News & Notes

Shortly after attending the NRO as co-concertmaster in 2012, Eric Gratz became concertmaster of the San Antonio Symphony, a post he assumed at only 22 years old, ending the orchestra’s seven year search to fill the vacancy. Mr. Gratz states, "My summer at NRO was...

Immediately following her summer with the NRO in Keystone during the 1992 season, Elizabeth Hainen won her first position at the Kennedy Center Opera House as Principal Harp.  "I know that my summer with Carl Topilow and the outstanding musicians I played with in NRO...

An emerging young pianist, Yu "Dean" Zhang (NRO 2013 & 2014) appears in concerts across the United States and China.  Praised by The Miami Harold, Zhang is recognized as “a powerful keyboard player” with a “smooth, fluid touch at the keyboard, bringing maximum...

After David Young attended the NRO in 2014, he was appointed Acting Second Bassoon/Contrabassoon with the Bergen Philharmonic in Norway from January through March, 2015. Following his stint in Norway, David joined "The President's Own" United States Marine Band in...

Steven K. Leonard was with the NRO in 1982, when it was called the Colorado Philharmonic and when it was located in Evergreen, CO.  About his experience, he states, "My work with the Colorado Philharmonic acted as the stepping stone to my orchestral work throughout my...

Harpist Faye Seeman (NRO 1977) is principal harpist with the Chicago Sinfonietta Orchestra, and professor of harp studies at both Wheaton College and Northern Illinois University. On her NRO experience, Faye states, "I was privileged to be a part of the National...

“Looking back over my development as a musician, my summer at National Repertory Orchestra in 1992 was pivotal in helping me make the leap from student to professional musician. It was amazing playing with such a consistently high caliber ensemble and being immersed...

Toru Tagawa attended the NRO as a violinist in 2001.  After his summer in Breckenridge, he won a job with the Arkansas Symphony, where he played in a String Quartet with several other NRO alumni.   In the summer of 2007, Mr. Tagawa worked as the Ensemble Manager at...