THE MUSICIANS
Since 1987, our ensemble of over 80 volunteer musicians and professional guests rise to the challenges of many musical styles, genres and periods as they enrich the cultural landscape of Southern Nevada.
VIOLIN I
Patrick Hsieh – Concert Master
Rita Boehme
Pat Harrell
Kristen Hsu
Marla Huizar
Barbara James
Karen Kelley
Nancy Palmer
Braydon Pikyavit
Kay Sanderson
Erin Sheppard
Sandy Watson
Debra Yavitz
VIOLIN II
Donna Martinez – Principal
Belinda Boswell – Assistant Principal
Megan Thompson – Assistant Principal
Hwayeon Bement
Jennifer Clemons
Charlotte Conner
Christina Duke
Tena Fox
Lois Goodman
Sabina Orlowska
Bob Taras
VIOLA
David Eckert
Kelley Blatnik
Tanya Hambourg
Kimberly Johnson
Elizabeth Letourneau
John Riley
Harriet Walker
CELLO
CONTRABASS
FLUTE
Christian Garcia – Principal
Cynthia Burgess
Jonnie-Jo Didas
Christina Hekkert
Charles Javier
Eric Lam
Susan Maunder
Tim Thomas – Principal
Geoff Fleming – Assistant Principal
Elise Eden – Assistant Principal
Jimmy Cisneros
Emma Glaess
Tom Hawley
Carmella Cao – Principal
Rodrigo Corral
Julie Williams
OBOE
CLARINET
BASSOON
Gilbert Castaneda – Principal
Rachel LaRance
Carol Embry – Principal
Jeannie Galvin
Gary Van Cott
Dorothy Rumsey – Principal
Nathan Hill
HORN
TRUMPET
Lee Higbie – Principal
Rick Crockett
Tom Frauenshuh
Ona Snyder
Michael Weaver
Allison McSwain – Principal
John Dunia
TROMBONE
Matt Stofferahn – Principal
Juan Vasquez – Assistant Principal
Robert Delgado
Duane Zook
TUBA
Jon Kercher – Principal
HARP
Mary Gunnell – Principal
PIANO
Paula Johnson – Principal
PERCUSSION
John Nasshan – Principal
Amy Crosley
Mario Garfrias
Gabriela Ordonez
Alec Petronsky
Phillip Rose
Zachary Soukup
Julia Wegener
Alexandra Arreiche has been elevating the Southern Nevada arts scene as Henderson Symphony Orchestra's Music Director since 2016 with programs that emphasize community building through interdisciplinary collaborations including dance, theatre, culinary, and visual arts.
Alexandra's unique ability to switch between genres has led to work with the most important figures in classical and popular music. She received a full scholarship for Maestro Harold Farberman's studio at Bard College in 2010. In 2011, she won the Taki Concordia Conducting Fellowship followed by the Baltimore Symphony Conducting Fellowship in 2012. She subsequently served as Maestra Marin Alsop's assistant in Baltimore, São Paulo, and the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. In Cabrillo, Alexandra reconnected with her early roots as a composer and became an advocate of new music, working with the most exciting composers of the new generation including Jennifer Higdon, Mason Bates, Clarice Assad, Kevin Putz, Anna Clyne, John Adams, James Macmillan, Michael Daugherty, John Corgliano, Christopher Rouse and Jennifer Bellor.
In 2015, Alexandra Arrieche was invited to conduct the European Emmy Award-winning spectacle "Night of the Proms" where she was engaged as their principal conductor after her first show. Since then, she has been part of the NOTP productions as conductor and collaborator alongside pop icons such as Bryan Ferry, Simple Minds, Earth Wind and Fire, Pointer Sisters, Natasha Bedingfield, Chaka Kahn, Suzanne Vega, Roger Hodgson (Supertramp), Peter Cetera (Chicago), Alan Parsons, and John Miles.
Inspired by the lack of opportunities for young conductors in Brazil, Alexandra started a Conducting Studio in Brazil in 2015. She then adapted the program in 2019 for Henderson Symphony Orchestra with the support of a National Endowment for the Arts grant. Under her direction, the inaugural "HSO Conductor Camp" launched with huge success and continues as an annual event attracting conductors from all over the world to the Las Vegas valley.
Alexandra Arreiche's diverse expertise, passion for artistic collaborations, and innovative approach to community engagement with the arts are some of many reasons why she is considered one of the most unique and exciting conductors of her generation.
PAST MUSIC DIRECTORS
Taras Krysa
2007 – 2016
Brad Pfeil
1997 – 2002
Mark Laycock
1992 – 1997
JoAnn White
1988 – 1990
Peter Aaronson
2002 – 2006
Dr. Glenn Cooper
1997
David Smith
1991 – 1992
Frank Irvin
1987 – 1988