Maui Pops Orchestra • About our Musicians

The Orchestra Musicians

Joan Hayden

First Violin

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Joan M. Hayden • First Violin • Concertmaster

Born into a musical family, Concertmaster Joan Hayden completed her violin studies with the eminent violinist Vera Barstow, winning recognition twice, from age 11, in the prestigious Coleman Chamber Awards in Pasadena, California, and from the Long Beach Philharmonic and the National MENC Orchestra, St Louis.

While rearing her family, son Duane (now a 7-time platinum recording engineer) and daughter Elizabeth (now an L.A. Public Defender), Joan played extensively with the recording studios and was a member of the Houston and Utah Symphonies, performing and recording with Leopold Stokowski and Maurice Abravanel.

Community life began in earnest in 1975 when she moved to Maui, serving as an officer of the Maui Philharmonic Society, teaching violin privately and for the Kapalua Music Assembly, and serving as a staff member for the Kapalua Music Festival.

A founding member of the Maui Symphony Orchestra (subsequently Valley Isle Symphony, and Maui Pops Orchestra) she has served until the present as assistant conductor, concertmaster and frequent soloist. During this tenure, Ms. Hayden was also an instructor of music at Maui Community College, Chaminade University and Haleakala Waldorf School, music critic for The Maui News, performed in the Honolulu Symphony Masterworks Series for 15 years, and was a free-lance violinist with such artists as: Dione Warwick; Sammy Davis, Jr.; John Denver; Richard Harris (Camelot); Henry Mancini; Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme; Joe and Andy Williams; Tony Bennett and Keali'i Reichel throughout the state. She has recorded with Maui's Uluwehi Guerrero.

Invited as one of only two Maui musicians to perform with the Kapalua Music Festival, (now the Maui Classical Music Festival) with such international artists as: violinists Andres Cardenas, Cho-liang Lin, Joseph Swensen, pianists Jon Kimura Parker and Wu Han, cellist David Finkle, clarinetists Eddie Daniels and David Schifrin, and others too numerous to mention.

Upon returning from Europe, where Ms. Hayden furthered her conducting studies and performed with the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra for a year, she founded the Haleakala Chamber Music Society and Chamber Players in 1991, which sponsors and produces County-wide chamber music concerts, presenting Hawai'i performers with international artists such as Eugene Fodor, Robert LaMarchina and Virginia Eskin in fine quality collaborations.

As Conductor and Musical Director, Ms. Hayden has led the Haleakala Chamber Orchestra in enthusiastically received concerts throughout Maui County's major resort properties, from the Kea Lani to the Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons Koele and Manele on Lana'i. Often providing accompaniment to a finale of fireworks, these concerts, both in ballrooms and under the stars, have entertained numerous corporations, including most of the Fortune 500 companies.

Icing on the cake for Joan is the presence of her former students in many University orchestras around the country, two of whom now play in the Maui Pops! and one, Kurt Muroki, a major performer in New York, calling from backstage at Carnegie Hall while waiting to go on!!

Sam Lim

First Violin

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Sam Lim • First Violin

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Judy Waters

First Violin

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Judy Waters • First Violin

Judy began a lifetime of violin playing at the age of seven, upon discovering a violin case tucked away under the eaves in her attic. By 8th grade she was fortunate to become the youngest member of the Westchester Symphony where for 5 years she had wonderful opportunities to play with conductors from the N.Y. Philharmonic as well as renowned soloists. After studying through H.S. in N.Y. with Helen Kwalwasser, Judy attended Oberlin, where she earned a B.Mus and had the opportunity of spending jr year at the Mozarteum Akademie in Salzburg, traveling and performing with classmates, and the Mozarteum orchestra.

During her 24 years in New England, Judy played in the Vermont Symphony, Portland and Bangor Symphonies, Marlboro and Portsmouth Chamber Orchestras, Haydn Festival Orchestra, and in performing duos, trios and quartets. She also taught Suzuki violin. Judy first played with the Maui Symphony during summer visits in '86-'87 and has been a member since moving to Maui in '88, except for a 2 yr absence on the mainland, earning a Montessori diploma, teaching, and playing in the Northwest Symphony.

Judy has played many Maui venues including a 4night a week trio gig at Grand Wailea, Haleakala Orchestra and Early Music Maui events, theater musicals, and numerous weddings and receptions. Judy has performed with orchestras and ensembles at the ASTA workshop in Lyon, France, an International Orchestra in India, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Avignon Festival. Now retired from her day job as child development specialist, and no longer engaged with extended elder care, Judy is ready to return to teaching violin, and would love to play more chamber music with fellow musicians.

Joan Padgett

Second Violin

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Joan Padgett • Second Violin

Roland Nono

Second Violin

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Roland Nono • Second Violin • Principal

Roland Nono is from Kalihi, Oahu, Hawaii. He was a member of his intermediate and high school string orchestra. In 1966 Roland auditioned for the Honolulu Youth Symphony and won a seat in the second violin section. In 1967 he won the position as Principal Second Violin with the Honolulu Youth Symphony under the direction of the late Peter Misrobian. In 1968 Aloha Concert with the Honolulu Youth Symphony, Roland was one of soloist featured on that program performing the first movement by Pietro Nardini Violin Concerto in E minor.

After graduating from Wallace Rider Farrington High School in 1968, he enlisted into the United States Air Force and retired as a Technical Sergeant in 1990. While serving in the Air Force, he has performed with the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, FL; Jonesboro Symphony Orchestra, AR; Assistant Concertmaster, Shelby State Symphony Orchestra, West Memphis TN; Concertmaster, Germantown Symphony Orchestra, TN; Northwestern Symphony Orchestra, LA; Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, LA; Lake Charles Symphony Orchestra, LA; Baton Rough Symphony Orchestra, LA; Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra, CO and Haleakala Chamber Orchestra, HI.

Roland joined the Maui Symphony Orchestra in 2000 and in 2008 appointed as Principal Second Violin with the Maui Pops Orchestra. In 2002, Roland received an Associate Degree in Pastoral Ministries from Master's Divinity Schools, Evansville, Indiana. In that same year he started and is the Senior Pastor of a nondenominational fellowship, Living Waters Ministries of Maui, Wailuku.

Pastor Roland, his wife Thelma and their daughter Kara have lived on the island of Maui since 1999. They have three dogs, Sye, Mana and Kua. When Pastor Roland is not ministering, play his violin or officiating weddings on the many beaches and hotels on Maui, you can find him bowling a game or two at the local bowling alley, playing a game of tennis or just romping around with his three dogs.

Ariana Kalina

Second Violin

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Ariana Kalina • Second Violin

Luana Baker

Second Violin

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Luana Baker • Second Violin

Kristina Reed

Second Violin

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Kristina Reed • Second Violin

Kristina Reed grew up in Minnesota and began playing the violin at the age of 5 with Ellen Thompson. After moving to Oregon she continued studying with Kristin Riley. Since there was no youth orchestra at the time she began playing in the Umpqua Valley Symphony Orchestra at the age of 13. She played with them until leaving to attend college in Southern California. While in college she played for the college symphony and studied under Jason Uyeyama. She majored in Liberal Studies with minors in art and music. After living on Maui for a year she joined the Maui Pops.

Kristina enjoys stand-up paddle board, oil painting, pencil drawing, volunteering for the Maui Hawksbills Recovery Program, and spending time with her friends.

Juliana Patao

Second Violin

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Juliana Corpuz Patao • Second Violin

Juliana Corpuz Patao started playing the violin at age 10; she was a long-time student of Concertmistress Joan Hayden during her youth. Her debut with the Maui Pops Orchestra commenced with the former Maui Symphony back in 1978. Maui did not have an organized string program nor an orchestra growing up; therefore, playing in the Maui Symphony since age 12 provided the exposure and tools to further her musical career. At age 17, she was offered a full-music tuition scholarship at the University of Hawaii, Manoa Campus by conductor Henry Miyamura. She played with the University of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Music Orchestra from 1986-1994. In college she studied with Dr. Lavar Krantz and double-majored in Music and Business.

Juli returned home to Maui in 1998 and rejoined the newly named Maui Pops Orchestra. She recently graduated with a Master's Degree in Human Resources Management and has taught several "local" student violinists, played in numerous weddings, and continues to support the community through Arts and Theater productions. In 2009 she played with a small ensemble in the "Sound of Music" and this past summer she was drafted from a reporter acting role to becoming the violinist for the "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" show with Maui On Stage. One of her musical highlights include recording a CD with a solo piece of Shania Twain's song, "Still the One" with local ukulele virtuoso Herb Ohta Jr. Juli is also an avid golfer, State Olympic Weightlifting Champion, and enjoys community service with Hawaii Blood Bank, Olowalu Cleanup and Maui Cultural Lands, Honokowai project. She is married to Val Patao and has raised keiki's Shawn and Sheylin Patao. Juli serves as the Librarian for the Maui Pops Orchestra and the Musicians' Liaison with Board Members.

Teresa Skinner

Viola

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Teresa Skinner • Viola • Principal

Michelle Ancheta

Cello

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Michelle Romero Ancheta • Cello

Michelle began playing cello at age 10. Her father, the late Dr. Jose' Romero, wanted his 4 children to form their own string quartet, and Michelle was assigned to play cello. Her first teacher was Roxie Berlin, then the late BJ Smith. She also studied with Beverly LeBeck on Oahu, under a Maui Philharmonic Scholarship. She remembers her teachers fondly.

Music has been an incredible adventure, allowing her to have wonderful opportunities, like going to Japan with Uluwehi Guerrero, and playing with and learning from Keali'i Reichel and Willie K. She is deeply grateful for both her parents' encouragement and support of music. In addition to performing with the Maui Pops, she is part of the Praise Band at Grace Bible Church's Wailuku Extension.

Cheryl Lindley

Cello

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Cheryl Lindley • Cello

Cheryl Lindley is delighted to return to Maui and find a fine orchestra still thriving. She served as Principal Cellist of the Maui Symphony during 1976 and 1979 - 1981. Cheryl returned to the Greater Seattle area and subsequently earned a BA/BM in cello performance from the University of Washington. Cheryl has served as Principal Cellist of the Saratoga Chamber Orchestra, Assistant Principal Cellist of the Everett Symphony (for 21th seasons), and as a member of other Puget Sound area orchestras, numerous chamber groups and as a frequent substitute with the Yakima Symphony. She has taught cello for over 30 years and has appeared as a soloist in Washington, California and Hawaii.

Silvina Samuel

Cello

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Silvina Samuel • Cello

Silvina started playing the cello at the age of 12. She graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Music Performance in 2005. During her degree studies she was also a two-time prize winner of the Solo Bach competition. She has acted as principal cello of the University Orchestra, as well as the Greater Victoria Youth orchestra and various community orchestras.

From 2005-2008, she was assistant principal cellist of the Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra. Prior to this, Silvina's musical life led her to attend Tafelmusik's Baroque Summer Festival as well as Banff Center's Masterclass program, studying with Shauna Rolston, Aldo Parisot and Christina Mahler.

Aside from her musical life, Silvina spends her time raising her two-year-old twin boys. She and her family have recently relocated to Maui and simply love living here.

Ron Schecter

Cello

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Ron Schecter • Cello

Ron's primary teachers were Robert Gardner, principal cellist of the New York City Opera, and Frederick Zlotkin, principal cellist of the New York City Ballet. Ron performed for over thirty years in the New York City area, with such organizations as the Caecilian Chamber Orchestra, Trio Classico, the New Jersey State Opera, the New Jersey Chamber Music Society, and the Waterloo Festival Orchestra under the baton of Gerard Schwarz.

Ron's versatility is reflected in his own arrangement and performance (with actor) of the poetry of T.S. Eliot to the music of J.S. Bach's Suites for unaccompanied cello, his string quartet appearances as opening act for the rock group "Meat Loaf" at New York City's Madison Square Garden, and his appearances at such venues as New York City's Hard Rock Cafe. His early music background includes jazz piano, accordion, and bass. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and New York University School of Law. Currently Ron is a member of both the Maui Pops Orchestra and the Haleakala Chamber Orchestra, actively free-lances, and teaches cello privately.

Joe Mendonca

Bass

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Joe Mendonca • Bass

JoAnna Byng

Flute

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JoAnna Byng • Flute

Peggy Schecter

Flute

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Peggy Schecter • Flute • Principal

Peggy Schecter is the principal flutist with the Maui Pops Orchestra and the Haleakala Chamber Orchestra. Peggy earned her Bachelor and Masters from the Juilliard School, where she studied with Julius Baker, N.Y. Philharmonic principal flutist. Recipient of a Fulbright award, she studied at the Paris Conservatory, and also with Jean-Pierre Rampal.

She participated in the Marlboro, Spoleto, Casals, Grand Teton, Rockport and Mostly Mozart Festivals, and performed with the Metropolitan, N.Y. City and N.J. State Operas, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Queens Symphony Orchestra, American Ballet Theater, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and was guest artist with the Guarneri String Quartet at Lincoln Center. Peggy performed under the baton of Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Paul Hindemith and Oliver Messiaen.

Peggy is a founder and was artistic director of the N.J. Chamber Society, and served on the Board of the N.Y. Flute Club, for which she directed their Young Flutist's Competition. For 20 years she taught at Montclair State University, where she founded and directed the Flute Choir. She has recorded for the Columbia, Nonesuch, Pantheon, and Premier labels. Peggy teaches flute privately.

Philip Gottling

Bassoon

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Philip Gottling • Bassoon • Principal

Philip Gottling has been well-known to Maui audiences for many years. An original member of the Maui Pops Orchestra, Phil also played in the Maui Symphony starting in 1988 and performed the Mozart Bassoon Concerto with them in 1998. A member of the Honolulu Symphony since 1986, he was also recently named to a full-time position with the Royal Hawaiian Band.

Phil received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music from Juilliard and then studied and worked in Paris for three years. He has played with the Orchestre de Paris, the Hong Kong Philharmonic and as Principal Bassoon with the Daejeon Philharmonic in South Korea. He has played at numerous music festivals and taught at the University of Texas, the Aspen Music Festival and in conservatories throughout China.

In addition to his orchestral and teaching activities, Phil is also a baroque music specialist on recorder and baroque bassoon. He has made solo appearances on recorder with the Honolulu Symphony on several occasions, as well as at the Spoleto and Assisi Festivals in Italy and the Britt Festival in Oregon. He is an active performer of Japanese, Chinese and Korean music in Honolulu.

Jazzlyn Woods

Oboe

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Jazzlyn Woods • Oboe • Principal

Sharon Nakama

Oboe

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Sharon Nakama • Second Oboe

Starting Piano at the age of 8 under the instruction of Mrs. Grace Murata, then later transferring to daughter, Ruth Murata-Eisen, Sharon started her musical interest at a young age. Introduced to the oboe at age 11, Sharon has been involved in many musical activities.

Such activities include: Participating in Maui District Intermediate Select Band 2007-2010; Pacific Music Institute 2007/2009; Maui Youth Philharmonic Orchestra 2007-present; Maui Community Band 2007-present; Maui High School District Honor Band 2009; Baldwin High School Symphonic/Concert, Pep, and Marching Bands 2009-present; Baldwin High School Pit Orchestra For the play "Guys and Dolls" 2009.

Sharon also currently participates in the Hawaii Youth Symphony II.

Jerry Eisenberg

Clarinet

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Jerry Eisenberg • Clarinet • Principal

Cody Sarmiento

Trumpet

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Cody Sarmiento • Trumpet

Jonathon Parrish

French Horn

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Jonathon Parrish • French Horn • Principal

Sue Nakama

French Horn

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Sue Nakama • French Horn

Heidi Vogel

French Horn

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Heidi Vogel • French Horn

Heidi has a degree in music from Fredonia State College in New York. She played with the Juneau Symphony in Alaska for eighteen years and currently is a member of the Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra on the Big Island as well as the Maui Pops Orchestra. Heidi has worked for the International Horn Society as the Executive Secretary since 1997. She currently lives in Lanai City.

Stephen Rodrigues

Trombone

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Stephen Rodrigues • Trombone • Principal

Stephen began studying the trombone in the seventh grade with Mr. Noel Kuraya of Iao Intermediate School, then with Mr. Lance Jo of Henry Perrine Baldwin High School (both have since retired...). He studied euphonium and trombone under Mr. Kevin Carroll and Mr. Nathaniel Wickham, both students of Dr. Edwin "Buddy" Baker. He continues to play the trombone and euphonium in the Maui Community Band, the Maui Pops Orchestra, and for various musical theater productions around the island.

A graduate of HP Baldwin High, class of 1996, he is currently one of many alumni that teach at the school. Stephen attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley and graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor's of Music Education, Instrumental Education, and a Bachelor's of Arts in Secondary Mathematics Education. He is currently a master's degree candidate with the American Band College of Sam Houston State University.

In the fall semester at HP Baldwin High, Stephen conducts a Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, and a beginning Chorus class. In the spring, he offers Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, beginning Chorus and a Pit Orchestra to accompany the theater department's musical. In addition to these ensembles, he teaches beginning piano, classical guitar, and the occasional pre-algebra class.

Richard Tadaki

Trombone

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Richard Tadaki • Trombone

Born and raised on Maui, Richard earn his BA in Music Education from Central Washington State College and his MA in Music Education from University of Iowa. He taught elementary, junior high school, and high school band for three years in Washington State, then moved back to Maui where he continued his band teaching at the middle school level.

Richard, one of the original members of the Maui Symphony Orchestra, has played trombone in a variety of musical groups including show bands, jazz bands, and brass ensembles, and was a founding member of the Valley Isle Brass Quintet. Besides conducting his school bands, he has conducted a number of show bands and orchestras, and was the rehearsal conductor for the orchestra that backed up jazz legend Dave Brubeck in the performance of his Christmas Cantata here on Maui.

After an 18 year hiatus from playing the trombone and conducting, Richard picked up his horn again in February, 2009 and has been busy making a comeback in performance.

Lisa Owen

Tuba

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Lisa Owen • Tuba • Principal

Lisa hails from Stockholm, Sweden, and was educated there as well as in the U.S. She has a BA in Music from Thomas Edison University and has done post-graduate work at the University of Southern Oregon and Humboldt State University.

Lisa has been active on the Maui music scene for over 23 years. She recently retired from Seabury Hall where she had taught music for 18 years. She played with the Maui Symphony until its demise. She is the conductor and founder of the Maui Community Band and is also the leader of High Seas Dixieland Band, Maui Brass Ensemble, Moonglow Swing Band, Village Musicians and others.

Kristine Snyder

Harp

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Kristine Snyder • Harp • Principal

Kristine Snyder began her musical career playing piano at the age of 5. Being raised in a musical family, her older sister was already an accomplished harpist when Kristine followed suit and started playing harp in high school. In college, she majored in piano and minored in harp.

Kristine has performed and recorded with orchestras, symphonies, and gospel groups. In addition to playing for weddings, she works regularly in hotels and restaurants, and is principal harpist for the Maui Pops Orchestra. Kristine's CD, "Dinner with Blue", is a mixture of show tunes, light jazz, and favorites, and features solo harp as well as combinations of harp with violin, flute, piano, and bass. For more information, please see her website at www.MauiHarps.com.

Anne Durham

Piano

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Anne Durham • Piano

Preston Jones

Percussion

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Preston Jones • Percussion

Peter Della Croce

Percussion

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Peter Della Croce • Percussion

Peter Della Croce earned his Bachelor of Music degree at the acclaimed Berklee College of Music in Boston and has taught for over ten years while keeping busy performing with various groups on Maui. He welcomes students at all levels to learn how to play the drumset and percussion, as well as beginning guitar students.

In addition to years of teaching private lessons, his experience includes teaching at the high school and university level at Mahidol University College of Music in Thailand, teaching a year at Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus, teaching music theory to Boston high school students, and being the Lead Drummer and instructor for the Isle of Maui Pipe Band.

Over the past few years Peter has been associated and performed with the Maui Pops Orchestra, Maui Academy of Performing Arts, Haleakala Waldorf School, Horizons Academy of Maui and other non-profit organizations including the Arts Education for Children Group.

Skyler Mendoza

Percussion

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Skyler Mendoza • Percussion

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