chamber musician Dana plays regularly with Chatter, the Santa Fe Symphony quartet, Taos Chamber Music Group and Serenata of Santa Fe. She is the orchestra director at St. Michael’s High School, and has worked in the Santa Fe Symphony’s mentoring program, helping young string students in the SFPS. Dana and her husband Gil live happily with two great dogs, Riley and Lily.

Nicolle Maniaci, principal violin II

Nicolle Maniaci is Principal Violin II and orchestra personnel manager of The Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra & Chorus. She is also the director of the string program at Bosque School in Albuquerque. Nicolle was a member of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra First Violin Section for 11 years and is now a first violinist with the New Mexico Philharmonic.

Nicolle is a founding member of the Eleganza String Quartet and Chamisa Chamber Players. She also enjoys performing with the Taos Chamber Music Festival, Chatter, Orchestra of the Duke and Opera Southwest. She was a sectional coach for the Albuquerque Youth Symphony for 18 years.

Nicolle was born in Long Island, New York and moved to New Mexico with her parents in 1974. She grew up in the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program while studying violin with Kathie Jarrett and received her music degree from the University of New Mexico, studying with Leonard Felberg. She spent her summers studying the violin at various festivals around the country. Nicolle makes her home in Albuquerque with her loving husband John Witiuk and two children, Joseph and Juliana.