Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra Coaches
Michael Miller,
Trumpet, The Cleveland Orchestra
coaches the COYO brass section
Trumpet, The Cleveland Orchestra
coaches the COYO brass section
Throughout the season, Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra members are coached by a group of very dedicated musicians from The Cleveland Orchestra. These musicians are:
Violin:
William Preucil, Concertmaster, Blossom-Lee Chair
William Preucil joined The Cleveland Orchestra as concertmaster in April 1995. He is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy and earned a performer's certificate from Indiana University, where he studied with former Cleveland Orchestra concertmaster Josef Gingold. In addition to serving as concertmaster of the Nashville, Utah, and Atlanta symphony orchestras, Mr. Preucil was also the first violinist of the Cleveland Quartet from 1989 to 1995.
Yoko Moore, Assistant Concertmaster, Clara G. and George P. Bickford Chair
"Music is my life," says Yoko Hiroe Moore. Born in Shimane, Japan, she was encouraged by parents who believed that girls, as well as boys, should achieve. Shortly before her fourth birthday, she started playing the violin and, at age 12, she won her first prize. Although her first love is orchestral playing, she frequently performs in recitals as well as in solo performances with Japanese orchestras.
Emilio Llinas, Assistant Principal Second Violin, James and Donna Reid Chair
Emilio Llinas joined The Cleveland Orchestra in 1968 at the invitation of George Szell and was appointed to his current
post in 1977. He studied with Mischa Mischakoff and Joseph Silverstein and is a graduate of Brandeis University. Prior
to coming to Cleveland, he served as principal second violin of the Detroit Symphony, concertmaster of the Grosse
Pointe Symphony, and assistant concertmaster of the Baltimore Symphony.
Viola:
Lynne Ramsey, First Assistant Principal Viola, Charles M. and Janet G. Kimball Chair
Lynne Ramsey is the first assistant principal violist of The Cleveland Orchestra and serves on the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music. She has also been principal violist of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. She received bachelor's and master's degrees from the Julliard School in 1976. Her teachers have included Karen Tuttle, Ramon Scavelli, and David Dawson. She is married to violist Jeffrey Irvine and they have two children, Christopher and Hannah.
Stanley Konopka, Assistant Principal Viola
Stanley Konopka joined The Cleveland Orchestra in 1991 and has been assistant principal viola since 1993. He previously served as principal violist and soloist with the National Repertory Orchestra and was a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Konopka won several notable awards at the Interlochen Arts Academy before attending the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) as a student of Cleveland Orchestra Principal Viola Robert Vernon. Currently a faculty member at CIM, Mr. Konopka has taught at the Encore School for Strings and has performed at the chamber music festivals of Banff, Taos and Pensacola.
Mark Jackobs, Jean Wall Bennett Endowed Chair
Mark Jackobs joined The Cleveland Orchestra in 1993, after serving as a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
A faculty member of the Cleveland Institute of Music, Mr. Jackobs previously taught at the Encore School for Strings. He has been an adjunct faculty member of the Peabody Conservatory of Music and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Mark Jackobs is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the Eastman School of Music and an artist diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music. His teachers include Heidi Castleman, Rosemary Malocsay, William Preucil, Sr., and Robert Vernon.
Cello:
Richard Weiss, First Assistant Principal Cello, The GAR Foundation Chair
Richard Weiss was appointed first assistant principal cellist of The Cleveland Orchestra in 1978. Before graduating from the Eastman School of Music and joining The Cleveland Orchestra, he gained orchestral experience in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Weiss has appeared as concerto soloist with The Cleveland Orchestra and other orchestras numerous times. He is also a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Piano Trio. Mr. Weiss currently teaches at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Kent/Blossom Music program.
Bryan Dumm, Muriel and Noah Butkin Chair
Now in his twenty-fourth season with The Cleveland Orchestra, Bryan Dumm maintains a varied career which also includes solos, chamber music, teaching and educational outreach, as well as being a founding member of the Samaris Piano Trio. Presently, he serves on the faculties of the Cleveland Institute of Music and Cleveland State University and has served on the faculty of the CREDO Summer Chamber Music Program since it started ten years ago. When he is not performing or teaching, Bryan enjoys bicycle riding or spending time with his wife and three children. He holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees and a Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of music where he was a student of Paul Katz and Steven Doane.
David Alan Harrell
Alan Harrell has been a member of The Cleveland Orchestra since 1995. He attended the University of Alabama and the Cleveland Institute of Music where he was awarded the 1994 Cello Prize. A winner of numerous competitions, Mr. Harrell was given the Alabama Society for the Fine Arts Emerging Artist Award in 1998. He is currently on the faculty at Cleveland
State University and several summer music festivals. Mr. Harrell has been a Cleveland Orchestra “Learning Through Music” artist for the past ten years in Cleveland and Miami schools and has given masterclasses throughout the country.
Bass:
Maximilian Dimoff, Principal, Clarence T. Reinberger Endowed Chair
Mr. Dimoff’s career began with an appointment as assistant principal bass of the San Antonio Symphony while he was still a student at Northwestern University. He was soon promoted to the principal bass position in San Antonio. Mr. Dimoff was also a member of the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra in Chicago. In 1993, Mr. Dimoff moved back to his hometown of Seattle to join the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Dimoff has studied with Jeff Bradetich, Warren Benfield, Gary Karr, Eugene Levinson, and Ronald Simon. Currently, Mr. Dimoff heads the double bass department at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He is also a coach and teacher with the New World Symphony in Miami.
Mark Atherton
Mark Atherton has been with The Cleveland Orchestra since 1983. A graduate of the Boston University School of Music,
he has been a member of the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, the Opera Company of Boston and the Indianapolis
Symphony Orchestra. He has also played with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Atherton studied with David Cobb
and Henry Portnoi, former principal bassist of the Boston Symphony. He is currently on the faculty of Kent State University. In addition to teaching double bass privately, Mr. Atherton regularly visits Cleveland-area elementary schools as a teaching artist with the Cleveland Orchestra’s “Learning Through Music” school partnership program.
Woodwinds:
Marisela Sager, Assistant Principal Flute, Austin B. and Ellen W. Chinn Chair
Marisela Sager joined The Cleveland Orchestra as assistant principal flute at the beginning of the 2005-06 season. For the 2004-05 season, she served as assistant principal flute of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and from 2001 to 2004 she was rotating principal of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida. Ms. Sager also enjoys performing as a soloist and as a chamber musician throughout the country. born in California, she holds degrees from San Diege State University and Rice University, where her teachers included Leone Buyse and Claude Monteux.
Frank Rosenwein, Principal Oboe, Edith S. Taplin Endowed Chair
Frank Rosenwein joined The Cleveland Orchestra as principal oboe in 2005. From 2002 to 2005, Mr. Rosenwein served as principal oboe of the San Diego Symphony and San Diego Opera. He also has served as guest principal oboe with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Born in Evanston, Illinois, Mr. Rosenwein holds a bachelor of music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with former Cleveland Orchestra Principal Oboe John Mack, and a master of music degree from the Juilliard School. An avid chamber musician, Mr. Rosenwein has spent two summers at the Marlboro Festival and has performed with the Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego and the Seattle Chamber Music Society.
Jeffrey Rathbun, Assistant Principal Oboe, Everett D. and Eugenia S. McCurdy Endowed Chair
Jeffrey Rathbun joined The Cleveland Orchestra as assistant principal oboe in 1990. From 2001 to 2003, he served as principal oboe. Prior to joining the Orchestra, he served in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (1988 to 1990), San Francisco Symphony (1986 to 1988), Oakland Symphony (1984 to 1986), and Honolulu Symphony (1983 to 1984). Born in Lockwood, Missouri and raised in Texas, Jeffrey Rathbun began studying oboe in the fifth grade. He earned a bachelor of music degree from the University of North Texas, where he studied with Charles Veazey. He received a master of music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with John Mack. Mr. Rathbun is a faculty member of the Cleveland Institute of Music, Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music, and Kent/Blossom Music. He won first prize in the 1988 Lucarelli International Competition for Solo Oboe Players, held at Carnegie Hall.
Robert Walters, English Horn, Samuel C. and Bernette K. Jaffe Endowed Chair
Robert Walters joined The Cleveland Orchestra as solo english horn and oboe player in 2004. From 2000 to 2004, Mr. Walters served as solo english horn and oboe player with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and from 1997 to 2000, he served in the same positions with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. From 1990 to 1996, he performed and recorded with the Philadelphia Orchestra and was active as a freelance musician in New York City, performing with ensembles including the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, American Ballet Theatre, American Symphony Orchestra, Brooklyn Philharmonic, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. He joined the artist faculty of the Aspen Music Festival in 2005 and became a member of the oboe faculty at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in February 2006. A native of Los Angeles, Robert Walters holds a bachelor of music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music and a master of fine arts degree from Columbia University. Mr. Walters studied with Richard Woodhams, principal oboe of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the late John Mack, former principal oboe of The Cleveland Orchestra
Robert Woolfrey, Clarinet
Robert Woolfrey joined the clarinet section of The Cleveland Orchestra in November 2008. Prior to his appointment, he was the principal clarinet of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra (2007-2008) as well as a member of the IRIS Chamber Orchestra. As a chamber musician Mr. Woolfrey has collaborated with Michael Tilson Thomas, Dawn Upshaw, and musicians of The Cleveland Orchestra. In recent summers, he has participated in a variety of music festivals, including Tanglewood Music Center and the Aspen Music Festival. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Mr. Woolfrey studied with Joaquin Valdepeñas and at Yale University with David Shifrin, where he received a master’s degree in music. Mr. Woolfrey is also an alumnus of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida.
Daniel McKelway, Assistant Principal Clarinet, Robert R. and Vilma L. Kohn Chair
E-flat Clarinet, Stanley L. and Eloise M. Morgan Chair
Daniel McKelway joined The Cleveland Orchestra as assistant principal clarinet in 1995. Prior to coming to Cleveland, Mr. McKelway served as principal clarinet of the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra in Michigan, and he played with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Mr. McKelway studied with Robert Listokin and the late Harold Wright, former principal clarinetist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He was the reciplient of the 1984 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, in addition to winning an Avery Fisher Career Grant, the Affiliate Artists auditions and third prize at Naumburg Competition. He is professor of clarinet at the Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music.
Jonathan Sherwin, Bassoon and Contrabassoon
Jonathan Sherwin joined The Cleveland Orchestra in 1997. Previous to joining The Cleveland Orchestra, Mr. Sherwin was a member of the Colorado Symphony, where he also served as personnel manager. While living in Denver, he was active on local Denver television and radio, performing "voice overs" for the orchestra's publicity and advertising and was the host for the Colorado Symphony's "Talk Back" series of post concert question and answer forums. A native of Buffalo, New York, he holds a bachelor’s degree and The Performer's Certificate from the Eastman School of Music and a master’s degree from Northwestern University. His teachers have included K. David Van Hoesen, Willard Elliot, Burl Lane, and Bradford Buckley. Mr. Sherwin has served as principal bassoon of the Chicago Opera Theater, Chicago Civic Orchestra, and Chicago City Ballet Orchestra, and also has been a member of the New Orleans Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, and Chicago’s Music of the Baroque. Active as an educator, Mr. Sherwin teaches at the Cleveland Institute of Music and at the Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music. When not practicing, teaching or making reeds, Mr. Sherwin can be found on the tennis court or watching classic movies.
Brass:
Hans Clebsch, French Horn
Hans Clebsch joined The Cleveland Orchestra as third horn player, appointed by Christoph von Dohnanyi, in 1996. Mr. Clebsch previously was acting associate principal horn of the Houston Symphony under Christoph Eschenbach. He is a former member of the Houston Ballet Orchestra, the Seville Symphony Orchestra (Spain), and the Mexico City Philharmonic. He has previously performed as soloist with The Cleveland Orchestra and the Philharmonic Orchestra of the State of Queretaro, Mexico. He has given master classes in such diverse locations as the Central Conservatory in Beijing, Ching, the Istanbul Conservatory of Music in Turkey, and the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City, Mexico.
Lyle Steelman, Assistant Principal Trumpet, James P. and Dolores D. Storer Endowed Chair
Lyle Steelman is the Assistant Principal Trumpet of The Cleveland Orchestra. Growing up in Cleveland, Lyle graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College. After receiving a graduate degree from Southern Methodist University, Lyle was a member of the Richmond Symphony and served as Principal Trumpet of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Lyle is a former member of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra.
Richard Stout, Trombone, Alexander and Marianna C. McAfee Endowed Chair, and Euphonium and Bass Trumpet
Richard Stout joined the trombone section of The Cleveland Orchestra in 2000. He was a member of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra from 1988 to 2000, serving as principal trombone from 1998 to 2000 and second trombone from 1988 to 1998. He has also been principal trombone of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, and was a faculty member of the Eastern Music Festival for twelve years. Mr. Stout was born in Chicago and raised in Texas. He studied at Rice University in Houston and holds a bachelor’s degree from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Mr. Stout joined the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2001. In addition to teaching trombone, he also serves as director of CIM brass ensembles. Mr. Stout is a founding member of the National Brass Virtuosi and a frequent recitalist with his wife, pianist Christina Dahl.
Thomas Klaber, Bass Trombone
Thomas Klaber joined The Cleveland Orchestra as bass trombone in 1985. He was born in Covington, Kentucky and attended the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Prior to coming to Cleveland, Mr. Klaber was the bass trombonist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. In addition to playing in The Cleveland Orchestra, he is also principal euphonium of the Blossom Festival Band. Mr. Klaber is married to Gayle and has two children, Gretchen and Daniel.
Timpani/Percussion:
Marc Damoulakis, Percussion
Marc Damoulakis joined the percussion section of The Cleveland Orchestra in August, 2006. Prior to coming to Cleveland, he played with the New York Philharmonic and served as principal timpanist of the Long Island Philharmonic and assistant principal percussion of the Harrisburg Symphony. From 1999 to 2003, he was co-principal percussion of the New World Symphony. As a chamber musician, he has performed with the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society, New Music Consort, Pulse Percussion Ensemble, and Time Table Percussion Quartet. Mr. Damoulakis is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music and has studied with Chris Lamb, Ducan Patton, James Preiss and Frank Epstein.
Violin:
William Preucil, Concertmaster, Blossom-Lee Chair
William Preucil joined The Cleveland Orchestra as concertmaster in April 1995. He is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy and earned a performer's certificate from Indiana University, where he studied with former Cleveland Orchestra concertmaster Josef Gingold. In addition to serving as concertmaster of the Nashville, Utah, and Atlanta symphony orchestras, Mr. Preucil was also the first violinist of the Cleveland Quartet from 1989 to 1995.
Yoko Moore, Assistant Concertmaster, Clara G. and George P. Bickford Chair
"Music is my life," says Yoko Hiroe Moore. Born in Shimane, Japan, she was encouraged by parents who believed that girls, as well as boys, should achieve. Shortly before her fourth birthday, she started playing the violin and, at age 12, she won her first prize. Although her first love is orchestral playing, she frequently performs in recitals as well as in solo performances with Japanese orchestras.
Emilio Llinas, Assistant Principal Second Violin, James and Donna Reid Chair
Emilio Llinas joined The Cleveland Orchestra in 1968 at the invitation of George Szell and was appointed to his current
post in 1977. He studied with Mischa Mischakoff and Joseph Silverstein and is a graduate of Brandeis University. Prior
to coming to Cleveland, he served as principal second violin of the Detroit Symphony, concertmaster of the Grosse
Pointe Symphony, and assistant concertmaster of the Baltimore Symphony.
Viola:
Lynne Ramsey, First Assistant Principal Viola, Charles M. and Janet G. Kimball Chair
Lynne Ramsey is the first assistant principal violist of The Cleveland Orchestra and serves on the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music. She has also been principal violist of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. She received bachelor's and master's degrees from the Julliard School in 1976. Her teachers have included Karen Tuttle, Ramon Scavelli, and David Dawson. She is married to violist Jeffrey Irvine and they have two children, Christopher and Hannah.
Stanley Konopka, Assistant Principal Viola
Stanley Konopka joined The Cleveland Orchestra in 1991 and has been assistant principal viola since 1993. He previously served as principal violist and soloist with the National Repertory Orchestra and was a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Konopka won several notable awards at the Interlochen Arts Academy before attending the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) as a student of Cleveland Orchestra Principal Viola Robert Vernon. Currently a faculty member at CIM, Mr. Konopka has taught at the Encore School for Strings and has performed at the chamber music festivals of Banff, Taos and Pensacola.
Mark Jackobs, Jean Wall Bennett Endowed Chair
Mark Jackobs joined The Cleveland Orchestra in 1993, after serving as a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
A faculty member of the Cleveland Institute of Music, Mr. Jackobs previously taught at the Encore School for Strings. He has been an adjunct faculty member of the Peabody Conservatory of Music and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Mark Jackobs is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the Eastman School of Music and an artist diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music. His teachers include Heidi Castleman, Rosemary Malocsay, William Preucil, Sr., and Robert Vernon.
Cello:
Richard Weiss, First Assistant Principal Cello, The GAR Foundation Chair
Richard Weiss was appointed first assistant principal cellist of The Cleveland Orchestra in 1978. Before graduating from the Eastman School of Music and joining The Cleveland Orchestra, he gained orchestral experience in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Weiss has appeared as concerto soloist with The Cleveland Orchestra and other orchestras numerous times. He is also a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Piano Trio. Mr. Weiss currently teaches at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Kent/Blossom Music program.
Bryan Dumm, Muriel and Noah Butkin Chair
Now in his twenty-fourth season with The Cleveland Orchestra, Bryan Dumm maintains a varied career which also includes solos, chamber music, teaching and educational outreach, as well as being a founding member of the Samaris Piano Trio. Presently, he serves on the faculties of the Cleveland Institute of Music and Cleveland State University and has served on the faculty of the CREDO Summer Chamber Music Program since it started ten years ago. When he is not performing or teaching, Bryan enjoys bicycle riding or spending time with his wife and three children. He holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees and a Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of music where he was a student of Paul Katz and Steven Doane.
David Alan Harrell
Alan Harrell has been a member of The Cleveland Orchestra since 1995. He attended the University of Alabama and the Cleveland Institute of Music where he was awarded the 1994 Cello Prize. A winner of numerous competitions, Mr. Harrell was given the Alabama Society for the Fine Arts Emerging Artist Award in 1998. He is currently on the faculty at Cleveland
State University and several summer music festivals. Mr. Harrell has been a Cleveland Orchestra “Learning Through Music” artist for the past ten years in Cleveland and Miami schools and has given masterclasses throughout the country.
Bass:
Maximilian Dimoff, Principal, Clarence T. Reinberger Endowed Chair
Mr. Dimoff’s career began with an appointment as assistant principal bass of the San Antonio Symphony while he was still a student at Northwestern University. He was soon promoted to the principal bass position in San Antonio. Mr. Dimoff was also a member of the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra in Chicago. In 1993, Mr. Dimoff moved back to his hometown of Seattle to join the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Dimoff has studied with Jeff Bradetich, Warren Benfield, Gary Karr, Eugene Levinson, and Ronald Simon. Currently, Mr. Dimoff heads the double bass department at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He is also a coach and teacher with the New World Symphony in Miami.
Mark Atherton
Mark Atherton has been with The Cleveland Orchestra since 1983. A graduate of the Boston University School of Music,
he has been a member of the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, the Opera Company of Boston and the Indianapolis
Symphony Orchestra. He has also played with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Atherton studied with David Cobb
and Henry Portnoi, former principal bassist of the Boston Symphony. He is currently on the faculty of Kent State University. In addition to teaching double bass privately, Mr. Atherton regularly visits Cleveland-area elementary schools as a teaching artist with the Cleveland Orchestra’s “Learning Through Music” school partnership program.
Woodwinds:
Marisela Sager, Assistant Principal Flute, Austin B. and Ellen W. Chinn Chair
Marisela Sager joined The Cleveland Orchestra as assistant principal flute at the beginning of the 2005-06 season. For the 2004-05 season, she served as assistant principal flute of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and from 2001 to 2004 she was rotating principal of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida. Ms. Sager also enjoys performing as a soloist and as a chamber musician throughout the country. born in California, she holds degrees from San Diege State University and Rice University, where her teachers included Leone Buyse and Claude Monteux.
Frank Rosenwein, Principal Oboe, Edith S. Taplin Endowed Chair
Frank Rosenwein joined The Cleveland Orchestra as principal oboe in 2005. From 2002 to 2005, Mr. Rosenwein served as principal oboe of the San Diego Symphony and San Diego Opera. He also has served as guest principal oboe with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Born in Evanston, Illinois, Mr. Rosenwein holds a bachelor of music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with former Cleveland Orchestra Principal Oboe John Mack, and a master of music degree from the Juilliard School. An avid chamber musician, Mr. Rosenwein has spent two summers at the Marlboro Festival and has performed with the Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego and the Seattle Chamber Music Society.
Jeffrey Rathbun, Assistant Principal Oboe, Everett D. and Eugenia S. McCurdy Endowed Chair
Jeffrey Rathbun joined The Cleveland Orchestra as assistant principal oboe in 1990. From 2001 to 2003, he served as principal oboe. Prior to joining the Orchestra, he served in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (1988 to 1990), San Francisco Symphony (1986 to 1988), Oakland Symphony (1984 to 1986), and Honolulu Symphony (1983 to 1984). Born in Lockwood, Missouri and raised in Texas, Jeffrey Rathbun began studying oboe in the fifth grade. He earned a bachelor of music degree from the University of North Texas, where he studied with Charles Veazey. He received a master of music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with John Mack. Mr. Rathbun is a faculty member of the Cleveland Institute of Music, Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music, and Kent/Blossom Music. He won first prize in the 1988 Lucarelli International Competition for Solo Oboe Players, held at Carnegie Hall.
Robert Walters, English Horn, Samuel C. and Bernette K. Jaffe Endowed Chair
Robert Walters joined The Cleveland Orchestra as solo english horn and oboe player in 2004. From 2000 to 2004, Mr. Walters served as solo english horn and oboe player with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and from 1997 to 2000, he served in the same positions with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. From 1990 to 1996, he performed and recorded with the Philadelphia Orchestra and was active as a freelance musician in New York City, performing with ensembles including the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, American Ballet Theatre, American Symphony Orchestra, Brooklyn Philharmonic, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. He joined the artist faculty of the Aspen Music Festival in 2005 and became a member of the oboe faculty at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in February 2006. A native of Los Angeles, Robert Walters holds a bachelor of music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music and a master of fine arts degree from Columbia University. Mr. Walters studied with Richard Woodhams, principal oboe of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the late John Mack, former principal oboe of The Cleveland Orchestra
Robert Woolfrey, Clarinet
Robert Woolfrey joined the clarinet section of The Cleveland Orchestra in November 2008. Prior to his appointment, he was the principal clarinet of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra (2007-2008) as well as a member of the IRIS Chamber Orchestra. As a chamber musician Mr. Woolfrey has collaborated with Michael Tilson Thomas, Dawn Upshaw, and musicians of The Cleveland Orchestra. In recent summers, he has participated in a variety of music festivals, including Tanglewood Music Center and the Aspen Music Festival. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Mr. Woolfrey studied with Joaquin Valdepeñas and at Yale University with David Shifrin, where he received a master’s degree in music. Mr. Woolfrey is also an alumnus of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida.
Daniel McKelway, Assistant Principal Clarinet, Robert R. and Vilma L. Kohn Chair
E-flat Clarinet, Stanley L. and Eloise M. Morgan Chair
Daniel McKelway joined The Cleveland Orchestra as assistant principal clarinet in 1995. Prior to coming to Cleveland, Mr. McKelway served as principal clarinet of the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra in Michigan, and he played with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Mr. McKelway studied with Robert Listokin and the late Harold Wright, former principal clarinetist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He was the reciplient of the 1984 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, in addition to winning an Avery Fisher Career Grant, the Affiliate Artists auditions and third prize at Naumburg Competition. He is professor of clarinet at the Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music.
Jonathan Sherwin, Bassoon and Contrabassoon
Jonathan Sherwin joined The Cleveland Orchestra in 1997. Previous to joining The Cleveland Orchestra, Mr. Sherwin was a member of the Colorado Symphony, where he also served as personnel manager. While living in Denver, he was active on local Denver television and radio, performing "voice overs" for the orchestra's publicity and advertising and was the host for the Colorado Symphony's "Talk Back" series of post concert question and answer forums. A native of Buffalo, New York, he holds a bachelor’s degree and The Performer's Certificate from the Eastman School of Music and a master’s degree from Northwestern University. His teachers have included K. David Van Hoesen, Willard Elliot, Burl Lane, and Bradford Buckley. Mr. Sherwin has served as principal bassoon of the Chicago Opera Theater, Chicago Civic Orchestra, and Chicago City Ballet Orchestra, and also has been a member of the New Orleans Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, and Chicago’s Music of the Baroque. Active as an educator, Mr. Sherwin teaches at the Cleveland Institute of Music and at the Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music. When not practicing, teaching or making reeds, Mr. Sherwin can be found on the tennis court or watching classic movies.
Brass:
Hans Clebsch, French Horn
Hans Clebsch joined The Cleveland Orchestra as third horn player, appointed by Christoph von Dohnanyi, in 1996. Mr. Clebsch previously was acting associate principal horn of the Houston Symphony under Christoph Eschenbach. He is a former member of the Houston Ballet Orchestra, the Seville Symphony Orchestra (Spain), and the Mexico City Philharmonic. He has previously performed as soloist with The Cleveland Orchestra and the Philharmonic Orchestra of the State of Queretaro, Mexico. He has given master classes in such diverse locations as the Central Conservatory in Beijing, Ching, the Istanbul Conservatory of Music in Turkey, and the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City, Mexico.
Lyle Steelman, Assistant Principal Trumpet, James P. and Dolores D. Storer Endowed Chair
Lyle Steelman is the Assistant Principal Trumpet of The Cleveland Orchestra. Growing up in Cleveland, Lyle graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College. After receiving a graduate degree from Southern Methodist University, Lyle was a member of the Richmond Symphony and served as Principal Trumpet of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Lyle is a former member of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra.
Richard Stout, Trombone, Alexander and Marianna C. McAfee Endowed Chair, and Euphonium and Bass Trumpet
Richard Stout joined the trombone section of The Cleveland Orchestra in 2000. He was a member of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra from 1988 to 2000, serving as principal trombone from 1998 to 2000 and second trombone from 1988 to 1998. He has also been principal trombone of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, and was a faculty member of the Eastern Music Festival for twelve years. Mr. Stout was born in Chicago and raised in Texas. He studied at Rice University in Houston and holds a bachelor’s degree from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Mr. Stout joined the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2001. In addition to teaching trombone, he also serves as director of CIM brass ensembles. Mr. Stout is a founding member of the National Brass Virtuosi and a frequent recitalist with his wife, pianist Christina Dahl.
Thomas Klaber, Bass Trombone
Thomas Klaber joined The Cleveland Orchestra as bass trombone in 1985. He was born in Covington, Kentucky and attended the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Prior to coming to Cleveland, Mr. Klaber was the bass trombonist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. In addition to playing in The Cleveland Orchestra, he is also principal euphonium of the Blossom Festival Band. Mr. Klaber is married to Gayle and has two children, Gretchen and Daniel.
Timpani/Percussion:
Marc Damoulakis, Percussion
Marc Damoulakis joined the percussion section of The Cleveland Orchestra in August, 2006. Prior to coming to Cleveland, he played with the New York Philharmonic and served as principal timpanist of the Long Island Philharmonic and assistant principal percussion of the Harrisburg Symphony. From 1999 to 2003, he was co-principal percussion of the New World Symphony. As a chamber musician, he has performed with the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society, New Music Consort, Pulse Percussion Ensemble, and Time Table Percussion Quartet. Mr. Damoulakis is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music and has studied with Chris Lamb, Ducan Patton, James Preiss and Frank Epstein.
