Meet Some of the Orchestra’s
Players…
Charles Bianco,
(2nd violin)
I am enjoying my second year with the Heritage Philharmonic and am very excited
about being involved with such a prestigious group. I have been a drafting
technician for KCPL for 23 years, and graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute
with a BFA in Design. I am a Suzuki Violin student at Meyer Music in Blue
Springs and have almost completed the course. My wife, son and I live in Independence
and attend St. Mark's Catholic Church where I am active in the Knights of Columbus.
Why did I choose music as a hobby? That is an interesting story. I played
the accordian as a teenager, that is where I first developed an interest in playing
an instrument. I appreciate that gift from my mom and dad. After college I wanted
to take violin lessons but could not because of job related demands. Working your
way up in this world can be very stressful and demanding, so I forgot about it.
About 6 years ago I was walking my dog and I found an old student violin in someones
trash pile. This was a gift from God, and I remembered that interest I had in taking
lessons. Thanks to Mr. Meyer at Meyer Music in Blue Springs and Dan Lawerence
from Dan Lawerence String Instruments in Lees Summit I got my violin repaired and
have received much free advice. I owe them both a great big thank you. I have had
a great time taking lessons and am making progress. I chose the Philharmonic
because
a judge at the M.A.M.A. seminar suggested it. I was already a season ticket
holder to the Heritage Philharmonic.
Steve
Bohall, (timpani and percussion),
says he joined the orchestra in 1973 and has played with the orchestra for all but
a couple years in between then and now. A member of the Lexington, MO. Restoration
Branch, Steve is retired from Wellington-Napoleon R-9 Schools, where he taught music
for 30 years. A native of Lamoni, Iowa, Steve earned a B.A. in Music Ed. from
Graceland College in 1973. He is married to Marcia and they have three daughters:
Alisa Brown, a music teacher; Valerie, an art teacher and Carianne, a college student.
Roy Browne, (bass), I was raised in a musical
family. My father, Ed, put KANU fm on the air in 1951 in Lawrence, KS, and was the
first director of KXTR fm in Independence before it was sold by the board in the
late 70s. My mother, Joy, a piano, organ, and choral instructor and former music
supervisor in the North Kansas City Schools, remembers the precursor to the Heritage Philharmonic meeting in her parents' home at 714 N. Union as early as 1922. Her mother,
Zella, played violin and piano and her father, Howard Harder played trumpet. Vern
Sinclair, who just retired from playing french horn with us, lived next door to
the Harders, and has a picture taken during that time . Mom recognized a few of
the people, but her parents were in Michigan that week and were not in the picture
with Vern's father and her uncle. I tried my hand at violin in 4th grade, cello
in 8th grade, guitar in high school and finally ended up with bass at Graceland
College, where I obtained a degree in Social Studies. I studied with Harold Neal,
a violinist, and played in his Orchestra. I also played in the Band under Dick Clothier
and sang in the Concert Choir and the Connsonairs under Henry Anderson. I transferred
to K.U. and studied bass with Raymond Stuhl, a cellist, played in the K.U. Symphony
under George Lawner and sang in the Concert Choral under Darell Beene. During my
college days I played in several folk and jazz combos. At KU I was S.U.A. Jazz Forum
president. After graduation with my 5-yr Architecture degree I moved to Independence
and began playing in the Heritage Philharmonic under Harold Neal in the early 70's,
until I immersed himself in my career, got married, and gave up music. Later, with
encouragement from my wife, Gina, a musician, I started playing again in the Heritage Philharmonic under Jack Ergo. From about 1988 for 8 years I was Rovin' Roy at Silver
Dollar City during the spring music festival. Dressed like a mountain man and with
a beard I roamed the park and walked up on various stages to back up several groups--Celtic,
Traditional, Blue Grass, Cajun, Western and Gospel. Instead of going hunting or
fishing, I was paid to pick and grin! About 1995 I finally had a bass lesson from
a genuine bass player, the late Steve Peters. He said that even though I was taught
by violin and cello teachers, my technique was fine, but I still needed to practice.
Ah, the "P" word! One lesson was enough. I was already in private "practice" in
my profession. Surely that was enough! Over the years I have also played in big
bands, and enjoyed watching my nieces, Rebecca (violin) and Elizabeth (cello), and
my daughter Rachel (harp), pass through their Heritage Philharmonic days with their
uncle/dad as the chauffer/harp slepper on the way to their professional music careers.
I applaud the Community of Christ Church in it's support of music. It has given
life to Independence, and made it more like a college town. Music is music,
whether played by ear or read off the page, it has the potential to be uplifting,
and I am thankful for the opportunity to play with many types of musicians. The
language of music improves our vocabulary and gives more meaning to life by being
a carrier of the Spirit. I have an architectural practice and have designed many
commercial buildings, churches and homes in the area. Vitruvius said "architecture
is frozen music," and the language of music has served me well in my architectural
practice. I am a member of Rotary International and serve as a commissioner on the
Independence Board of Zoning Adjustment.
Monty
Carter, (Concertmaster) is an adjunct professor
of strings at William Jewell College. He has also taught string studies on the faculties
of Missouri Western State University and Kansas City Kansas Community College.
Carter’s education in music performance consists of a Master of Music degree from
Louisian State University (‘93 - Jerzy Kosmala, teacher) preceded by a Bachelor
of Music degree earned at UMKC Conservatory of Music (‘91 - Hugh Brown and Steven
Kruse, teachers). Prior to degree work, he studied violin and viola with James Hammond
in Kansas City, Missouri. Carter is Principal Violist in the St. Joseph Symphony
and Liberty Symphony, and appreciates the privilege of serving as Concertmaster
this season for the Heritage Philharmonic. He performs as violist in the William
Jewell String Trio and as violinist in the Carray Duo with his wife, cellist and
fellow William Jewell instructor, Trilla Ray-Carter. Trilla and Monty have performed
on many occasions as freelance musicians with the Kansas City Symphony, and maintain
an active schedule of orchestral and chamber ensemble engagements throughout the
year. Carter co-conducts the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Kansas City
with James Murray, and offers private violin and viola instruction at the Carray
Studio and Lydia Lovan Community School of Music. Between professional commitments,
Monty enjoys singing, writing, taking long walks, eating Chinese food, and spending
time with his feline daughters, Emma and Ruthie.
Jessica
Cox, (Principal 2nd Violin) is joining the Heritage Philharmonic for her second season serving as principal 2nd violin. She is finishing up her final requirements
for a Bachelor of Music degree from CMSU. In addition to Heritage Philharmonic,
she performs with Northland Symphony, CMSU Symphony, and the CMSU String Quartet.
Jessica works as the General Manager of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and full-time
as a member of the box office staff at the New Theatre Restaurant in Overland Park,
KS.
Ray
Ettinger, (percussion),
I'm not sure when
I first played with the Philharmonic, but it was in the Late 60s (when I was at Graceland)
with Harold Neal. I began regular playing sometime in the mid-70s. (Also some playing
with the Kansas City Civic Orchestra). I have played violin, tuba, saxophone,
keyboards, and percussion professionally. I started piano/organ at age 8, violin
at 10 (with some lessons on clarinet and cornet), percussion with a Drum & Bugle
Corps in England at 15. I am also a professional actor appearing in film,
TV, and on stages throughout the country. I also do a lot of appearances as Harry
S Truman.
Roxann
Srader Ford, (Bass Clarinet and B flat Clarinet),
has been a member of the Heritage Philharmonic for five years. A Senior Systems Analyst at DST Systems, Inc. Roxann spends
her days working in the Information Systems Training department as an instructor.
Roxann earned her Bachelor of Science of Business Administration with a major
in Computer Information Systems. Her music education includes studies in piano at
the UMKC Conservatory of Music with Dr. Karen Halverhout, CMSU with Dr. McCandless,
and privately with Iris Logemann. She also studied Clarinet and Bass Clarinet
privately with Dr. Church of Independence, Missouri, Dr. Lake of William Jewell
in Liberty, MO., and Dr. Cole of CMSU. Roxann is married to Murray Ford. They
have one daughter, Dana, and two sons, Adam and Alex.
Laura
Ellen Rose French,
(Principal Viola),
Known as Nell to her friends and family, Laura Ellen Rose
French is a native of Mission Viejo, California. Born into a family with a
very strong musical background, she has been performing as a solo violist, chamber
musician, and orchestral player since the age of 12. Today she maintains an
active performing career throughout the United States and in Europe. She holds a
Bachelor of Music cum laude from the University of Colorado at Boulder, a
Master of Music from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and a Fine Arts
Award in viola from the Interlochen Arts Academy. She has studied under such internationally
renowned artists as David Holland, Erika Eckert, Barbara Hamilton, Steven Kruse,
and Paul Coletti.
While in Colorado, Ms. French was a member of the Boulder Philharmonic. She
also participated in the Colorado Mahlerfest, and performed numerous solo and chamber
music recitals. Recently she returned to Boulder to perform in the 2004 Rocky
Mountain Ragtime Festival where, with her uncle, pianist Frank French, she performed
Astor Piazzolla’s Grand Tango and was received with standing ovation.
Other performance adventures have taken her to Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, North Carolina, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Europe as well.
In the summers of 2001 and 2002, Nell served as associate principal and section
viola in the AIMS in Graz orchestra in Graz, Austria.
Since fall of 2000, Nell has made her home in the Kansas City area where she enjoys
an active life as a freelance performing artist. She currently serves as principal
viola of the Heritage Philharmonic, plays section viola in the Saint Joseph Symphony,
and keeps herself busy with numerous other per-service engagements every season.
In the past she has contributed to critically acclaimed performances by the Wichita
Grand Opera, the Lawrence Chamber Orchestra, and the Bach Cantata Vespers Series.
As a co-founder and violist of the string trio Fontana, Ms. French performs numerous
private functions every season with the group and arranges many popular selections
and jazz standards for the trio’s growing collection of repertoire. In June
of 2005, Fontana performed a public recital at the Spencer Museum of Art in Lawrence,
Kansas to a crowded audience with standing room only. The trio’s friendly
following in Kansas City anxiously awaits the release of the forthcoming CD Fontana:
Live from the Spencer. The group can be found on the web at
www.triofontana.com.
Teaching is a very important aspect of Nell’s life in music. She has recently
joined the music faculty of Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri,
where she teaches violin, viola, and chamber music. She also serves on the
adjunct faculty of the Humanities Division at the Kansas City Kansas Community College,
where she instructs applied music. Her thriving private studio of eager young
violists keeps her very busy as well. Most of these students are members of
the Kansas City Youth Symphonies and have high musical aspirations of their own.
One student was recently granted admission to Nell’s own Alma Mater, the Interlochen
Arts Academy. In her studio, Ms. French also teaches beginning viola students
ranging from age 8 to adult, and in 2004 she completed work on a viola method book
and CD for beginners. Nell’s zeal for teaching is largely guided by her belief
that in order to sustain a musically rich culture, we must cultivate and nurture
the musical talent of the next generation.
Ever an advocate of the arts, Ms. French is a member of the Executive Board of the
Chamber Music Society of Kansas City, where she serves as secretary to the board.
The Society is in its third season as Kansas City’s foremost ensemble of chamber
musicians, who are some of the area’s finest performing artists and many of whom
are internationally renowned.
Ms. French is proud of her affiliation with many professional associations, including
the American Federation of Musicians, the Kansas City Federation of Musicians, the
American String Teachers Association, and the American Viola Society.
Jodie Fuentes,
(Principal
Cello), I am a native of Springfield, MO. Before leaving Springfield
to come to UMKC (several years ago) I performed with the Springfield Youth Symphony,
Springfield Symphony Orchestra and the Drury College Orchestra. I graduated
with a Music Education Degree from UMKC Conservatory of Music and have also completed
several hours of graduate studies at the Conservatory. I am currently a member
of the St. Joseph Symphony (1986-1999 and 2004 – present) and have previously performed
with the Northland Symphony Orchestra, Northland Chamber Orchestra, Messiah Festival
Orchestra, Civic Orchestra, and Liberty Symphony Orchestra. I have been
married to Eric for 24 years. Eric plays saxophone and has performed with
several local Hispanic groups in the area. Our son, Ben, is in his 4th
year at NWMSU in Maryville, plays Baritone horn in the Bearcat Marching Band, and
is planning to get married in May 2006. Our daughter, Rachel is a senior at
Raytown South High School. Rachel is also a cellist and has joined Heritage
Philharmonic last year as well. Rachel is principal cellist of the RSHS orchestra
and plans to major in music in college. My latest venture in life is that
I have become a Licensed Massage Therapist. I combined my love of music with
my love of massage to name my business Classical Massage! In my spare time
(what little there is) I love to play tennis.
Barbara Garrett, (bassoon)
has been a member of the Heritage Philharmonic for eleven years. She received her Bachelors Degree in Music
Education
from Southwest Missouri State University in 1977 and her Masters Degree
in Composition from the University of Missouri-Columbia (UMC) in 1988.
While working on her masters degree, Miss Garrett studied with Thomas W.
McKenney and John Cheetham. Her first
composition mentor was Claude T. Smith and she has also participated in a one-on-one
workshop with Irving Robbin. She was
born in Springfield, Missouri. She
grew up in the Midwest and comes from a family of musicians.
She started making up melodies at age 3 and 49 years later, she is residing
in Independence, Missouri still writing new music.
Her works have been performed by the ISO, the Northland Symphony and double
reed students at UMC.
She has
been commissioned to compose a symphonic poem using sections of the requiem
mass, “Requiem for Battered Souls”, in honor of all those whose lives have been
touched by violence, abuse and other traumatic events.
Miss Garrett has endeavored to capture in her original music the
full range of emotions experienced by those whose lives have been touched by violence. Besides composing,
she is principal bassoonist with the Heritage Philharmonic, legal secretary with Shook, Hardy
& Bacon, and a dress designer.
Minor
Garrett, (Principal
Trombone), is commencing his 16th season with the Heritage Philharmonic.
He is a graduate of Missouri State University with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education
and the University of Missouri with a Masters Degree in Music Performance. He is
a Worker’s Compensation Claims Case Manager for St. Paul Travelers Insurance and
plays trombone professionally with Garry Mac Inc., The Kenny Royal Big Band Organization,
and extra trombone for Kansas City Symphony, the St. Joseph Symphony, and many other
professional music organizations in the Kansas City area. Minor also musically directs
for many of the Kansas City area’s local Community Theaters. This coming year he
will be directing music for Blue Springs City Theatre’s spring production of Once
Upon A Mattress (http://www.bluespringscitytheatre.com/) and Liberty Theatre’s summer
production of The Wizard of Oz (http://mo-liberty.civicplus.com/index.asp?ID=217).
Minor is a Past Master of Independence Lodge #76. Minor’s sister is the principal
Bassoon.
Violinist
Jenna Harper has played with the Heritage
Philharmonic for five years. Jenna
is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Truman Medical Center’s Behavioral Health
Network where she works as a psychotherapist. She holds a BA in psychology from
Graceland College, Lamoni, IA and an MS in counseling psychology from Avila College,
Kansas City, MO. Jenna is married and has one daughter.
Rick
Henks, Vice-President Promotions (trumpet)
is entering his fourteenth year as a member of the Heritage Philharmonic and is a past president of the Board. Rick
is an active community volunteer serving as President of Board of Directors of Rachel
House Pregnancy Resource Centers and Director, Missouri Association of Insurance
and Financial Advisors. He is a member of First Baptist Church of Raytown. A financial
planner with Lincoln Financial Advisors, Rick earned his B.S. in Economics from
Central Missouri State University. He and wife Linda have three children and one
grandchild.
Al Hermans, (cello),
has been a member of the orchestra for fourteen years. Al who holds a BSCE degree from
the University of Minnesota, works as a civil engineer. When not playing in the
Orchestra, Al also serves others in the community and is a Board Member of the Friends
of Chicago & Alton Depot of Independence. Al is married with two step children.
Cathy Lawrey,
Past-President (violin)
joined
the Heritage Philharmonic Board in 2003 as a Director and then was elected for 2
years as Vice President and on August 8, 2008 elected President of the Board of
Directors. She has been very active on the Board as the chairperson, Rebranding
Committee and working Grants, Public Relations and Operations. Cathy is also an
accomplished musician and has been a violinist with the orchestra for 7 years.
Her community spirit can be found as an
active member of her church,
First Baptist Church of Leeʼs
Summit and supporting other non-profit organizations such as the Raytown Artists
Association, Raytown Arts Council,
Wayside Waifs,
Heart of America
United Way and the Community Blood Center. Cathyʼs love of
music takes her outside of
Kansas City
metropolitan area where she plays with the Nashville Praise Symphony, a
non-profit group that performs benefits for a variety of charities in the
Nashville,
TN
area and this summer traveled internationally with the group to perform
American Pops and
Jazz works
throughout
Greece. Cathy
is not just about her passion for non-profit community work, she is a talented
and in-demand business analyst and project manager in the telecommunication,
financial and healthcare industries in the
Kansas City
metropolitan area. She most recently has joined Ingenix, Inc. in
Lenexa
Kansas as a Senior Project Manager.
Betty
Liston, Director-Emeritus (violin) has been a member of the Heritage Philharmonic since nearly
the beginning. Betty also is one of several orchestra members who serves as a member
of the Heritage
Philharmonic Board of Directors. Betty’s 10+ years of service includes
positions as VP, Treasurer, Secretary, Treasurer-Secretary. Betty currently is the
Orchestra’s Librarian. A member of the Community of Christ – Ridgewood church, Betty
teaches adult classes. She also is active in the community serving as Secretary-Correspondent
for the Independence Music Club; Treasurer of I Share Committee, and a volunteer
at IRHC, Community of Christ Temple and Truman Forest Surgery Center. Betty, a retired
Master Gardner taught public school at the elementary level for 24 years. She earned
her BA Degree graduating Magna Cum Laude in Painesville, Ohio. Betty has two children,
Karen and Ted, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
R.
Mark Pearson,
(viola),
This is my third year as a member of the Heritage Philharmonic. I wanted to play viola when I started in
Independence Public Schools at Hanthorn Elementary in 5th grade. However, my arms
“weren’t long enough” to play viola, so I began with violin. I continued in this
fashion until I was a sophomore in Truman High School where I switched to viola.
I continued with viola through two years of orchestra in Graceland College in Lamoni,
Iowa and 2 and a half years at the University of Missouri, Rolla where I graduated
in 1978 with a degree in Civil Engineering. Other than playing in my church orchestra,
I did play in the Santa Fe Community Orchestra in New Mexico for a couple of seasons
back in 1982 and 1983. While in Truman High School I played in the pit orchestra
for Fiddler on the Roof. Last year I was fortunate enough to play in Lee’s Summit’s
Community Theatre production of Fiddler on the Roof in their pit orchestra. In college
I also played in a production of Paint Your Wagon pit orchestra as well. Professionally,
I am a civil engineer concentrating in wastewater treatment for the past 26 years.
I am married with two adult children; Carolyn who teaches high school chemistry
in Lansing, KS and Russ who is a business major working at AZ Manufacturing and
Sales in Independence. My wife, Sue teaches 5th grade at Blackburn Elementary in
Independence. Sue and I serve as co-pastors of the Praise Ministry at the New Walnut
Park Community of Christ church where I play guitar in the praise band with my two
children.
Jeffrey D. Quibell,
Treasurer
(cello)
of the Board has been a member for nine years.
In addition to playing cello for the Philharmonic, Jeff sings bass
in a barbershop gospel group known as The Circuit Riders and plays cello in a classical
quartet called The Andante Quartet. Jeff formerly served on the Blue Springs City Council
representing the residents of District One in Blue Springs. He is a member
of St. Peter United Methodist Church, serving previously in the positions of Trustee
Chairman, Building Committee Chairman, Lay Delegate and Delegate at Large to the
Annual Conference, and District Nominating Committee. He also is active in the community,
working on the Blue Springs Out of the Blue Implementation Committee, as Chairman
of Schools in the Community subcommittee, and on the Technology subcommittee of
the Blue Springs School District Community Advisory Committee. Jeff is a
member of the Blue Springs Kiwanis Club, Blue Springs Country Club, the Ararat Shrine,
and Corinthian Lodge No. 265 AF & AM. He is past President of the Sherwood
Village Homes Association. A member of the Blue Springs, Independence, and
Kansas City Chambers of Commerce, Jeff is a professional Computer Software Developer
for 30 years and Chairman of CPros, Inc. a local custom software development company.
Jeff and wife Wanda have two daughters both in college.
Patty Reynolds, (viola), is a new member of the Heritage Philharmonic. Patty
holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from Central
Missouri State University where she also minored in Music Education. Patty is a
member of the Rime Buddhist Center in Kansas City, where she serves on the Board
and acts as the chair of a committee. Patty works as a Claims Technician for the state of Missouri with the department
of employment security. She is married with a dog and two cats – she is also a proud
“aunt”.
Margery Wade,
Director-Emeritus, (violin), has been a member of the
Orchestra since 1945. She also serves as a member of the Heritage Philharmonic Board
of Directors and currently is the Orchestra Personnel Manager. Marge has worked
as a substitute teacher and private teacher, and also spent 19 years in the financial
industry, retiring from Smith Barney. Marge is very active in the Independence community
and serves many organizations including: VP Cultural Arts Coalition, Instrumental
Chairman of the Independence Music Club, Manager and Promoter of the Eastern Jackson
County Youth Orchestra, a member of the Singing Strings Quartet, and a Volunteer
at the ICU Unit of Independence Regional Hospital. Marge has three sons.
Mary Wilcox, (percussion), has been a member of the Heritage Philharmonic for seven years.
She also performs with the Spirit of Independence Community Band and the Handbell
Choir of First Baptist Church of Independence. Mary is a graduate of the UMKC Conservatory
of Music with BA Degree in Percussion.
Married 27 years to Don Wilcox, she has one daughter, Andrea Crandall and a son,
Christopher who is a senior at Fort Osage.
Helen Byler (cello) After twenty-five years of teaching and as department chair for special education in Pennsylvania, it has been exciting to have more time for my cello in retirement. Music has always been my avocation. I have played in civic symphonies, pit orchestras for summer theaters, the International String Conference, string quartets, and sung with my husband in the church choir. Our oldest daughter plays fiddle, sings, and records with The Hootin Annies, while her younger sister directs a church choir. We are a musical family!
Grant writing for the Philharmonic has been second nature after many years of writing educational plans and grants for special education.