Soloists Archives - Page 3 of 5 - Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra

February 19, 2019August 11, 2019

SARO BABIKIAN, Guitarist

Saro Babikian was born in Damascus, Syria, in 1995. He started playing the classical guitar at age 10. He attended the Solhi Al-Wadi Conservatory of Music in Damascus. In 2012 he performed at the Damascus Opera House in a concert hosted by the Ministry of Culture for outstanding students of the conservatory. Later that same year he moved to Los Angeles and continued his guitar studies with the renowned Armenian guitarist Sarkis Turgutyan. In 2015 he was admitted to the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music’s classical guitar program under the instruction of Scott Tennant and William Kanengiser. Saro also takes flamenco lessons with Adam Del Monte at USC. He graduated with honors with his Bachelor of Music degree in classical guitar in 2018 and has been awarded a scholarship from USC Thornton to continue his naster’s studies in classical guitar performance.

Saro has participated in numerous masterclasses with renowned musicians and guitarists such as David Russell, Pepe Romero, and Paul O’Dette. He has earned several awards in various guitar competitions including Honorable Mention at the Gohar and Ovanes Andriassian Classical Guitar Competition, and First Prize at an international music competition in Serbia. In 2017, Saro was invited as a guest artist to the 3rd Yerevan International Guitar Festival, in Yerevan, Armenia. He has composed several pieces for the guitar, including Tremolo for classical guitar, and has completed arrangements of a set of Armenian folk songs by Gomidas for guitar and voice. Saro is regularly invited to Armenia to hold guitar classes and to play concerts.

You can follow Saro Babikian on Facebook or Linked In.

December 1, 2018August 11, 2019

GWEN FRANZ, Violist

As a performer, recording artist, teacher, and scholar, Gwen Franz is a diverse violist of multiple musical traditions. In 2017, she was awarded a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Washington in classical viola performance, which also included studies within the jazz and ethnomusicology departments.

Her research on improvisation and oral traditions resulted in her thesis topic, “The Homeric Answer: How By-Ear Learning and Improvisation Enhance the Musicianship of Classical Performers.”

Dr. Franz has been featured as a concerto soloist and chamber musician throughout the Pacific Northwest, has toured throughout the United States and Chile.

She has also performed with eclectic musicians such as Darol Anger and Eugene Friesen. In 2013 she released two albums, Airoso, with classical guitarist Hilary Field, and Douce Ambiance, with jazz violinist Michael Gray and cellist James Hinkley.

Her many years of professional orchestra experience include performing with the Seattle Symphony, Northwest Sinfonietta, Grand Rapids Symphony, Lansing Symphony and Evansville Philharmonic. She recently moved to Port Townsend with her husband, Ernie Franz. (Dec 2018)

September 26, 2018September 27, 2019

Past Soloists – Master List

Linda Bach, December 2003, December 2001
Saro Babikian, February 2019
Nancy Beier, April 2013
Lorraine Burdick, December 2003, December 2001
Michael-Ann Burnett, October 2007
Kyle Campbell, December 2010, April 2009, October 2004
Kim Clark, October 2006, October 2002
Paul Creech, February 2015
Ray Chirayath, February 2017, December 2015
Christopher Cox, December 1998
Dennis Crabb, May 2008
Roger Crook, February 2006
Matthew Daline, October 2018, October 2008
Jann Degnan, March 2003
Chuck Easton, December 1999
Gwen Franz, December 2018
Larissa Freier, April 2018
James Garlick, March 2002
Arthur Grossman, October 2009
Carl Hanson, February 2016
Michael Helwick, October 2014
Vicki Helwick, February 2017, April 2014, December 2012, October 2011
Barbara Henry, December 2010, December 2007, December 2006
Judy Johnson, February 2010, April 2005, October 2000, October 1999
Beatrice Kaufman, October 2009
Hollie Kaufman, February 2012
Anne Krabill, October 2015, February 2011
Ben Krabill, February 2008
David Krabill, October 2015
Paul Krabill, February 2009
Trent LaCour, February 2015
Sharon Annette Lancaster, April 2013
Lisa Lanza, April 2016, October 2010, May 2003
Jaclyn La Rue, May 2002
Andy Mackie, April 2010
Charlie May, May 2004
Elizabeth McKinnon, February 2009
Mary Lou Montgomery, February 2000
Phil Morgan-Ellis, February 2014
Hillary Nordwell, December 2000
Zachary Nordwell, May 2001
Peninsula Singers, December 2014, April 2011, February 2007, February 2004, October 2001
Karl Perry, February 2016, February 2004
Bill Peters, December 2007
Stefan Puchalski, December 2005, December 2002
Rainshadow Chorus, December 2009
Alan Rawson, April 2006
Robin Reed, February 2017, October 2016
Jessica Reid, February 2009
David Ritt, February 2004
Susan Roe, April 2013, April 2012
Anson Ka Lik Sin, October 2013
Kristin Forssen Smith, December 2016, December 2010, December 2006, October 2003
Marilyn Sterbick, December 1998
Christopher Taber, February 2005
Michael Thomsett featured composer, February 2001
Diane Vaux, December 2016, February 2016
Miles Vokurka, October 2012
Christina Walters, December 2008
Kim Walters, December 2008
Cynthia Webster, February 2017, December 2015
Joel Yelland, December 2012

July 13, 2018August 11, 2019

MATTHEW DALINE, Violinist & Violist

A Port Townsend High School graduate, Matthew Daline enjoys a versatile career as a chamber musician, violin/viola soloist, and educator. He received the bachelor of music degree from The Juilliard School where he was a Teaching Assistant for Karen Tuttle, and a masters degree from Yale University where he studied with Jesse Levine.

Mr. Daline was the top prizewinner at the Artists International Competition in New York City, which provided a debut recital in Carnegie Hall.

Since giving his viola debut in Carnegie Hall, Mr. Daline has performed worldwide as a viola soloist, principal violist, and has recently taught master classes at Yale University, The Juilliard School, The University of Michigan and Central Conservatory of China, Beijing.

Mr. Daline is a tenured professor and the Coordinator of Strings at Bowling Green State University in Ohio and his students have attained positions in orchestras, teaching, and awards at numerous national and international competitions.

Mr. Daline performs on a Brescian Viola circa 1560.

March 4, 2018August 11, 2019

LARISSA FREIER, Violinist

Larissa Freier was born and raised in Port Townsend, beginning her violin studies at age 5 under instruction of Pat Yearian, Kristin Smith, and mainly Barbara Henry. She continued her studies with Professor Maria Sampen and Timothy Christie at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash.

Larissa graduated magna cum laude from the University of Puget Sound in May 2017, with a Bachelor of Music in violin performance and a minor in German. Larissa acted as co-concertmaster and section leader of the University Symphony Orchestra and was a member of the chamber music program, performing often in student groups and recitals as well as alongside faculty on the University of Puget Sound Jacobsen Concert Series.

Larissa spent her summers studying and performing at highly acclaimed music festivals around the country, including the Bowdoin International Music Festival in Maine, the Brevard Music Festival in North Carolina, and the Kairos Chamber Music Lyceum in Eastern Washington. Over the years, she has had the honor of performing onstage with renowned soloists such as Itzhak Perlman, Garrick Olson, and Vadym Kholodenko, and she has also participated in violin masterclasses led by Paul Kantor, Frank Huang, Aaron Berofsky, Jubal Fulks, Steve Miahky, and Sergiu Schwartz.

March 4, 2018August 11, 2019

JULIA EDWARDS, Cellist

Julia Edwards ( photo from Port Townsend Leader)

Julia Edwards is a senior at Bainbridge High School and began her cello studies at the age of 4 with Priscilla Jones.

She is the current student of Rajan Krishnaswami in Seattle. She had been a member of the Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra since the age of 8.

She performs in twice annual studio recitals, the annual Seattle Youth Artists’ Competition, the Marrowstone Festival, and numerous Seattle-area chamber music programs. (PTCO performance May 2018.)

December 14, 2016August 11, 2019

ROBIN REED, Baritone

Coming from a family of professional musicians, Robin Reed started singing at a very early age, singing in church choirs and community chorales. He has been a professional singer since 1970. He has had many varied appearances in opera, operetta, musical theater, movies and television.

Robin and his family lived in Germany for five years while he was engaged by Stadt Theater Bremerhaven as a leading tenor, singing 25 leading roles. He was also a guest artist in Hamburg, Krefeld, Kassel and Osnabrueck, among other German cities. After returning from Europe, Robin continued as a contract artist with Arizona Opera, Virginia Opera, Sarasota Opera and Los Angeles Opera Theater.

He has made many appearances with symphonic orchestras and prestigious choral societies as a soloist performing works from Bach to Mahler.

Robin created a vast repertoire of solo music from parlor songs to classical and has been in demand as a “one-man-show” since high school.

He is very pleased to be making his Port Townsend Orchestra debut.

Robin and his wife moved to Sequim in 2013 due to their love of nature and their desire to visit as many National Parks as possible. Their honeymoon (41 years ago) was a six-thousand mile camping trip from Los Angeles to Winnipeg to Victoria, BC; then returning through Port Angeles via Highway 101, all the way back to their first home in Pasadena, California.

January 16, 2016August 11, 2019

DIANE VAUX, Cellist

Diane Vaux has played cello in orchestras and chamber groups since the age of twelve. She has played in the Port Townsend Orchestra since 2001 and in the Port Angeles Symphony from 2001 to 2009.

In addition, she plays viola da gamba in early music ensembles and piano in several chamber settings.

Professionally, she was a psychologist in private practice for twenty-five years. In addition to providing psychotherapy, she provided sessions in The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music, a modality utilizing classical music for healing.

Diane retired from practice when she moved from Pennsylvania to Port Townsend in 2001. Since then she has been enjoying the many opportunities to play music here.

December 30, 2015August 11, 2019

KARL PERRY, Violinist

Karl Perry is a native Washingtonian and a product of the Seattle Public School system’s music program in the 1970s. From fourth through twelfth grade he studied with Elizabeth Rowe, violinist in the Seattle Symphony.

This is his second featured appearance with the Port Townsend Orchestra. Karl has lived in Port Ludlow since January 2000 with his wife Melinie.

November 27, 2015September 29, 2019

JOEL YELLAND, Vocalist

Joel Yelland ﬁrst sang in public in ﬁfth grade, performing “This Is the Army, Mr. Jones” in Cub Scout uniform and doughboy helmet.

Joel studied voice at Central Washington University and sang in community choruses for several decades before resuming vocal training a few years ago. He appeared in many community musicals in his former home of Omak, before moving to Sequim in 2010. He sings with Peninsula Singers and in Readers Theater Plus productions; he studies with Linda Grubb and Anneliese von Goerken.

Joel is a family medicine physician and medical director of the Lower Elwha Health Clinic in Port Angeles. His wife, Grace, is a pediatrician and oboist, and his two children attend college.