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New Mexico Symphonic Chorus

The 2021/2022 season marks the 49th anniversary of this highly select, all-volunteer chorus and its 11th season with the name New Mexico Symphonic Chorus. Under Roger Melone’s direction since 1983, the chorus, formerly known as the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra Chorus, has gained national renown.

In 1999, the chorus received the Albuquerque Arts Alliance Bravo Award for Excellence in Musical Performance for its 1998 performances of Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. In 2006, Christopher Seaman, music director of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, invited the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra Chorus to perform Mozart’s Requiem with his orchestra at the 2006 Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival. Accolades from the audience, conductor, and orchestra were overwhelming, leading to return engagements in 2007, 2008, and 2011
to perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Local artistic collaborations include Verdi’s Aida in 2015 and Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers in 2014, both with Opera Southwest; Holiday Festival of Voices at Popejoy Hall in 2013 and 2014 with the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program; and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection,” with the New Mexico Philharmonic in 2012.

The volunteer members of the chorus are a diverse group. Among the singers, approximately 16 are professional musicians working in music-related fields, 34 hold degrees in music, and seven maintain private teaching studios. All of the singers have studied voice, are currently studying voice, or play an instrument. Some travel from as far as Santa Fe and Socorro to sing in the chorus.

NM SYmphonic Chorus

Meet the Musicians

CELLO
Amy Huzjak
Jonathan Flaksman •••

Carla Lehmeier-Tatum
Ian Mayne-Brody
Dana Winograd
David Schepps
Lisa Collins
Elizabeth Purvis

BASS
Jean-Luc Matton •+
Zachary Bush
++
Mark Tatum ••
Katherine Olszowka
Terry Pruitt
Frank Murry

FLUTE
Valerie Potter
Jiyoun Hur ••

OBOE
Kevin Vigneau
Amanda Talley

ENGLISH HORN
Melissa Peña ••+
Lauren Keating ••++

CLARINET
Marianne Shifrin •+
Lori Lovato •••
Timothy Skinner

E-FLAT CLARINET
Lori Lovato

BASS CLARINET
Timothy Skinner +
Cory Tamez ++

BASSOON
Stefanie Przybylska •
Denise Turner

HORN
Peter Erb
Allison Tutton
Katelyn Lewis •••
Maria Long ••••

TRUMPET
John Marchiando
Brynn Marchiando
Sam Oatts •••

TROMBONE
Aaron Zalkind
Byron Herrington

BASS TROMBONE
David Tall

TUBA
Richard White

TIMPANI
Micah Harrow

PERCUSSION
Jeff Cornelius
Kenneth Dean
Emily Cornelius

HARP
Matthew Tutsky

Principal •
Assistant Principal ••
Associate Principal •••
Assistant ••••
Leave +
One year position ++