About the OP Symphony
The Orchard Park Symphony Orchestra was established in 1949 by eight musicians in the living room of Parl Brooks’ home on Clark Street in Orchard Park. Being able to draw professional and amateur musicians alike, it has been the pleasure of the Orchard Park Symphony Orchestra to be YOUR Symphony in the Southtowns. With the assistance of the Orchard Park Central School District’s Community Education Program, the embryonic orchestra retained its first conductor, Joesph Wincenc.
The Orchestra’s first concert featured Betty Smith as its first solo artist performing the second movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No 12 in A Major. Since then, the OPSO has been able to continue because of the generous support of its patrons. Our tradition of exceptional quality has drawn in outstanding solo artists including Mark O’Connor, Jay and Molly Ungar, Cathy Cho, Peter Stumpf, Jeremy Denk, Carol Wincenc, Eduardus Halim, Simon Boyar, Claudia Hoca, Rachel Lee, and Simon Mulligan.
We hope you can join us!
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Conductor and Music Director
S. Shade Zajac
Executive Board
Jason Majchrzak, President
Doug Ward, Vice President
Meri Beth Jones, Board Liaison and Past-President
Barney Colón, Past-President
Peg Beyer, Treasurer
Lora Sambora, Director of Special Projects
Tere Piper, Director
Board Members
Carol Blackley
Luke Borkowski
Alicia Breinlinger
Linda Dansa
Roseann Deni
Jo Ann Litwin-Clinton
Gail Freeman
Elaine Rappold
Alan Sager
Maureen Thiel
Administrative Staff
Brenda Small, Executive Director
Michael Anton Sciortino, Librarian
Paul Furlong, Personnel Manager
Phil Tomczak, Stage and Venue Manager
Violin I
Jessica Anthony, Concertmaster
Katie D’Amato
Jennifer Haag
Merry Jeffers
Kristen Nalecz
Sandra Paddock
Blair Skowronski
Vanessa Snowden-Fargeat
Jason Tran
Denise Uhlman
Linda Ward
Marcella Wentland
Violin II
Barney Colón, Principal
Carla Ahles
Maria Czechowski
Linda Dansa
Bailey Daly
Jacqueline Dubill
Vivian Johnston
Rory Jones
Lora Sambora
Michael Anton Sciortino
Jessica Tufte
Susan Reifsteck Tufte
Viola
Amy Kelly, Principal
Cody Bartolucci
Leslie Bahler
Kailey Czyz
Camen Duino
Martin Ederer
Annette Ieda
Joe Klein
Dennis Lell
Amanda Mccormick
Shannon Wichlacz
Riley Williams
Cello
Nanci Bailey, Principal
John Bailey
Peg Beyer
Luke Borkowski
Nicholas Chiappetta
Randy Leon
Julie Lisy
John Martell
Ed Sobczak
Jonathan Steffen
Bass
Peter Bahler, Principal
Ally Jindra
Colin O’Donnell
Flute
Nicole McPherson, Principal
Rachel Decker
Piccolo
Oboe
Brenda Small, Principal
Laura Buechi
English Horn
Clarinet
Roseann Deni, Principal
Elaine Rappold
Bass Clarinet
Richard Nunemaker
Bassoon
Paul Furlong, Principal
Douglas Ward
Contrabassoon
Trumpet
Larry Deni, Principal
Kara Mayer
Nathan Barnes
Horn
Michael Ruesch, Principal
Julie Robinson
Jason Majchrzak
Madeline Vail
Nan Cobb
Trombone
Mike Bossert, Principal
Chris Gorman
Peter Blackwell
Bass Trombone
Tuba
Fred Lenz, Principal
Percussion
Eric Jeffers
Steve Tills
Jackie Niuzzo-Ruderman
Ed Bradley
Benjamin Marthia
Timpani
Molly Williams
Harp
Cristin Kalinowski