Photo of the Bellingham Festival Orchestra in concert.

2025 Festival Orchestra

Violins

Violin I

Photo Portrait of Justin Bruns, principal violinist and Concertmaster


  • Associate Concertmaster: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
  • Concertmaster: Cabrillo Music Festival
  • Faculty: Emory University
  • Former Concertmaster: Huntsville Symphony Orchestra
  • Concertmaster: Chattanooga Bach Choir
  • Professor Emeritus: Butler University
  • Faculty: Kennesaw State University
  • Assistant Concertmaster: New Haven Symphony
  • Principal: Pacific Northwest Ballet
  • First Violin: Cabrillo Festival
  • Recording Artist: Skywalker Sound

Violin II

Photo Portrait of Sarah Shellman, principal second violinist


  • Principal Second Violin: The Florida Orchestra
  • The Florida Orchestra (sub)
  • Professor: University of Georgia
  • Professor: Western Washington University
  • Alabama Symphony Orchestra
  • Montgomery Symphony Orchestra
  • Victoria Symphony Orchestra
  • Welcome Home Alumnae
  • Professor: University of Georgia

Viola

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


  • Associate Principal: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
  • Principal: New Haven Symphony
  • Bellingham Chamber Music Society
  • Maryland Symphony (sub)
  • Annapolis Symphony (sub)
  • DC Youth Orchestra Program coach
  • National Philharmonic Youth Mentorship Program
  • Seattle Symphony Orchestra (sub)
  • Seattle Opera (sub)
  • Pacific Northwest Ballet (sub)

Violoncello

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


  • Associate Principal: Kansas City Symphony
  • The Florida Orchestra
  • Faculty: Peabody Preparatory
  • Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra (retired)
  • Virginia Symphony Cape Symphony
  • Cape Symphony
  • Adjunct Faculty: Bard College

Contrabass

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


  • Oakland Symphony
  • Alchemy Sound Project
  • Outpost Collective
  • Composer
  • St Louis Symphony (sub)
  • Opera Theater St. Louis
  • San Diego Symphony (2022)

Flute

Photo Portrait of Christina Smith, principal flute.


  • Principal: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
  • Artist Affiliate: Emery University
  • Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Oboe

Photo Portrait of Harrison Linsey, principal oboe.


  • National Symphony Orchestra
  • Professor: Kent State University
  • Principal: The Erie Philharmonic
  • Artistic Coordinator: Kent Blossom Music Festival

English Horn

  • St. Louis Symphony

Clarinet

Portrait of Taylor Marino, clarinet in a blue shirt, holding a clarinet.


  • Executive Director: Bellingham Festival of Music
  • Bellingham Chamber Music Society

Bass Clarinet

  • Yakima Symphony Orchestra
  • Northwest Sinfonietta

Saxophone

  • Senior Instructor: Western Washington University
  • First call Seattle Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet

Bassoon

Photo Portrait of Joshua Elmore, principal bassoon.


  • Principal: Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

  • Oregon Symphony

  • Instructor: Western Washington University
  • Bellingham Chamber Music Society

ContraBassoon

  • Pacific Northwest Ballet

Horn

Photo Portrait of Jeff Garza, principal horn.


  • Principal: Oregon Symphony

  • Houston Grand Opera

  • Associate Principal: Kansas City Symphony

  • Virginia Symphony Orchestra

  • Principal Horn: Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra
  • Adjunct Faculty: University of Puget Sound and Seattle Pacific University
  • Extra: Seattle Symphony/Seattle Opera

Trumpet

Photo Portrait of Charles Butler, principal trumpet.


  • Pacfic Northwest Ballet
  • Portland Opera
  • Oregon Bellet Theater
  • Oregon Symphony

  • Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

Trombone

Portrait of Ross Holcombe, trombone in a black shirt, leaning against a wall and holding a trombone.


  • Assistant Principal: North Carolina Symphony

Bass Trombone

  • Olympia Symphony
  • Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band
  • Substitute: Seattle Symphony and Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra
  • Paramount Theater Orchestra

Tuba

Timpani

Photo Portrait of Mark Guthrie, principal timpani.


  • Principal: Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra

Percussion

Harp

  • Artistic Director: Archipelago Collective Chamber Music Festival

Piano/Organ/Celeste

  • Professor: Western Washington University

Banjo

Musicians
Artistic Director
2025 Guest Artists
Festival Orchestra
Festival Chorus
Conducting Institute
Laureate Conductor