About Us
The Sonoma County Philharmonic is a 65-member all-volunteer orchestra that has presented hundreds of free and low-cost concerts throughout Sonoma County over the past 26 years. The orchestra is made up of professional-level local musicians who volunteer their time and talents to reach an audience of people in the county who might otherwise not have the opportunity to enjoy an experience so central to our culture and heritage — the thrill of live orchestral music.
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We have featured young artists who have gone on to become world-class performers. And we provide an opportunity for local musicians, many of whom have retired from careers in music, to play in a professional-level orchestra. In short, our Philharmonic is dedicated to bringing the people who love to play music together with those who love to listen to it, enriching the cultural life of our county.
Our Mission
To enrich our community through the beauty and power of orchestral music. ​
Our Major Goals
♪ Sustain a Sonoma County all-volunteer orchestra comprised of professional-level musicians, providing them the opportunity to play, perform and share classical music at the highest level.
♪ Expand the audience for live classical music throughout Sonoma County with special outreach to seniors and retirement communities.
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♪ Collaborate with Sonoma County schools and music teachers both to enhance an appreciation of classical music in the classroom and to encourage students to play and perform orchestral music.
​We have always relied on you, our friends and supporters, to help us turn these lofty goals into reality. Members of the orchestra volunteer their time, energy and considerable talents to fulfill their passion and offer their music to the community. Scores of dedicated and equally passionate volunteers support our organization with donations of time, energy and expertise. Our many generous contributors continue to ensure that we can offer our concerts to all those who want to attend.
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We look forward to welcoming you to our family!
Music Director
Norman Gamboa
Norman Gamboa was born and raised in Costa Rica. A versatile conductor, he is equally at home with opera, ballet, chamber, and symphonic orchestral repertoire. He was appointed Music Director of the Sonoma County Philharmonic in 2012.
“I’m very excited to be continuing with the orchestra as we settle into the Jackson Theater and reach out to a broader audience,” says Maestro Gamboa. “Community orchestras play a vital role in making classical music available to people who might not otherwise have an opportunity to experience it. And this orchestra is one of the best all-volunteer orchestras in the country.”
“I’m interested in programming works that some listeners may not be familiar with–encouraging people to discover new pieces and new composers,” says Maestro Gamboa. “But with this fine orchestra, we also have the chance to offer fresh and compelling interpretations of some of the greatest masterworks in the repertoire.”
Mr. Gamboa has appeared as guest conductor with symphonies in Texas, Kansas, Wyoming, Minnesota, Nevada and California, as well as with orchestras around the world, including the Orchestra Filarmonica di Stato Ploiesti (Romania), Západoceský Symfonický Orchestr (Czech Republic), Orquesta Filarmónica de Medellín (Colombia), and Orquesta Nacional de Nicaragua, Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado Mérida and Orquesta Sinfónica de Los Llanos (Venezuela), to name a few.
Throughout his career, he has championed the works of up-and-coming composers, including world-premieres by Kyle Kindred, Evelyn Stroobach and Robert Bradshaw, as well as renowned living composers from Latin America and Spain such as Benjamín Gutiérrez and Eddie Mora. He has conducted a wide variety of innovative collaborations, including a newly choreographed production of Ravel’s Ma mère l’Oye with Ballet Midwest and numerous outstanding fully-staged operas with the Topeka Opera Society. Festival appearances include FOSJA-Casals Festival of Puerto Rico, Central American Festival of Chamber Music, International Music Festival of Medellín (Colombia), Villarrica Music Festival (Chile), the International Festival of Arts of Costa Rica, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Bregenzer Festspiele (Austria), the Las Vegas Music Festival, OSESP-International Orchestra Conductors Competition, ITEC-Regina Music Festival in Canada and the New York Brass Conference.
Maestro Gamboa has served as Music Director of the Powder River Symphony, Assistant Conductor of the Waco Symphony, Music Director of the Waco Youth Symphony, and Director of Orchestras at Washburn University. He recently concluded a 10-year tenure as Music Director of the Aurora Symphony Orchestra. He is now on the music faculty at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where he serves as Director of Orchestral Activities and conductor of the Rio Grande Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Musicians
Members of the Orchestra
Violin
Pam Otsuka (Concertmaster)
Mary Cornett (P)
Katherine Felciano
Nina Friedman
Laura Haupt
Kara Kaufman
Dana Keeton
Laurence Lewis
Ned Phipps
Vanessa Rashbrook
Bonnie Rasmussen
Yvonne Shu
Linda Welter
Kathy Wright
Viola
Robby Morales (P)
Tara Anderson
Rose Batzdorff
James Bell
Carolyn Gibbons
Nicole Patterson
Matt Stern
Ellen Watson
Cello
Anne-Marie Fassler (P)
Peter Lert
Vickie Sutton
Ron Teplitz
Michael Tracht
Kathryn Vast
Carol Vines
​Andrew Willbanks
Contrabass
Michael King (P)
Bill Fouty
Flute & Piccolo
Debra Scheuerman (P)
Emily Reynolds
Valerie White
Oboe
Chris Krive (P)
Brian Thompson
Clarinet
Nick Xenelis (P)
Cathy Brooks
Mary Kruzas
Bass Clarinet
Cathy Brooks
Bassoon
Miranda Kincaid (P)
Steven Peterson (P)
Mary Ann Sacksteder
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Contrabassoon
​Mary Ann Sacksteder
Horn
​Rachel Aragaki (P)
Jeanne Porter
Adrian Zarco
Trumpet
Dave Lindgren (P)
Tom Hyde
Chris Jorgensen
Eric Schlaeppi
Trombone
Jeff Barnard (P)
Tuba
Floyd Reinhart (P)
Harp
Christina Kopriva (P)
Keyboard
Carol Schindler (P)
Timpani & Percussion
Joseph Lang (P)
Tony Blake
​Connor Canavan
Al Sinerco
Board and Staff
Board of Directors
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Steven Peterson, ​President
​Debra Scheuerman, Vice President
Floyd Reinhart, Treasurer
Robert Sherrill, Secretary
Jeff Barnard
James Bell
Teresa Mangiapani
Gary Tabbert​
Andrew Willbanks
​Kathy Wright
Staff
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Norman Gamboa, Music Director
Debra Scheuerman, Executive Director
Gary Tabbert, Volunteer Coordinator
Jeff Barnard, Librarian
Past Presidents
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David Poe
Steven Peterson
​Brian Lloyd
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Conductor Emeritus
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Gabriel Sakakeeny
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