We’re honored to be an internationally award-winning community orchestra serving musicians in and around Denver. Helmed by Music Director Lawrence Golan, approximately 80% of our musicians are volunteer — they serve our community as doctors, lawyers, architects and teachers in their “day jobs.” We’re also incredibly proud to be a home for budding professional musicians to hone their craft and provide them with opportunities to be featured soloists in main stage concerts, perform overseas with professional orchestras and offer chances to shine in small ensembles at our DPO With a Twist chamber series.

Our Orchestra

Taylor Gonzales, Associate Conductor
Taylor also serves as the assistant conductor for the Lamont School of Music Symphony Orchestra at the University of Denver, where he is completing his Master’s Degree in Orchestral Conducting under Lawrence Golan. Taylor graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education.

Kurt Henning, Assistant Conductor
Kurt holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Double Bass Performance and a Master’s in Orchestral Conducting, both from Northwestern University. He led the orchestra and bands at Loyola University Chicago for 10 years and has conducted many musical theatre and opera performances.

First Violins
Katherine Thayer, concertmaster
Anna Katherine Barnett-Hart, associate concertmaster
Melissa Barru*
Ximena Calderon
Matthew Grove
Thomas Jatko
Beth Letendre*
Chad MacDonald
Ylana Padgett
Emmy Reid
Julia Taylor
Elizabeth Wall
Joy Yamaguchi
*on leave 2019-20 Season

Second Violins
Yiran Li, principal
Niccolo Werner Casewit
Valerie Clausen
Terri Gonzales
Miki Heine
Annie Laury
Callista Medland
Alyssa Oland
Roger Powell
Brian Ross
Erica Secor
Anne Silvas

Violas
Ezgi Pikayzen, principal
Annie Zagorski, assistant principal
Natasia Boyko
Chris Costello
Naomi Croghan
Lori Hanson
Jessica Hitt
Kaylin Jarriel
Samantha Lichtin
Ben Luey
Beth Remming
Julie Rooney
Vince Vuong

Cellos
Katie Burns, principal
Naftari Burns
Sarah Frederick
Mike Marecak
Shirley Marecak
Monica Sáles Council
Amanda Thall
Jeffrey Westcott
Rachel Yanovitch

Basses
Colton Kelley, principal
Xadie Antonio
Lucy Bauer
Josh Filley
Taryn Galow
Megan Gore Brazell
Kurt Henning

Flute
Whitney Kelley, principal
Catherine Ricca Lanzano
Joshua Hall (incl. piccolo)

Oboes
Kimberly Brody, principal
Loren Meaux, assistant principal (incl. English Horn)
Michael Sax

Clarinets
Kwami Barnett, principal
Claude Wilbur (incl. Bass Clarinet)
Jessica Clark (incl. E-flat Clarinet)

Bassoon
Ken Greenwald, principal
Sara Laupp

Horns
Zach Maupin, principal
Jeanine Branting
Kelli Hirsch
Kim George

Trumpets
Ryan Spencer, principal*
Ariel Van Dam
Colton Crandell
*on leave 2019-20 Season

Trombones
David Ellis, principal
Louis DeScala
Daniel Morris, bass trombone

Tuba
Darren DeLaup, principal

Timpani
Steve Bulota, principal

Percussion
Ross Coons, principal
Colin Constance
John Garvin

Harp
Becky Moritzky, principal

Piano
Ani Powell, principal