Next in our SCO musician highlights is yet another fantastic member of the brass section - meet Amanda Montgomery! Amanda has been with Stratus for 10 years. She has held positions with many orchestras across Colorado and New Mexico, and works a day job in sales. Amanda loves how everyone in SCO is committed to performing their best, keeping the orchestra high-quality, creative, and innovative.

Meet another of our incredible brass musicians - Trombonist John Sandusky! John has been performing with Stratus Chamber Orchestra for 6 years. John earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Colorado in 1987. In addition to being a member of Stratus, John works as a freelance musician for a variety of performance styles, especially musical theater. He is also an IT professional for Jefferson County Public Library. John is a talented multi-instrumentalist who also plays alto trombone, bass trombone, and euphonium.

Meet another one of the SCO violinists, Emily Huntsman! Emily is about to begin her second year with Stratus Chamber Orchestra. She is very involved in music in Denver and Colorado Springs - her day job is teaching violin and orchestra in CO Springs, and she subs for the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs in addition to playing with Stratus. Emily earned her B.A. from Fort Lewis College in Durango, with a double major in music and philosophy.

Next in our Stratus musician highlights, meet violinist Julie Bruchs! Julie has been with Stratus for 1 full year, and is excited to continue her journey with Stratus for the 2023-24 season and beyond! Julie is a music educator and orchestra director in Aurora. Her favorite thing about performing in an orchestra is collaborating with other musicians, and she knows the musicians of Stratus consistently bring a high sense of professionalism and commitment to artistic excellence.

Meet Roberta Goodall, who has been with Stratus in the trumpet section for 5 years! Roberta holds a Masters in Music Performance and is an accomplished musician, having held positions with multiple quality orchestras in the Denver and Boulder communities. Although retired now, Roberta has worked several arts education/outreach and development administrative positions, with organizations such as Tucson Symphony, Opera Colorado and Boulder Phil, and more recently she worked in the membership department for Colorado Public Radio.

Meet Anna Psitos, cellist who has been with Stratus for 7 years! Anna is talented in many walks of life, besides her cello talents - she is a software engineer, pianist, knitter, baker, and avid reader. Anna enjoys not only performing with Stratus but also helping out behind the scenes.

Meet Stratus’s principal oboist, Sarah Short! Sarah is in her second year with Stratus, and she is certainly a talented individual! Besides oboe, she also plays piano and English horn, and is a teacher of music in Aurora. Sarah loves a lot of things about Stratus, but especially the immersive concerts.

Meet Carrie Beeder, Violinist and member of Stratus for 20 years! Carrie has been performing with orchestras since the age of 18, and has a successful career as a freelance and orchestra musician. Learn more about Carrie, including her musical background, and her other interests, by reading our next installment of SCO Musician Highlights!

Bassoonist John Richardson has been with Stratus for 23 years, making him one of the orchestra’s most long-term members. John loves Stratus for its smaller size and high-quality music-making, which he certainly contributes to as an experienced performer. Besides performing with Stratus, his career involves managing sales training programs for Insight Enterprises.

Josh Decker is new to Stratus this season, and he is thrilled to be joining the orchestra! Josh joined Stratus because of his love for performing with high-quality musicians. He is a talented trumpeter and music teacher, and has many interests including hiking, biking, HIIT workouts, yoga, and more!

Next in our series of Stratus musician highlights, meet flautist Amanda Rusten! Amanda’s first first full season with Stratus was last year, although she has been subbing for the ensemble ever since it was called Musica Sacra. She has a special spot in her heart for live music, and she knows that nothing compares to the feeling of playing in a live performance.

Meet cellist Dr. Adam Riggs in the first of many of our Stratus Chamber Orchestra musician highlights!

Adam is Stratus' principal cellist and has been a member of the ensemble for almost 9 years. Adam is talented at many things, including cycling and photography, and he loves performing with Stratus because of the way they strive to bring music to audiences in new and exciting ways.

In this final installment of our orchestration series, we delve into the captivating realm of the percussion section. Join us as we uncover the rhythmic pulsations and dynamic explosions of these instruments, from the commanding presence of the timpani to the crisp and snappy sound of the snare drum. Explore the shimmering brilliance of the cymbals and the deep resonance of the bass drum, and discover the virtuosity and versatility of the percussion ensemble. Embark on a musical journey where the percussive tapestry ignites your senses and adds depth and power to the symphonic experience.

In this article, we explore the fascinating world of woodwind instruments and their role in orchestral compositions. From the delicate melodies of the flutes to the versatile sounds of the clarinets, we uncover the expressive qualities of the oboes and the distinctive presence of the bassoons. Join us on a journey through the interplay of these instruments, guided by renowned composers, and let their harmonies transport you to a captivating musical experience.

Dive into the world of brass instruments and how they enhance the sound of the orchestra. Discover the role they play in creating grand, powerful orchestral sounds, and how they act as supporting instruments as well as soloists. Also, discover which composers most notably harnessed the power and beauty of the brass sound within their compositions.

When you think of an orchestra, you probably think first of the violins, cellos, and all the members of the string family. Strings are vital to the orchestral sound, in chamber orchestras, symphonies, and all different sizes of ensembles. Read our first installment of the “Unveiling the Secrets of Orchestration” series to discover the role strings play as majestic, melodic instruments, and how each member of the string family creates a different timbre that is necessary to create the full orchestral sound.

Discover how Chat GPT is revolutionizing the arts industry by offering creative inspiration, enhancing collaboration, assisting in design and education, and sparking new possibilities for artists, all while emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations and human-AI collaboration. The integration of Chat GPT opens up a world of potential, empowering artists to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.