The Orchestra
Violin
Steven Copes
Violinist Steven Copes joined The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra as Concertmaster in 1998, and since then has led the SPCO from the first chair in many highly acclaimed, eclectic programs. He appears frequently as soloist with the SPCO and many other ensembles around the world. A zealous advocate of the … Learn more
Kyu-Young Kim
Kyu-Young Kim, Principal Violin of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, is widely recognized for his dynamic performances as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral leader. His appointment as the SPCO’s Artistic Director in January 2016 was the first time a playing member had been tapped to take the artistic helm … Learn more
Nina Tso-Ning Fan
Nina Tso-Ning Fan is a full-time member of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. A native of Colorado, Fan began her violin studies at the age of four. She earned her bachelor’s degree in French literature from Harvard University while studying violin with James Buswell at the New England Conservatory of … Learn more
Eunice Kim
A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, violinist Eunice Kim made her solo debut at the age of seven with the Korean Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra. Called “just superb” (The New York Times), she recently made her solo debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Louisville Symphony, and … Learn more
Eunae Koh*
Award-winning violinist Eunae Koh enjoys an established career as a soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. Since 2019, she has been an active member of the Grammy Award-winning Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, where she regularly performs as a featured soloist, most notably leading performances of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, B minor … Learn more
Kathryn Bennett
Kathryn Bennett has performed and toured frequently with both the Minnesota Orchestra and The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, recently spending three seasons as a member of the Minnesota Orchestra first violin section. A native of Connecticut, Kathryn first moved to Minneapolis to study at the University of Minnesota with Sally … Learn more
Beatrice Hsieh
Praised for her “ferocious, lithe” (ClevelandClassical) playing “of the highest order” (South Florida Classical Review), violinist Beatrice Hsieh (pronounced ‘Shay’) is an accomplished performer in solo, chamber, and orchestral mediums, and is also sought after for her experience in historically-informed performance and new music. A recent Fellow of the New … Learn more
Rannveig Marta Sarc
Icelandic-Slovenian violinist, Rannveig Marta Sarc, was born into a musical family and has performed throughout Asia, North-America and Europe. She has been featured as soloist with the Iceland Symphony, Slovene Philharmonic, Iceland Youth Symphony and Orchestra Matutina, among others. As a chamber musician, she has performed with Jupiter Symphony Chamber … Learn more
Viola
Maiya Papach
Maiya Papach is the principal violist of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. A member of the orchestra since 2008, she has made solo appearances with the SPCO in Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante with concertmaster Steven Copes, solo directed Benjamin Britten’s Lachrymae and as soloist in Woolrich’s Ulysses Awakes. Papach has … Learn more
Hyobi Sim
A native Korean violist Hyobi Sim is the Associate Principal Violist of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. She began the study of viola when she was 12 years old. She won prizes at Tertis International Viola Competition, Music Chunchu Competition and Seoul Arts Center Competition. Sim has made solo appearances … Learn more
Daniel Orsen
Violist Daniel Orsen joined The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in the 2022.23 season. He began his tenure with the SPCO performing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola in September. During six years in Boston, Orsen performed with A Far Cry, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Fermata Chamber … Learn more
Lisa Sung
Hailed by the Australian Daily Telegraph as a "viola prodigy," Australian-Korean violist Lisa Sung is a laureate of the 12th Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition and the 10th Gisborne International Music Competition. She has performed the Bartók Concerto at the Sydney Opera House and has played in other prominent venues … Learn more
Cello
Julie Albers
American cellist Julie Albers is recognized for her superlative artistry, her charismatic and radiant performing style, and her intense musicianship. She was born into a musical family in Longmont, Colorado and began violin studies at the age of two with her mother, switching to cello at age four. Julie made … Learn more
Joshua Koestenbaum
Cellist Joshua Koestenbaum combines his career at The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra with active solo and chamber music performances as well as being an active private teacher. A member of the SPCO since 1980, he has appeared frequently as soloist with the Chamber Orchestra. During the 2001-02 season, Koestenbaum replaced … Learn more
Sarah Lewis
Cellist Sarah Lewis has been a member of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra since 1998. A Saint Paul native, she started piano lessons at the MacPhail Center for the Arts at the age of three. She holds degrees from Southern Methodist University and the Juilliard School, where she studied with … Learn more
Richard Belcher
New Zealand cellist Richard Belcher joined the SPCO in 2019 after a twenty year career as founding cellist of the Grammy-nominated Enso String Quartet. With the quartet he earned highly critical accolades from recording and concertizing in many of the world’s major concert halls such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, … Learn more
Double bass
Zachary Cohen
Zachary Cohen, a native of the Bronx, won the position of Principal Bass of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in his senior year at The Juilliard School at the age of 22. Cohen received his Bachelor of Music from The Juilliard School, where he studied with legendary bassist Homer Mensch. During … Learn more
Jason Wells
Jason Wells is joining The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra for the 2024-2025 season. Before his engagement with the SPCO, Jason performed with various ensembles across the Midwest, including the Des Moines Symphony and the Sioux City Symphony, among others. Beyond the classical stage, Jason is a sought-after bassist in genres … Learn more
Flute
Julia Bogorad-Kogan
The New York Times called Julia Bogorad-Kogan "a wonderful flutist — her playing is graceful, virtuosic, and always full of interest." Bogorad-Kogan, who became the SPCO's principal flutist at the age of 22, combines an orchestral career with regular recital and solo performances. She has performed worldwide, including at New … Learn more
Alicia McQuerrey
Alicia McQuerrey joined the SPCO as a flute and piccolo player in 2001. A native of Charleston, West Virginia, McQuerrey began studying the Suzuki flute method at the age of seven with Mrs. June Warhoftig, then principal flutist with the West Virginia Symphony. Alicia earned the distinction of becoming the … Learn more
Oboe
Cassie Pilgrim
A native of Chamblee, Georgia, Cassie Pilgrim is the Principal Oboist of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. In addition, she has performed in The Philadelphia Orchestra and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. During the summer, she has appeared at Festival Mozaic, Music from Angel Fire, the Aspen Music Festival and the … Learn more
Barbara Bishop
Acclaimed American oboist Barbara Bishop has had a rich and varied career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician and teacher prior to joining The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. She has served as Assistant Teaching Professor of Oboe at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory and Associate Principal Oboe with … Learn more
Clarinet
Sang Yoon Kim
South Korean clarinetist Sang Yoon Kim (1987) is the principal clarinet of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Sang Yoon is the top prize winner of the 67th Prague Spring International Music Competition 2015. His career highlights include his appearance as a soloist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under the baton … Learn more
Bassoon
Andrew Brady
Native Tennessean Andrew Brady joins The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in the 2022.23 season as Principal Bassoon. Brady comes to Minnesota from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, having served there as Principal Bassoon since January 2016. Prior to the ASO, Brady held the same position for two years with the Louisiana … Learn more
Demetra Alikakos
Hailing from suburban Chicago, Demetra Alikakos joined The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra as bassoonist in September 2024. Alikakos has appeared with the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, Grant Park Festival Orchestra and as a guest principal bassoonist with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Alikakos is a recent graduate of the … Learn more
Horn
James Ferree*
With horn playing described by the Star Tribune as "deliciously mellow," "captivating" and "standout," James Ferree joined The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra as Principal Horn in 2018. Previously the Principal Horn of the Richmond Symphony (VA), Ferree has performed as Guest Principal Horn with orchestras across the country such as … Learn more
Matthew Wilson
Matthew Wilson joined The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra as a member starting in the 2017-18 season, after playing as a guest musician for many years. He was Principal Horn of the Minnesota Opera Orchestra from 2012–2017. He was Acting Associate Principal Horn with the Minnesota Orchestra for the 2021-22 season … Learn more
Trumpet
Lynn Erickson
Minnesota native Lynn Erickson has played second trumpet for The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra since 1991. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, having earned both Master of Fine Arts and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees, and studied with Charles Schlueter, David Baldwin, Vincent Cichowicz, and Manny Laureano. … Learn more
* Leave of absence
The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra is proud to be a partner orchestra of the National Alliance for Audition Support (NAAS), an unprecedented national initiative to increase diversity in American orchestras. It will do so by offering Black and Latinx musicians a customized combination of mentoring, audition preparation, financial support, and audition previews. Learn more at www.auditionalliance.org.