Performers

Bogidar Avramov, Music Director and Conductor

Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, the son of a prominent violinist, Maestro Avramov is Professor Emeritus at Loyola Marymount University where he was director of the instrumental program. He currently conducts the Beverly Hills Symphony and is an esteemed and frequent guest conductor in Europe. From the beginning of Sierra Summer Festival and as founder of the Eastern Sierra Symphony Orchestra, he has brought professional symphonic music to Mammoth Lakes for over twenty-five years. Affectionately known simply as “Bogidar” to music lovers throughout the Eastern Sierra, his superb musicianship and thoughtfully selected orchestral programs are eagerly anticipated every summer.

Scott Hosfeld, Associate Conductor

Acclaimed conductor and music director, Scott Hosfeld, is a favorite among his professional colleagues and students. Maestro Hosfeld has been principal conductor of the Icicle Creek Chamber Orchestra, the Kairos Festival Orchestra, the Dorian Festival Orchestra, the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival Orchestras, the Icicle Symphony Orchestra, and the the Central Washington University Chamber Orchestra. Greatly sought after as a chamber musician and collaborator, Mr. Hosfeld has performed with such chamber music giants as Micheal Tree, Dan Avshalomov, David Geber and David Perry.  He was violist of the prizewinning Riverside Quartet which had it’s debut in Carnegie Hall under the auspices of Artists International.  

Wes Hawks, Orchestra Manager

Wes Hawks was born in San Diego, California. After growing up in that area, he attended Oberlin College in Ohio where he majored in music and studied clarinet under George Waln. After graduating from Oberlin, he earned a Master of Arts degree from Claremont Graduate School where he studied under Kalman Bloch, who was then principal clarinetist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Since 1983, he has been a summer resident of Mammoth Lakes the principal clarinetist of the Eastern Sierra Symphony Orchestra. He has held the position of manager since 1985.

EASTERN SIERRA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA >>

More information and photo gallery of the Eastern Sierra Symphony Orchestra

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PRINCIPAL PLAYERS AND COACHES

Maria Newman

Violinist, Concertmistress

Maria Newman, violinist and violist, received her education at the Eastman School of Music and Yale University where she graduated with high honors. She is a talented composer— winning two ASCAP awards and two 1994 Composers Guild awards plus many others. She has been Composer-in-Residence with The Icicle Creek Music Center in Leavenworth, Washington. 

Scott Hosfeld

Violinist

Acclaimed conductor and music director, Scott Hosfeld, is a favorite among his professional colleagues and students. Maestro Hosfeld has been principal conductor of the Icicle Creek Chamber Orchestra, the Kairos Festival Orchestra, the Dorian Festival Orchestra, the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival Orchestras, the Icicle Symphony Orchestra, and the the Central Washington University Chamber Orchestra. Greatly sought after as a chamber musician and collaborator, Mr. Hosfeld has performed with such chamber music giants as Micheal Tree, Dan Avshalomov, David Geber and David Perry.  He was violist of the prizewinning Riverside Quartet which had it’s debut in Carnegie Hall under the auspices of Artists International.  

Andrew Picken

Violist

Violist Andrew Picken was raised in the Los Angeles area and spent many summers in the High Sierra. He is the associate principal violist of the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra and has performed with many other ensembles in the region including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony, and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. An avid chamber musician, Mr. Picken has performed around the world, from Taiwan to Saint Petersburg and from Tblisi to Mexico City. Mr. Picken records frequently in the motion picture studios and can be heard on the soundtracks of such movies as King Kong, Master and Commander, and Finding Nemo.

Leighton Fong

Cellist

Leighton Fong, cellist, is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and received a Masters from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He studied at the Bern and Royal Danish Conservatories on grants from the Beebe and American-Scandinavian Foundations. He was at Tanglewood for the 1983 and 1984 seasons.

John Reilly

Bassoonist

John Reilly, bassoonist, has Master’s in Music Performance from the University of Redlands. He played with the Reno Philharmonic for 15 years until his move to Los Angeles. He has performed in over 75 films and commercials. While in L.A. he has done about 50 movies over the past 20 years along with many commercials, CD’s and live shows. Mr. Reilly has performed all over the world from Japan and Taiwan to Europe.

Steve Durnin

French Horn

Born and raised in the Los Angeles area, Steve Durnin has been a sought after free-lance artist since his return in 1981 from two years contracted service with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Veracruz, in the city of Veracruz Mexico. The performance aspects of his career have included orchestral, chamber, recording and solo performances. In the last few months Steve has performed with many orchestras including The
Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and The Pacific Symphony.