Pictured (l. to r.): Front row – Jan Angus, Joanna Bassett, Rebecca Gilbert, Andréa Banke, Jonathan Parkes.
Back row – Ramon Ricker, Martha Sholl, Robert DiLutis, Abraham Weiss, Kenneth Grant, Charles Bailey.
Photo: Perrin Yang
(Click on photo for enlarged version)
As published in Bravo Book 3, November, 2004
Meet the new Principal Oboe, Ariana Ghez
Jan Angus, Flute & Piccolo
With RPO since: 1979
Hometown: San Bernardino, CA
First orchestra job: Redlands Bowl Symphony, piccolo
Favorite musical period: Romantic Period (and Baroque because I play traverso)
Charles Bailey, Bassoon & Contra-Bassoon
With RPO since: 1995
Hometown: Myrtle Beach, SC
First orchestra job: South Carolina Philharmonic
Earliest musical memory: piano lessons at 7 years old
Andréa Banke, Principal Oboe
With RPO since: 2002
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Favorite composer: Handel and, lately, vocal works of Ned Rorem
Earliest musical memory: Mom playing Debussy on the piano as I feel asleep
Joanna Bassett, Flute & Piccolo
With RPO since: 1984
Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI
First orchestra job: Hong Kong Philharmonic
Earliest musical memory: Class recorder and ukulele lessons in elementary school in Hawaii
Robert DiLutis, Clarinet & E-flat Clarinet
With RPO since: 1996
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Earliest musical memory: My family Polka band with my father playing the trumpet
Favorite thing about Rochester: the support for the Arts is unbelievable!
Rebecca Gilbert, Principal Flute
With RPO since: 1996
Hometown: Lomira, WI
First orchestra job: Dayton Philharmonic
Favorite composer: Ravel – great woodwind solos!
Kenneth Grant, Principal Clarinet
With RPO since: 1987
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
First orchestra job: Ohio Symphony Orchestra
Earliest musical memory: Breaking my mouthpiece at my first concert in 4th grade ... and faking the entire concert
Jonathan Parkes, Oboe & English Horn
With RPO since: 1967
Hometown: Battle Creek, MI
Favorite composer: J.S. Bach
Favorite thing about Rochester: Highland Park, the lake, the grand homes
Ramon Ricker, Clarinet & Bass Clarinet
With RPO since: 1973
Hometown: Denver, CO
Favorite composer or musical period: No favorites, I enjoy it all.
Favorite thing about Rochester: the weather
Martha Sholl, Bassoon
With RPO since: 1984
Hometown: Bellefonte, PA
Favorite composer: Brahms
Earliest musical memory: piano lessons in 1st grade
Abe Weiss, Principal Bassoon
With RPO since: 1970
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Favorite composers: Brahms, Stravinsky, Ravel
Favorite thing about Rochester: We have so many friends here
