Photo of the Bellingham Festival Orchestra in concert.

2025 Festival Orchestra

*Indicates rotation of seating from week to week.

Violin Section Sponsor- Joanne Donnellan

Violin I

Photo Portrait of Justin Bruns, principal violinist and Concertmaster


Concertmaster Sponsors - Sandy Wolf & Robert Harris

  • Associate Concertmaster: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
  • Concertmaster: Cabrillo Music Festival
  • Faculty: Emory University

Chair Sponsors–Grace Phelan & David Harris

  • Assistant Concertmaster: Oregon Symphony
  • Oregon Symphony
  • Former Concertmaster: Huntsville Symphony
  • Concertmaster: Chattanooga Bach Choir
  • Former Acting Associate Concertmaster: Auckland Philharmonia
  • Former First Violin: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
  • Sphinx Symphony Orchestra
  • Professor Emeritus: Butler University
  • Concertmaster: Carmel Symphony Orchestra
  • Faculty: Western Washington University
  • Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra
  • Faculty: Kennesaw State University
  • Assistant Principal Second: Atlanta Opera Orchestra
  • Principal: Pacific Northwest Ballet
  • First Violin: Cabrillo Festival
  • Recording Artist: Skywalker Sound
  • Arkansas Symphony
  • Concertmaster: Bellingham Symphony Orchestra
  • Assistant Concertmaster: New Haven Symphony

Violin II

Photo Portrait of Sarah Shellman, principal second violinist


Chair Sponsors - Jack & Marybeth Campbell

  • Principal Second Violin: The Florida Orchestra
  • First Violin: Cabrillo Festival
  • The Florida Orchestra
  • Montgomery Symphony Orchestra
  • Professor: Western Washington University
  • New York Freelance Concertmaster
  • Professor: University of Georgia
  • Victoria Symphony Orchestra
  • Welcome Home Alumna
  • Alabama Symphony Orchestra

Viola Section Sponsors- Sandy & Mamiko McIntire

Portrait of Caroline Gilbert, principal viola, holding her viola.


Chair Sponsors - Don & Karen Berry

  • Principal Viola: Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Associate Principal: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
  • Saint Louis Symphony
  • Seattle Freelance Violist and Recording Artist
  • Bellingham Chamber Music Society
  • Seattle Symphony Orchestra (sub)
  • Seattle Opera (sub)
  • Pacific Northwest Ballet (sub)
  • Maryland Symphony (sub)
  • Annapolis Symphony (sub)
  • DC Youth Orchestra Program coach
  • National Philharmonic Youth Mentorship Program

Violoncello Section Sponsors- Marty and Gail Haines

Portrait of Sarah Lewis, cello, standing in front of blue steps.


Chair Sponsor - Loraine Boland

  • St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
  • Lakes Chamber Music Festival

Chair Sponsor–Holly Witte

  • Associate Principal: Kansas City Symphony
  • The Florida Orchestra
  • Section Cello: The Florida Orchestra
  • Section Cello: Sarasota Orchestra
  • Faculty: Florida Southern College
  • Artistic Director and Founder: Quadra Island Festival of Chamber Music (B.C., Canada)
  • Principal Cellist (ret.): Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
  • Faculty: University of Indianapolis
  • Faculty: Peabody Preparatory

Contrabass Section Sponsor- Lois Nicholl

Portrait of Nina DeCesare, bass, standing in front of a white brick wall and holding a stand up bass.


Chair Sponsors–Charli Daniels, Tony & Jaime Stopperan

  • Section Bass: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
  • Faculty: Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University
  • Founder: The Artemis Bass Initiative
  • Oakland Symphony
  • Alchemy Sound Project
  • Outpost Collective
  • Composer
  • St Louis Symphony (sub)
  • Opera Theater St. Louis
  • San Diego Symphony (2022)
  • Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

Woodwind Section Sponsor- Carol Snowball

Photo Portrait of Christina Smith, principal flute.


Chair Sponsors-Dave Peterson & Diane Penn

  • Principal: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
  • Artist Affiliate: Emory University
  • Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
  • Assistant Professor: Western Washington University
Photo Portrait of Harrison Linsey, principal oboe.


Chair Sponsors-David Wu & USA Yang, Barbara Young

  • Principal: Oregon Symphony
  • Professor: Kent State University
  • Principal: The Erie Philharmonic
  • Artistic Coordinator: Kent Blossom Music Festival
  • Principal Oboe: Pacific Northwest Ballet
  • Artist in Residence: University of Washington
  • Adjunct Professor: University of Puget Sound
  • Saint Louis Symphony
Portrait of Taylor Marino, clarinet in a blue shirt, holding a clarinet.


Chair Sponsors-George & Nancy Gale, John Moffat & Karen Lerner

  • Principal: Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
Portrait of Principal Clarinet Erika Block


Chair Sponsors-Kurt & Wilma Schweickhard

  • Executive Director: Bellingham Festival of Music
  • Bellingham Chamber Music Society
  • Principal Clarinet: Pacific Northwest Ballet
  • Auburn Symphony
  • Affiliate Faculty: University of Puget Sound
  • US Army Band
  • Faculty: Seattle Pacific University and Pierce College
  • Professor of Music: University of Idaho
  • Spokane Jazz Orchestra
  • Saxophonist with duality
  • Senior Instructor: Western Washington University
  • First call Seattle Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet
Portrait of Brittany Harrington, Principal Bassoon.


Chair Sponsors–Ron & Carolyn Woodard

  • Breaking Winds Bassoon Quartet
  • PNW Freelance Musician
Portrait of Julia Paine, Bassoon.


Chair Sponsor–Barbara Young

  • Saint Louis Symphony

Chair Sponsors–Garland Richmond & Richard Stattelman

  • Oregon Symphony

  • Instructor: Western Washington University
  • Bellingham Chamber Music Society
  • Principal Bassoon: Pacific Northwest Ballet

Brass Section Sponsors- Ronald and Carolyn Woodard

Photo Portrait of Jeff Garza, principal horn.


Chair Sponsors-Joel & Mary Pat Thuma, Diane Norman

  • Principal: Oregon Symphony
  • Adjunct Professor of Horn: Oregon State University
Portrait of David Sullivan, Principal Horn.


Chair Sponsors-Jim & Judy Woods

  • Associate Principal: Kansas City Symphony

  • Houston Grand Opera

  • Virginia Symphony Orchestra

  • Principal Horn: Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra
  • Adjunct Faculty: University of Puget Sound and Seattle Pacific University
  • Extra: Seattle Symphony/Seattle Opera
  • Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Photo Portrait of Charles Butler, principal trumpet.


Chair Sponsors - Barry Hembree & Michelle Judson, Lindsey & Jan Vereen

  • Pacific Northwest Ballet
  • Portland Opera
  • Oregon Ballet Theater
  • Oregon Symphony

  • Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
  • Trumpet Emeritus: Millar Brass Ensemble
  • Conductor: Northwest Brass Ensemble
  • Olympia Chamber Orchestra
Portrait of Ross Holcombe, trombone in a black shirt, leaning against a wall and holding a trombone.


Chair Sponsors - Barbara Vz Howard, Bob & Betty Tull

  • Associate Principal: The Florida Orchestra

  • Faculty: University of South Florida
  • Assistant Principal: North Carolina Symphony

  • Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band
  • Substitute: Seattle Symphony and Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra
  • Paramount Theater Orchestra
  • Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra
  • Auburn Symphony
  • University of Puget Sound

Percussion Section Sponsors- John & Marcia Harter

Photo Portrait of Mark Guthrie, principal timpani.


Chair Sponsors - Bob & Wilma Bryant

  • Principal: Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
  • Principal Timpanist: Symphony Tacoma
  • Principal Timpani & Percussion: Northwest Sinfonietta
  • Principal Timpani: Auburn Symphony
  • Principal Timpani & Percussion: North Corner Chamber Orchestra
  • The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle
  • The Paramount Theatre, Seattle
  • Auburn Symphony Orchestra
  • Professor: Western Washington University
  • Pacific Northwest Ballet
  • Extra Musician: Seattle Symphony
  • Extra Musician: Vancouver Symphony
  • Principal Harp: Grand Rapids Symphony
  • Harp Teacher: Calvin University
  • Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Faculty: Western Washington University
  • Principal Harp: Bellingham Symphony Orchestra
  • Principal Harp: Yakima Symphony Orchestra
  • Professor: Western Washington University
  • Instructor: Western Washington University
  • Kulshan Duo (with Mehrdad Gholami)

Sponsor–Lois Nicholl

  • Tropical Zone Music
Musicians
Artistic Director
2025 Guest Artists
Festival Orchestra
Festival Chorus
Conducting Institute
Laureate Conductor