Bangor, ME — The Bangor Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce 10 new members following the organization’s first auditions since 2019, as well as appointments based on prior auditions.
Dr. Stuart Marrs, percussion, has held numerous roles with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra during his three decade tenure at the University of Maine as a professor of music. Having first subbed as a percussionist/timpanist with the BSO in 1989, he is now appointed as a member of the orchestra. As soloist, clinician, orchestral timpanist-percussionist, conductor, and teacher, Dr. Marrs’ professional experience spans 50 years and four continents. His previous orchestral positions include the orchestras of Louisville, Bolivia, and Costa Rica.
Richard Hsu, violin, is an active soloist and chamber musician currently residing is Ellsworth, Maine. Richard has performed with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Clarion Society, Early Music New York, New York State Baroque Ensemble, American Classical Orchestra, and Concert Royal. He was formerly Associate Concertmaster with the Moscow Ballet at Spoleto Festival USA. He holds a performer diploma and bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance from the Indiana University School of Music. He furthered his studies at Manhattan School of Music. Richard has appeared with the BSO in previous seasons, and has collaborated as a chamber musician with BSO cellist Noreen Silver and pianist Phillip Silver, and many others in Maine.
Chris Nemeth, violin, joins the BSO as a member having previously performed with the orchestra for three seasons. He recently relocated from Chicago to Sedgwick, ME, and over his career he has performed with the Missouri Chamber Orchestra, the Monterey Music Festival Orchestra, the Montovani Orchestra, the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, the New Philharmonic of Chicago, the Lyric Opera Center for Young Artists, and the Baroque Orchestra of Maine (BOOM). In addition to playing the violin, Chris is a founding partner of HarborHouse Partners, a management consulting firm.
Rebecca Hallowell, viola, is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Boston University, and a member of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra. A resident of Cambridge, MA, she is a violin and viola instructor for the Wellesley Public Schools and regular substitute viola with the orchestras of Vermont, Rhode Island, and Portland.
April Reed-Cox, cello, is an instructor at Bay Chamber Music School and lives on a small fiber farm in Waldoboro, Maine. As a classical cellist trained in the Suzuki Method in South Carolina, she performed with the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, Spartanburg Philharmonic, Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra, Brevard Symphony Orchestra, and the Charlotte Philharmonic before moving to Maine in 2009. April enjoys work as a session musician and also regularly appears with folk artists and groups including Twisted Maple, Pesky J. Nixon, The Ale House String Band, The Early Risers, Putnam Smith, Ashley Storrow, Emily Mure, and Jud Caswell.
Noah Strevell, bass, is a graduate of The Peabody Institute and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. A current resident of New York City, Noah performed as a member of the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra and Carmel Symphony Orchestra earlier in his career. He is also an associate member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.
Roberta Michel, flute 3/piccolo, is a Brooklyn, NY-based performer dedicated to the music of our time. She is the flutist and Co-Director of Wavefield Ensemble and is a member of PinkNoise and Duo RoMi, and has recorded and performed with numerous ensembles, including the Experiential Orchestra for the 2021 GRAMMY-winning album of Dame Ethyl Smyth’s The Prison. Originally from Maine, Roberta attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and SUNY-Purchase College, and she currently teaches flute at Sarah Lawrence College in addition to her private studio. Roberta has previously appeared with the BSO in a variety of roles in the flute section, and recently presented a recital and masterclass at the University of Maine.
Dr. Anna Bradford, oboe 2/English horn is a freelance oboist in the greater Boston area, frequently performing as a soloist, a chamber musician, and an orchestral musician. As a soloist, she was named the 2014 winner of the Boston Woodwind Society’s Ralph Gomberg Oboe Competition. As a chamber musician, Dr. Bradford is a member of the Kalliope Ensemble, and held the oboe fellowship with Symphony Nova for its final two seasons. In addition to her new role with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Bradford is a current member of the Cape Ann Symphony and the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra. As an educator, she works extensively with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras as an oboe coach, a chamber music coach, and the oboe instructor for the Intensive Community Program.
Scott Chiu, clarinet 2, holds a Master’s Degree from The New School and a Bachelor’s Degree from the Manhattan School of Music. He performs regularly with the Regina Opera and is an alumnus of NPR’s From the Top program for notable young artists. He is also a two-time winner of the Young Musician Foundation of Colorado solo competition. Mr. Chiu is the founder of Portable Recording Studio, and recently brought his expertise in sound engineering to the Bowdoin Music Festival as a production assistant.
Alexander Knutrud, trombone 2, joins the BSO having previously performed with the orchestra for three seasons. Based in Boston, Alex holds Bachelor of Music degrees in both Trombone Performance and Music Education from Ithaca College and a Master of Music from Boston University. Alex’s primary teachers were Jeff Gray and Toby Oft. Alex has previously performed with orchestras across the Northeast as well as served as acting 2nd trombone with the Southwest Florida Symphony in Ft. Myers, Florida. A dedicated educator, he has presented guest masterclasses at a number of colleges and high schools throughout the United States, in addition to maintaining a private studio in the Boston area.
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