Musician Bios
Violin I
Uli Speth,
Concertmaster
A native of Germany, Uli completed his undergraduate
studies at the Mozarteum in Salzburg/Austria as
student of Harald Herzl. Uli participated in
numerous performance classes given by Yfrah Neaman,
Thomas Brandis, Jaap Schroeder and Nicolaus
Harnoncourt among others and, after moving to the
US, earned his Master of Music from the Mannes
College of Music. He was a student of Felix Galimir
from whom he received both violin and string quartet
training.
An active orchestra musician, Uli serves as first
violin associate of New York City Opera and has
performed with various other orchestras including
the American Symphony Orchestra, Albany Symphony,
Westchester Philharmonic and Northeastern
Pennsylvania Philharmonic.
This year marks Uli’s tenth season as first
violinist of the Diller-Quaile String Quartet with
whom he has played concerts throughout the US, has
commissioned and premiered new pieces for string
quartet and performed live on Vermont Public Radio
and KMFA of Texas. As part of its residency this
group maintains a vital presence in the New York
community by offering a series of recitals and also
giving outreach concerts for children in public
schools in the South Bronx, Harlem, and the Lower
East Side.
Uli’s recent solo and chamber performances have been
praised by critics for his ‘brilliant sound and
facile fingers’ (Austin American Statesman) and
‘gorgeous tone and stunning technique’ (Salzburger
Nachrichten).
Uli is first violinist of the recently formed
novo4tet and this will be Uli’s third season as
Concertmaster of the Binghamton Philharmonic
Orchestra.
Heeja Chang Questad, Asst.
Concertmaster
Heeja Chang Questad received a Masters Degree in Performance from the
Manhattan School of Music. She is presently Assistant Concertmistress of the
Binghamton Philharmonic, member of the Venus String Quartet and Eastern
Silk. In addition to teaching privately, she has frequently been a soloist
and ensemble player throughout the Tri Cities area and the central New York
area. Back to musicians list.
Cheryl Cory
Cheryl Cory received her Bachelor of Music in Education and
Performance from Ithaca College, and her Master of Arts in Classical
String Performance from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance,
University of Limerick, Ireland. A native of the Binghamton area,
she studied with Heeja Chang Questad for eight years before
attending college. Other teachers and mentors include Ellen Jewett,
Mariana Sirbu and Bruno Giuranna. She is currently Orchestra
Director for grades 6-12 in the Horseheads Central School District.
Back to musicians list.
Susan Hoffmann
Susan began her early musical training on the violin at the New England
Conservatory of Music Preparatory School in Boston, MA. She went on to
receive two Bachelors Degrees in Psychology and Music Education from Oberlin
College and Conservatory in Oberlin, Ohio. After teaching strings for four
years in Fairfax County Virginia, she left to earn her Masters in Violin
Performance at West Virginia University. She then moved to the Southern Tier
of New York where she first taught strings in the Bainbridge-Guilford
Schools, and is now working with students in the Union-Endicott Central
School District. She resides in Vestal with her two cats and enjoys teaching
and performing throughout the area. BBack to musicians list.
Cathleen Murphy
Cathleen is a string teacher in the Johnson City School District for
elementary and middle school orchestras. She has a B.A. in piano and violin
performance from Binghamton University, teaching certification from the
Eastman School of Music and an M.A. in Music Education from Ithaca College.
She is a violinist in the Tri-Cities Opera orchestra as well as the
Binghamton Philharmonic and has performed with other groups in New York
State and Europe. Back to musicians list.
Judith Niles
Judith A. Niles received her undergraduate degree from Crane School of Music
at SUNY Potsdam where she performed with the Crane Symphony Orchestra, Crane
Symphonette, the Senior String Quartet and was a recipient of the Sigma
Alpha Iota Foundation Award. Her graduate work was done at Ithaca College,
the Mozarteum, Salzburg, Austria and Western Michigan University. Judith
served as orchestra director and Director of Music in the Bainbridge -
Guilford Schools as well as guest conductor for various all-county and all
-city music festivals. She is a first violinist with the Binghamton
Philharmonic, the Catskill Symphony , the Long Bay Symphony and the Jericho
String Quartet. Judith lives in Bainbridge with husband Paul. They have a
married son and daughter and four grandchildren. Back to musicians list.
Lois Pfister
Lois has a Bachelors in Music Education from Ithaca College and a Masters in
Music Performance from Penn State. She has taught students privately in
Cortland since 1979. She is the Concertmistress of the Cortland-Community
Orchestra (and has played solos with them on many occasions) and plays with
other groups including the Syracuse Symphony, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra and
the Skaneateles Festival Orchestra. Back to musicians list.
Herbert Poetzl
Herbert Poetzl received his initial musical training with the Bamberg and
Regensburg Cathedral Choirs. After the inevitable voice change, he
concentrated just as religiously on the violin, where his teachers have
included Romulo Ribera and Anna Mae Sharp. He joined the Phoenix Symphony in
high school and subsequently performed with the Tucson and Springfield
Symphonies as well as with various festival orchestras in the Five-College
area of western Massachusetts. A member of the Binghamton Philharmonic since
1980, he also performs regularly with the Catskill Symphony and the
Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes. Herbert holds advanced degrees in
zoology and cultural history and is currently employed as an archivist at
Binghamton University. Back to musicians list.
Meyer Stolov
Meyer Stolov was born in Montreal. Seeking broader musical horizons, he
traveled to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music where he was
awarded the highest honors and was subsequently elected a Fellow (F.R.A.M.).
After a further year of study at the Conservatoire de Musique in Brussels
and a visit to Geneva for the Concours International, where he earned a
Diploma, he returned to England to pursue his career. He has had an
illustrious musical career, having been concertmaster of the Royal Opera
House at Covent Garden, the London Mozart Players, the City of Birmingham
Symphony Orchestra and the Ulster Chamber Orchestra. In addition, during his
years in Britain, he has regularly performed in solo and chamber music
concerts, often on the BBC. After leaving England in 1981, Mr. Stolov came
to New York City and freelanced for several years before deciding to settle
in Ithaca, where he now resides, and is a regular performer and teacher in
the Finger Lakes area.
Since 2002 Meyer Stolov has become involved with painting and
drawing after attending some classes at Ithaca's Senior Center. He
was fortunate to have an excellent teacher, Mary Jo Larsen, who
inspired him to pursue his new passion.
Back to musicians list.
Violin II
Karel Sedlacek
Karel Sedlacek, originally from Omaha, Nebraska, studied violin in New York
City. He has been a member of symphonic organizations in the Southern Tier
since 1988. Back to musicians list.
Viola
Martha Brody, Principal
Martha (Mardi) Brody is a free-lance violinist and violist in the
greater New York City area. Orchestras she has played with in addition to
the Binghamton Philharmonic include the American Symphony, Stamford
Symphony, Eos Orchestra, Concordia, the Long Island Philharmonic, Orchestra
of St. Luke’s, Musica Sacra, and others. She holds a Bachelor of Music
degree from Catholic University, and a Masters degree and Doctorate from the
Manhattan School of Music. In her spare time, Mardi knits, reads, and serves
her community as a Sergeant in Manhattan’s 24th Precinct Auxiliary Police
Unit. Back to musicians list.
Edward Pettengill, Asst. Principal
Edward Pettengill was born in Elmira and is a graduate of the Eastman
School of Music He moved to Binghamton in 1964 and joined the Binghamton
Symphony that year. He has also played in the B.C. Pops, the Rochester
Philharmonic, and the Eastman Rochester Symphony and is a member of the
Tri-Cities Opera Orchestra. He has been a volunteer fireman since 1966 and
taught music at the kindergarten through college level for over 16 years. He
has also been a piano technician since 1969. He likes photography, radio
controlled aircraft and zoomobiles. Back to musicians list.
Russell Colton
Russell Colton has a Matser’s Degree in Viola from Indiana University,
Bloomington Indiana. He is retired after 32 years teaching string
instruments and directing the Junior Youth Symphony Orchestra for the
Binghamton City School District. He performs with various musical
organizations and continues as director of the Junior Youth Orchestra.
Back to musicians list.
Amy Merrill
Violist Amy Merrill spends her days teaching violin and viola lessons and
enjoying the company of her small son Tijs. In addition to playing in the
Binghamton Philharmonic, she is a member of the Tri-Cities Opera Orchestra,
a jazz trio called From the Bridge, and a blues band known as Jesse’s
Backyard Orchestra. Back to musicians list.
Leland Roseboom
Leland Roseboom earned degrees from Houghton College (Houghton, NY) and
Peabody Conservatory (Baltimore, MD). His 45 plus years of teaching and
playing experience includes elementary through college levels in both the
public and private sectors of education. Having played in the Binghamton
Philharmonic since 1973, he also enjoys working on family history.
Back to musicians list.
Cello
Christopher White
Chris White is a classical and jazz cellist based in Ithaca. He has
performed and taught around the U.S., as well as in Canada, Europe and North
Africa. He has several solo recordings and has played on numerous recordings
of other artists. Chris is also the founder and director of the New
Directions Cello Association and Festival.
Back to musicians list.
Bass
Bradley Aikman, Principal
Bradley Aikman joined the Binghamton Philharmonic in September of 2000
as Principal Bass. He is also Principal Bass of the Albany Symphony and the
Norwalk Symphony Orchestra. Bradley has recently obtained both a Master and
Professional Studies Degree from the Manhattan School of Music where he was
a student of Timothy Cobb. He also holds a degree in Music Education from
Ithaca College and an Associate in Music Performance from Nassau Community
College. Back to musicians list.
Joshua Kerr,
Asst. Principal
Josh Kerr was born and raised in Chicago in 1976 and moved to Rochester in
1994 to attend the Eastman School of Music. In 2001, he married Marni, a
Rochester native, soprano and educator in the Geneva City Schools. In his
free time he enjoys fishing with his dog, Zeke. He began playing the bass in
1984 and intends to continue pursuing a career as an orchestral musician.
Back to musicians list.
Kristin Benson
Kristin Benson began playing bass at the age of 10
and first performed in the Binghamton Philharmonic
in 1995. She also serves as assistant principal
bassist of the Orchestra of the Southern Finger
Lakes. Kristin received her Bachelor of Music in
Music Education from Ithaca College in 2001 and
Master of Music degree in Double Bass Performance
from Stony Brook University in 2003, and currently
teaches grades 3-8 orchestra. She has been
particularly influenced by renowned bassists
Francois Rabbath and Edgar Meyer. Back to musicians list.
Flute
Georgetta Maiolo, Principal
Nina Stutzman
Nina Stutzman received her Bachelor's of Music Education from the Crane
School of Music and her Master's of Music Performance from Binghamton
University. In addition to performing with the Binghamton Philharmonic, Nina
was a member of the BC Pops Orchestra and currently plays flute and piccolo
with the Tri-Cities Opera Orchestra. She teaches flute and piccolo privately
in her Vestal home. Back to musicians list.
Clarinet
Robin Seletsky, Principal
Robin Seletsky attended the New England Conservatory of Music, where she
performed Debussy's Premiere Rhapsodie with the Boston Pops as the first
prize winner in the NEC graduating competition. She later attended the
Juilliard School. Her teachers include her father, Harold Seletsky, as well
as Peter Hadcock of the BSO and Leon Russianoff. Formerly the assistant
principal and Eb clarinetist with the San Antonio Symphony, she is currently
principal clarinetist of the Glimmerglass Opera orchestra as well as the
Binghamton Philharmonic. Robin is also an accomplished klezmer musician and
is the music director of Temple Beth El in Oneonta.
Back to musicians list.
Lynn Hileman, Principal
Lynn Hileman is an active freelance musician in western and central New
York. She is currently the principal bassoonist of the Binghamton
Philharmonic Orchestra, and has also performed with the Rochester
Philharmonic Orchestra and the Syracuse and New Haven Symphony Orchestras.
In addition to orchestral playing, Lynn also has a strong interest in period
instruments as well as contemporary music, and has performed with such
groups as New Music New Haven, June in Buffalo, and Ossia, as well as
Eastman Musica Nova, with whom she performed Sofia Gubaidulina's Concerto
for Bassoon and Low Strings in 2002. She is co-owner of The All-Purpose
Room, an art gallery and performance space in Rochester, New York that is
dedicated to presenting and creating interdisciplinary works that blur the
lines between art, sound, and space. Lynn serves on the faculties of
Hamilton and Hartwick Colleges, and holds degrees from the Univeristy of
Michigan and Yale University. She is currently purusing a Doctor of Musical
Arts degree at the Eastman School of Music. Back to musicians list.
Martha Weber
Martha Weber has played Second Bassoon for the Philharmonic for 18 years.
She also currently holds the chair of Principal Bassoon in the Tri- Cities
Opera orchestra. She is an active performer and teacher. She is currently
enjoying her 20th year of teaching, currently for Union-Endicott School
District. Back to musicians list.
Peter Rothbart
Peter Rothbart is Professor of Music and Director of Recording and
Electroacoustic Music Studies at the Ithaca College School of Music. An
active composer as well, his works are published by Roger Dean Publications
and the International Trumpet Guild. He has had three Carnegie Hall
premieres and holds degrees from Eastman, UMASS, Ithaca College and the
Cleveland Institute of Music. Back to musicians list.
Horn
Patricia Ellis
Owego native Patricia Ellis has been a performer with the Tri-Cities Opera,
Glimmerglass Opera and the Binghamton Philharmonic for over 20 years. In
addition she performs solos in area churches and substitutes in other area
orchestras. Patti teaches Instrumental Music (Band) at Vestal High School.
She is married to Sgt. Steven Ellis of the Tioga County Sheriff’s Department
and they have three musical children, Jennifer, William and Matthew.
Back to musicians list.
Peter Perfetti
Peter Perfetti was awarded a BM from the Eastman School of Music in 1974 and
an MM from DePaul University in Chicago in 1976. He was Assistant Principal
Horn in Chicago Lyric Opera from 1974-76. He was a free lance horn player in
Los Angeles from 1979-82. He has been a member of the Binghamton
Philharmonic and the Tri-Cities Opera orchestra from 1982-present. He has
been a music teacher at Maine-Endwell schools from 1982-present. He is
married to Brenda Lidestri, a horn player with the Binghamton Philharmonic
since 2000. Back to musicians list.
Trumpet
Frank Campos, Principal
Frank Gabriel Campos is formerly principal trumpet of the Dallas Chamber
Orchestra, the Texas Baroque Society, the Bear Valley Festival orchestra,
the Madera Symphony, and the Dallas Brass. He has been a member of the Fort
Worth Symphony, Fresno Philharmonic, and the Monterey County Symphony. He is
currently professor of trumpet at Ithaca College’s Whalen Center for Music
and an active classical and jazz soloist throughout the east.
Back to musicians list.
Ben Aldridge
Ben Aldridge holds both Bachelors and Masters degrees from Yale University,
and has been a member of the Binghamton Philharmonic since 1991. Ben is also
a member of the Utica and Catskill Symphonies, as well as the Northeast
Pennsylvania Philharmonic and the Glimmerglass Opera Orchestra. He also
performs with and arranges for the Catskill Brass Quintet. Ben teaches
trumpet and coaches brass chamber music at Binghamton University, SUNY
Oneonta and Hartwick College. Ben is a charter member of the International
Trumpet Guild and has been recorded on Columbia and Redwood records.
Back to musicians list.
Joseph Spena
Joseph D. (“Jud”) Spena is currently Music Department Chair and elementary
school band director at the Chenango Valley Central Schools near Binghamton.
Jud grew up in Watkins Glen and attributes his early musical inspiration to
the band program and drum and bugle corps active there in the 60’s and 70’s.
He attended SUNY Brockport, received the Bachelor of Science Degree in Music
Education from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania and the Master of Music
from Ithaca College. Jud also holds the Certificate of Advanced Study in
Education Administration from SUNY Cortland. He is currently a member of
MENC, NYSSMA, and is a charter member of NYSDBA and the International
Trumpet Guild. An active professional musician, Mr. Spena has performed in
the trumpet sections of the Glimmerglass Opera, Rome Festival, Catskill,
Elmira, Corning, Colgate, Hamilton and Utica Symphony Orchestras, as well as
the Binghamton Philharmonic. The Spenas - Rebecca (BPO cellist and string
teacher in the Vestal Central Schools), Samantha age 11, Lucy 9 and Michael
7 (musicians all) - live just outside of Binghamton. Back to musicians list.
Trombone
Nathan Raboy
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Nathan moved to the Binghamton area in 1965,
attending Main-Endwell schools until he graduated in 1973. Nathan began
studying the piano at the age of six and trombone at the age of ten. He
continued studying at the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, where he
graduated with a certificate in music education. Nathan returned to the area
to teach music at Maine-Endwell and has been playing in the Binghamton
Philharmonic and Tri-Cities Opera orchestras ever since.
Back to musicians list.
Christopher Mann
Christopher Mann has been a professional musician for 32 years. He has
performed in the U.S. Navy Band in San Diego, California as well as for
Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, Olivia Newton John, Terence Blanchard, Tommy
Tune, Wayne Newton, Joan Rivers and the Irish Tenors.
Back to musicians list.
Tuba
Adam Peck, Principal
Adam Peck was raised in Endwell and now lives in Williamsport (PA) with
his wife Tena. He is a Route Manager for Schwans, Inc. and loves vintage
musical instruments. He attended Ithaca College and is also Tubist in the
Tri-Cities Opera Orchestra.
Timpani
Steven Mathiesen, Principal
Steven Mathiesen has been principal timpanist with the Binghamton
Philharmonic since 1996. In January 2002, he performed Russell Peck's
timpani concerto, Harmonic Rhythm with the orchestra. He is a member of the
music faculties of Marywood University in Scranton, and Moravian College in
Bethlehem, Pa. He also performs with the Northeastern Pennsylvania
Philharmonic and the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra. He received degrees
from Ithaca College and the Cincinnati College-Conservatory.
Back to musicians list.
Percussion
Sam Lazzara, Principal
Sam Lazzara divides his career between Binghamton and New York City. He
has played with a myriad of entertainment legends; from opera star Jessye
Norman and Broadway legend Carol Channing to jazz great Roscoe Mitchell and
punk pioneer Patti Smith. His playing has been broadcast nationally on NPR
and the New York Times wrote, “Sam Lazzara was a firm and stabilizing force
on percussion”. He has enjoyed his position as principal percussionist with
the Binghamton Philharmonic since 1993. Back to musicians list.
Daniel Fabricius
Daniel Fabricius has been a percussionist in the orchestra since 1982. He
has also performed with other regional organizations such as the Tri-Cities
Opera Orchestra, BC Pops, Catskills Symphony, and the Orchestra of the
Southern Finger Lakes. He serves as Director of Bands at Owego Free Academy
and has been on the faculty of Binghamton University since 1992 as
percussion instructor and conductor of the University Percussion Ensemble.
Back to musicians list.
Joel Smales
Joel Smales, BM, MM, a percussionist with the Binghamton Philharmonic is
also director of bands at Binghamton High School’s Rod Serling School of
Fine Arts. Joel performs with area jazz groups and can be heard on many
commercial recordings. He has several solo percussion, ensemble and method
books published by Phantom Publications as well as a textbook Teaching Music
at the Secondary Level - a curricular and pedagogical approach. His articles
on music and percussion have appeared in Percussive Notes and Band World
magazines. Back to musicians list.