Meet the Musicians
Webmaster - Email pooustergraphics@gmail.com
Southwest Washington Symphony
P.O. Box 1011, Longview WA 98632
Email symphony at info@swwsymphony.org
Strings
VIOLINS
Carol Kirkman, Concertmaster
Jodi Greig, Assistant Concertmaster
Lauren Cash, Principal Violin II
Tamra Davis
Judy Jones
Phoenix Lucas
John Muir
Katy Olson
Gennie Schoenecker
Dennis Weber
Elizabeth Zumstein
VIOLA
Steve Meharg, Principal
Whitney Henion
Dolphine V. Z. Mack*
Simon Nissen
Deanna Thompson
CELLO
Rachel Davis, Principal
Chloe Evans
Ryan Morrow
Mike Woods
BASS
Miranda Walczak, Principal
Zach Sears
* Performed in the symphony’s
inaugural concert
Woodwind
FLUTE
Ellen Bercovitz, Principal
Sharon Floyd
Byron Ford
Julia Holmes
PICCOLO
Sharon Floyd
OBOE
Karen Strand, Principal
Lisa Sudar
ENGLISH HORN
Lisa Sudar
CLARINET
Dick Uthmann, Principal
Kris McElroy-Weber
BASS CLARINET
Rich Kirkpatrick
BASSOON
David Taylor, Principal
Justin Garrison
CONTRABASSOON
Justin Garrison
Brass
FRENCH HORN
Roylan Messinger, Principal
Lexie Feist
Ron Joslin
Ron Works
TRUMPET
Rebecca Rodriguez, Co-Principal
Brian Smith, Co-Principal
Amber Smith
TROMBONE
Bud Sonderman, Principal
John Veltkamp
BASS TROMBONE
Willow Calabrese
TUBA
Nic Merle
Percussion
TIMPANI
David Walworth
PERCUSSION
Micah Bourshaw
Shana Busch
Brad Dutz
PIANO / KEYBOARD
Ginger Walworth
Founded in 1966, the Southwest Washington
Symphony is the region's premiere
all-volunteer orchestra.
“Where words fail,
music speaks.”
-Hans Christian Anderson
Lauren Cash (violin) – She began violin at the age of six,
started piano several years later, and has never stopped
playing music since! Lauren joined the symphony in 2006
and enjoys her current role as Principal 2nd violin. She loves
passing on the joy of music to local students, teaching music
both privately and at Journey Christian School. If she’s not
playing music or teaching you might find her hiking,
travelling, writing, or spending time with family and friends.
Carol Kirkman (violin) began her love of the violin at 10
years old. It was a love that has lasted 56 years and still
strong. Carol was raised in Sacramento, California and
attended CSUS, receiving a BA in music. She went to Portland
to earn a masters in church music from Western Seminary.
Carol has three grown children and seven lovely
grandchildren. She became the concertmaster of Southwest
Washington Symphony in 2014. Carol also plays in the
Vancouver Symphony and occasionally with the Columbia
Gorge Sinfonietta in Hood River. Carol is happily retired after
24 years teaching orchestra.
Tamra Davis (violin) earned her Bachelor and Master of
Music degrees in violin performance from Brigham Young
University. She has had the opportunity to perform with
various ensembles throughout the United States, Great
Britain, and Europe. As a freelance artist, she has recorded
on soundtracks, movie scores, and advertisements. She is
currently an adjunct music instructor at LCC and has been a
member of the Southwest Washington Symphony since
2014. Tamra enjoys homeschooling her children and being
outdoors with her family.
Gary Lindstrom (violin) joined the Symphony in 1994 at the
invitation of Marion Clark (cello). Starting in 3rd grade in
Burlingame, CA, he played violin through high school. He
has performed with the Astoria Chamber Players, Coachella
Valley Symphony, Sunnyside Chamber Orchestra, and piano
trio, quartet, and quintet works along with his spouse,
pianist, Ann Long. Additionally he is a member of the
Columbian Choral Ensemble. His violin teachers included
Matt Mandrones (Vancouver Symphony) and Jonathan
Dubay (Oregon Symphony). He has a Master’s Degree from
the Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA and is retired from
the Port of Longview. He is a past President of the
symphony’s Board.
Katy Olson (violin) initially started playing the violin in 3rd
grade at Catlin Elementary School and continued on through
Kelso High School where she discovered she could get out of
class to play for civic engagements in the community. Today
she works as a librarian for the Longview School District and
still enjoys getting out of work to play for the Fall Children’s
Concert with the SWS. Katy loves to travel, read, and laugh
with family and friends. She still slips out of any obligation
she can...except for Symphony practice.
Genevieve Schoenecker (violin) - A member of the Symphony since 1997.
Genevieve attended Washington State University where she studied violin with
Alan Bodman and graduated with a BA in Music in 1987. She has also played in
the Washington Idaho Symphony and the Columbia River Chamber Orchestra.
Sandy Rountree (violin) – Born in Longview, Sandy started
music in 4th grade and remembers sitting in band class,
waiting for her mother’s payday so she could get a clarinet to
play. Due to some miscommunication, her mother brought
home a violin instead, so Sandy played the violin. She joined
the symphony in 1984 and is now one of the old-timers.
Retired, she enjoys doing genealogy, reading mysteries,
writing stories, playing with her dog and being a part of her
church’s history museum.
Elizabeth Zumstein (violin) – Elizabeth enthusiastically
joined the Symphony in 2016. A native of Woodland, she
began learning the violin at age 11 along with her Mom and
four of her sisters. In addition to teaching a handful of violin
students, she works at the local machine shop and keeps the
books for a landscaping company. She is grateful to God for
the opportunity to create beautiful music with the
Symphony.
Dolphine VanZanten Mack (viola) - Dolphine studied violin
as a youth, but learned the viola to fill needs in school and
community orchestras. She moved to Longview just before
the Symphony was founded and became a charter member.
Music has had a key role in her family; all her children are
accomplished musicians, contributing to their communities.
Rachel Davis (cello) - Rachel joined the Symphony in 2019
after moving from Gresham, OR. She was blessed to grow up
in a family that encouraged her musical interests. Rachel
began playing the cello in her school orchestra at age 10. She
pursued a degree in Music Education and graduated with a
Bachelor’s degree from Berry College in 2007. After
graduating, she has performed with various groups including
the Beaverton Symphony, the Willamette Falls Symphony, and
the Portland Civic Orchestra. She also has recorded cello
tracks and performed with several independent rock bands
like Capraesque and Matthew Fountain and the Whereabouts.
Currently, she teaches music at Napavine Elementary and
teaches private lessons to students in Lewis and Cowlitz
counties. Rachel lives with her family in Winlock, WA.
Sue Marble (cello) - After careers in nursing and psychology,
Sue returned to the cello, her first love, in 2018. She is a
student of Elizabeth Byrd and joined the Symphony in
Autumn of 2019. Sue, her husband and two cats are
enjoying their retirement by the river in Columbia City,
Oregon.
Judy Woodward, (cello) joined SWWS in 2018. Although she
commutes to Longview from Astoria, Oregon, on rehearsal
and concert nights, Mike (cello) and Trudy Woods welcome
her in their home, where Judy is wined and dined, provided
her own bedroom, and the next day joins Mike in cello duets.
Other musical highlights include playing in a string quartet to
accompany the first Canadian youth to be Queen Elizabeth’s
organist, during his homecoming recital in Nelson, B.C. Now
retired from writing environmental impact statements, Judy
gives private cello lessons, plays in numerous large and small
ensembles, and makes fiber art.
Rebecca Rodriguez (trumpet) - Rebecca joined the symphony
in 2015 and currently resides in Longview, WA. Rebecca
attended Central Washington University earning a Bachelor’s
degree in Music Education and Eastern Washington University
for her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Rebecca is
currently teaching band and choir at Cascade Middle School
and enjoys the opportunity to share music with students and
the community through her participation in the symphony.
Sharon Floyd (flute and piccolo) - Ms. Floyd joined the
symphony in 2005 and teaches third grade in the Ridgefield
School District. A native of Cowlitz county, she studied with
Tom Hall and Dorothy Rose Mason. Harvey Redmond and
Dennis Creek inspired Ms. Floyd to live a life filled with making
music. She plays with the Lower Columbia Symphonic Band,
Mahler Fest and is a member of the National Flute
Association. Ms. Floyd plays an Oston-Brannen flute, a
Brannen Piccolo and a Kingma Alto Flute. She holds a
Bachelor’s Degree from Washington State University and
Master’s Degree from George Fox University. Beyond playing,
Ms. Floyd loves to knit, sew and travel.
Lisa Sudar (oboe and English horn) - A member of the
symphony since coming to Longview in 1981, Lisa started
clarinet in grade school in Walla Walla, but changed to oboe in
junior high school because there was only one other oboe in
the band, and she loved the oboe’s sound. She attended
University of Washington earning degrees in English and
Linguistics, and studied oboe with Laila Storch. As soon as Lisa
joined the symphony as 2nd oboe, they needed an English
horn which she has doubled on since then. Lisa enjoys playing
for her church and other groups when needed. She and her
husband live on a tree farm west of Longview where they
raised their three children.
Ellen Bercovitz (flute) joined SWS upon arriving in Longview
in 1995. She now divides her time between her home in St.
Helens, WA, and her Bed & Breakfast in Portland. An eclectic
soul, her roles have included bus driver, actor/singer, college
instructor, social worker, backpacker, and contra dancer. She
earned degrees in music, English, social ecology, and social
work, and later returned to explore courses in math and
science. Inspired by her dad, she began flute on her own in
3rd grade. Currently principal flute of the Southwest
Washington Symphony, the Beaverton Symphony, the Tualatin
Valley Symphony, and the Oregon Mahler Festival, Ellen has
also enjoyed playing chamber music with friends, playing
piccolo in the Portland Wind Symphony, and performing with
the Portland Columbia Symphony and Vancouver Symphony
Orchestra.
Ann Long (piano) grew up in Indianapolis, and is a retired
Longview School District accompanist who has been with the
Symphony since 2009. She has accompanied numerous
organizations over the years, including St. Stephens Church,
LCC, Columbia Choral Ensemble and Chor Anno. She received
a BA in Music after her studies at Indiana University and the
University of Illinois. She was also a member of the Coachella
Valley Symphony. During the later years in her musical life,
she developed a love for playing chamber music, performing
with The Astoria Chamber Players and The Amicus Trio.
Currently she enjoys playing chamber music with her
husband, violinist Gary Lindstrom, and cellist Mike Woods.
She and Gary enjoy sailing their sailboat, Kestrel in Puget
Sound in the summer, and golfing in Palm Springs in the
winter.
David Walworth (percussion) David Walworth has been with
the Southwest Washington Symphony since 1969. He is
currently the timpanist for SWWS and percussionist for LCC
Symphonic Band. He has performed as timpanist and
percussionist with Whatcom Symphony, University of
Washington Wind Symphony, Bremerton Symphony, Central
Kitsap High School Band, and beat on a bass drum with
Silverdale Elementary Sixth Grade Marching Band. He enjoys
his mini farm, raising cows, chickens, carrots and corn. And
oh, he loves to sing, and conducts the Symphony Christmas
Chorale.
Karen Strand (Principal oboe) Oboist Karen Strand is a
native of the Lower Columbia area, having grown up in
St.Helens, Oregon. Since 1989, Karen has been Associate
Professor of Music at Portland State University. Collegiate
music studies were at the University of Oregon and the
Eastman School of Music. Among her teachers were
J. Robert Moore, Evelyn Barbirolli, Robert Sprenkle,
Ron Roseman , Thomas Stacy and Fred Korman. Karen
studied for a college academic year in Reading, England
and in the time since has performed internationally in the United Kingdom,
Spain, Italy, Switzerland and the People’s Republic of China. She is an active
performer in the Pacific Northwest, working as a member of the Portland Opera
Orchestra, Portland Chamber Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony, the Oregon
Coast Music Festival, and Siletz Bay Music Festival. Much to her delight, having
just moved to Longview in 2022, Karen is now busy locally, performing with the
Southwest Washington Symphony and the Columbia River Chamber Music
festival. Since 1989, Karen has been Associate Professor of Music at Portland
State University.
David Taylor (Principal bassoon) Bassoonist David Taylor has
been involved in the music of the Pacific Northwest for his
whole life, beginning his career as principal bassoon of the
Spokane Philharmonic/Spokane Symphony in 1960, he went on
to join the Seattle Symphony in 1968, playing bassoon,
contrabassoon and saxophone until his retirement in 2002. He
is presently principal bassoon of the Southwest Washington
Symphony and frequently plays in regional orchestras as well as
in smaller ensembles. His teachers include Arthur Biehl, Morgan
Griffin
and Arthur Grossman.
Brad Dutz (percussion) Brad Dutz currently teaches at LOWER COLUMBIA COLLEGE
in Longview, Washington and was on the percussion faculty at Cal State Long Beach
1997-2020. He has conducted hundreds of clinics at colleges and high schools. Dutz
has been a member of Broadcast Music, Inc. since 1985. He has produced seventy
seven albums as a leader. Dutz composed for Dance companies, Theatre,
Documentaries (including Shirkers 2018), Movies, and Silent Films. Over the last
thirty five years, his compositions have been featured on numerous CD releases.
Everything from solo pieces to large ensembles are featured on his albums. He has
performed on prestigious stages such as the Angel City Jazz Festival, Boston Court,
and The REDCAT Theatre. Dutz has done master classes, lectures and concerts fea-
turing his composition at many schools including Cal Arts, NIU, OSU,SOU ,SUU,
Winona State in MN, Cal state LA, Indiana University, UNT, Weber college, USC, UCLA,
EIU, ISU, U of I, Pierce college, Brigham Young, and many others. His percussion en-
semble work “Freaked out ROWS “ debuted in 2014 at Elmhurst College in Illinois and
has been performed at six other universities including a one week residency at Saint
Olaf in Northfield MN. The new percussion tenet “AMTRAK TO ASHLAND “ was 1st
heard in 2022 at SOU. He has recorded 400 CDs as a sideman for a variety of artists,
and he has just completed a brand new series on youtube.
Judy Jones (violin) grew up in Bremerton, Washington, where she started piano lessons at
age 6 and violin lessons in the third grade. She continued with both through high school,
but her lifelong love of the violin playing began with her experience in the Bremerton
Symphony. Judy also played violin in the Washington-Idaho Symphony while majoring in
music at Washington State University, where she earned her teaching certificate in 2001.
She taught
orchestra in Spokane for one year, then moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she
taught orchestra for 17 years and played in the Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra.
When she and her husband planned to retire and move back to Washington in 2020, Judy
was excited to learn of the opportunity to join the Southwest Washington Symphony, where
she could continue to enjoy playing great music with other dedicated musicians while
fostering a love of music in young people and the community. She now lives in Silverlake
with her husband and two cats.
John Muir (violin) initially joined the symphony in 2017 but left shortly after to go to
college at Eastern Washington University where he received his BS in Mechanical
Engineering Technology with a Minor in Music. He returned home in 2020 due to everything
happening during the COVID -19 pandemic and has rejoined the symphony. He lived in
Kelso since he was 8. He started learning violin at Butler Acres from Mr. Bruce Williamson,
and has been in the area ever since. He’s currently working at Cowlitz PUD as an engineer
but spends his free time making music, skiing, and cycling. He is currently serving as the
Publicity Chairman for the Southwest Washington Symphony and greatly appreciates the
opportunity to be more involved with the organization.
Dick Uthman (Principal Clarinet) Graduated from WSU 1960, 1971 MA in Music
Education. Taught in public, private schools and university 1961 until 2013. Nine years Army
Reserve, one year in Vietnam as engineer Company Commander. Member Southwest
Washington Symphony since 1973, principal clarinet and librarian. Elected WMEA Hall of
Fame 2002. People to People Ambassador of Music to China 2001. Directed and played in
many local musical theater productions, including “Annie” “Les Miserables” “West Side
Story”. Member Lower Columbia Clarinet Guild.
Whitney Henion (viola) Whitney started playing the violin in 5th
grade, but by high school, she realized that the Viola was a better
fit with her personality, and she’s been playing ever since. In 2002,
she graduated from WSU with two degrees in Architecture and a
minor in Music. The combination of Music and Architecture is a
consistent theme in her life so you can often find her designing
things or working with kids to get excited about STEM or attending
concerts of friends. She works full-time at an Architecture firm in
Portland, and plays the viola in various groups in the area like SWS,
Clark College Orchestra and the Nutcracker Ballet in Astoria, OR.
Whitney lives in Camas, WA with her husband, a middle school
Band director and percussionist, whom she met at music camp just outside Seattle, and
their two teenage girls who also play various instruments and sing in choirs and a black cat
named Pepper who doesn't play any instrument, at the moment.
Dennis Weber (violinist 1967- 70, 1975 – present)
Dennis was born and raised in Longview. His Grandfather Weber played the violin, flute, and accordion. His Grandfather Klein also played the
violin. His three sisters all played violin as youngsters and, in fact, his sister Beth taught violin for years in northern Idaho.
Dennis began playing in grade school and studied privately under Longview School District orchestra teacher William “Bill” Watson for eight
years. Watson incidentally made the violin Dennis plays to this day. His time playing in orchestras at Kessler School, Monticello Junior High, and
R. A. Long High Schools were life-changing experiences. He still maintains friendships with several fellow orchestra members from those years.
While attending the University of Washington in Seattle, Dennis also played in the University Orchestra under the renowned direction of both
Stanley Chapple and Samuel Krachmalnick.
Competing in music contests each year during his junior and senior high school years, Dennis performed in soloes, duets, and ensembles, cul-
minating in a finalists’ performance by the R. A. Long Violin Quartet his senior year (1970). Another highlight was being a member of the 1970
All-State Orchestra. Plus, Dennis joined the Southwest Washington Symphony Orchestra while in high school (1967).
He has also played in numerous local musical events, including the Longview Community Church’s annual production of Handel’s Messiah for
many years. One of the most memorable events was a 1975 R. A. Long High School production of the Wizard of Oz. He began meeting his fu-
ture wife Kris McElroy after practices of the pit orchestra. (She played clarinet then and still plays for the symphony.) They married in 1977 and
raised three daughters. Their daughter Juliana is a percussionist, studying under R. A. Long Band Director David Klander and Kurt Harbaugh,
and has played in community bands at LCC and in southern Ontario, Canada.
Dennis taught high school social studies, especially American Government and History for the Longview School District for 35 years, mostly at
his own high school, R. A. Long, and was president of the teachers’ union from 2010 to 2012. He was also elected to the Longview City Council
serving from 1980 – 1991. During this time, he joined with other council members in saving the Columbia Theater from the wrecking ball.
During the 1990s he served for a time as President of the Symphony Board of Directors. He returned to the City Council again from 2002 –
2012 and led city council efforts to both restore affordable senior housing at the Theater, as well as secure a major state grant to make struc-
tural improvements to the Columbia Theater. All told, Dennis served over 9 years as Mayor.
In 2012 he co-authored a pictorial history of Longview which includes a photo of the symphony from its second year. Since 2013 he has served
as a Cowlitz County Commissioner.
Kris McElroy Weber (clarinetist 1974 to present)
Kris was born and raised in Montana and began playing the clarinet in Havre under the instruction of C. I. Carlson. One sister played flute, while
another one played oboe. Her younger brother played saxophone while his twin sister sang in the choir.
During her senior year (1968-1969) at Havre High School, she was a member of the All-State Band as well as the McDonald’s All-American Band,
marching that year in New York City at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and then in Pasadena at the 1969 Rose Bowl Parade.
After graduating from Havre High, Kris attended Bethel College in Minneapolis, MN and graduated from Seattle Pacific College (now University).
She began a 36-year teaching career in 1973. She taught biology, plus anatomy and physiology, for most of those years at R. A. Long High
School where faculty members introduced her to her future husband, Dennis Weber.
Her love of music led to her insistence on auditioning for a non-existing vacancy in the woodwind section of the Symphony Orchestra in 1974,
shortly after arriving in Longview to teach. She has been playing next to first chair clarinetist Dick Uthmann ever since. Her favorite moments in
Symphony do not include repeated performances of “No, No, Nanette.” She has truly enjoyed the distinctive conducting styles of each of her
symphony conductors: George Simonson, Ryan Heller, and Rob Davis. She enjoys playing duets with Uthmann, playing in a cello-flute-clarinet
trio, as well as a local clarinet choir.
Kris also has played in numerous local musical events, including the Longview Community Church’s performances of Handel’s Messiah. She has
especially enjoyed musicals presented over the years. One 1975 event was R. A. Long’s production of the Wizard of Oz. It was after practices for
that play that she and Dennis began going out. Another memorable event was playing in a roach-infested orchestra pit at the Columbia Theater
(prior to its remodeling) for a production of the musical 1776.
Eventually, Kris joined actors on stage originally with her daughters for Fiddler on the Roof and a later school production of Wizard of Oz. One
play she was in that had a huge emotional impact was Playing for Time, a melancholy story of classical music played by prisoners inside a Nazi
concentration camp.
Kris retired from teaching in 2010. She has served on the boards of the local Habitat for Humanity and the Cowlitz County Historical Society.
She has remained active with a number of groups, including with Altrusa, 100 Women, several book clubs, a women’s Bible fellowship, while
volunteering at FISH. She and Dennis married in 1977 and together they raised three daughters. Their daughter Juliana is a percussionist,
studying under R. A. Long Band Director David Klander and Kurt Harbaugh, and has played in community bands at LCC and in southern
Ontario, Canada.
Meet the Musicians
Webmaster - Email pooustergraphics@gmail.com
Southwest Washington Symphony
P.O. Box 1011, Longview WA 98632
Email symphony at info@swwsymphony.org
Strings
VIOLINS
Carol Kirkman, Concertmaster
Jodi Greig, Assistant Concertmaster
Lauren Cash, Principal Violin II
Tamra Davis
Judy Jones
Phoenix Lucas
John Muir
Katy Olson
Gennie Schoenecker
Dennis Weber
Elizabeth Zumstein
VIOLA
Steve Meharg, Principal
Whitney Henlion
Dolphine V. Z. Mack*
Simon Nissen
Deanna Thompson
CELLO
Rachel Davis, Principal
Chloe Evans
Ryan Morrow
Mike Woods
BASS
Miranda Walczak, Principal
Zach Sears
* Performed in the symphony’s
inaugural concert
Woodwind
FLUTE
Ellen Bercovitz, Principal
Sharon Floyd
Byron Ford
Julia Holmes
PICCOLO
Sharon Floyd
OBOE
Karen Strand, Principal
Lisa Sudar
ENGLISH HORN
Lisa Sudar
CLARINET
Dick Uthmann, Principal
Kris McElroy-Weber
BASS CLARINET
Rich Kirkpatrick
BASSOON
David Taylor, Principal
Justin Garrison
CONTRA BASSOON
Justin Garrison
Brass
FRENCH HORN
Roylan Messinger, Principal
Lexie Feist
Ron Joslin
Ron Works
TRUMPET
Rebecca Rodriguez, Co-
Principal
Brian Smith, Co-Principal
Amber Smith
TROMBONE
Bud Sonderman, Principal
John Veltkamp
BASS TROMBONE
Willow Calabrese
TUBA
Nic Merle
Percussion
TIMPANI
David Walworth
PERCUSSION
Micah Bourshaw
Shana Busch
Brad Dutz
PIANO / KEYBOARD
Ginger Walworth
Founded in 1966,
the Southwest Washington
Symphony is the region's premiere
all-volunteer orchestra.
“Where words fail, music speaks.”
-Hans Christian Anderson
Carol Kirkman (violin) began her love of the
violin at 10 years old. It was a love that has
lasted 56 years and still strong. Carol was
raised in Sacramento, California and
attended CSUS, receiving a BA in music. She
went to Portland to earn a masters in church
music from Western Seminary. Carol has
three grown children and seven lovely
grandchildren. She became the
concertmaster of Southwest Washington
Symphony in 2014. Carol also plays in the
Vancouver Symphony and occasionally with
the Columbia Gorge Sinfonietta in Hood
River. Carol is happily retired after 24 years
teaching orchestra.
Elizabeth Zumstein (violin) – Elizabeth
enthusiastically joined the Symphony in
2016. A native of Woodland, she began
learning the violin at age 11 along with her
Mom and four of her sisters. In addition to
teaching a handful of violin students, she
works at the local machine shop and keeps
the books for a landscaping company. She is
grateful to God for the opportunity to create
beautiful music with the Symphony.
Sandy Rountree (violin) – Born in Longview,
Sandy started music in 4th grade and
remembers sitting in band class, waiting for
her mother’s payday so she could get a
clarinet to play. Due to some
miscommunication, her mother brought
home a violin instead, so Sandy played the
violin. She joined the symphony in 1984 and
is now one of the old-timers. Retired, she
enjoys doing genealogy, reading mysteries,
writing stories, playing with her dog and
being a part of her church’s history museum.
Katy Olson (violin) initially started playing
the violin in 3rd grade at Catlin Elementary
School and continued on through Kelso
High School where she discovered she
could get out of class to play for civic
engagements in the community. Today she
works as a librarian for the Longview
School District and still enjoys getting out
of work to play for the Fall Children’s
Concert with the SWS. Katy loves to travel,
read, and laugh with family and friends.
She still slips out of any obligation she
can...except for Symphony practice.
Tamra Davis (violin) earned her Bachelor
and Master of Music degrees in violin
performance from Brigham Young
University. She has had the opportunity to
perform with various ensembles
throughout the United States, Great Britain,
and Europe. As a freelance artist, she has
recorded on soundtracks, movie scores,
and advertisements. She is currently an
adjunct music instructor at LCC and has
been a member of the Southwest
Washington Symphony since 2014. Tamra
enjoys homeschooling her children and
being outdoors with her family.
Gary Lindstrom (violin) joined the
Symphony in 1994 at the invitation of
Marion Clark (cello). Starting in 3rd grade
in Burlingame, CA, he played violin
through high school. He has performed
with the Astoria Chamber Players,
Coachella Valley Symphony, Sunnyside
Chamber Orchestra, and piano trio,
quartet, and quintet works along with his
spouse, pianist, Ann Long. Additionally he
is a member of the Columbian Choral
Ensemble. His violin teachers included
Matt Mandrones (Vancouver Symphony)
and Jonathan Dubay (Oregon Symphony).
He has a Master’s Degree from the Pacific
School of Religion, Berkeley, CA and is
retired from the Port of Longview. He is a
past President of the symphony’s Board.
Lauren Cash (violin) – She began violin at
the age of six, started piano several years
later, and has never stopped playing music
since! Lauren joined the symphony in 2006
and enjoys her current role as Principal 2nd
violin. She loves passing on the joy of music
to local students, teaching music both
privately and at Journey Christian School. If
she’s not playing music or teaching you
might find her hiking, travelling, writing, or
spending time with family and friends.
Ann Long (piano) grew up in Indianapolis,
and is a retired Longview School District
accompanist who has been with the
Symphony since 2009. She has accompanied
numerous organizations over the years,
including St. Stephens Church, LCC,
Columbia Choral Ensemble and Chor Anno.
She received a BA in Music after her studies
at Indiana University and the University of
Illinois. She was also a member of the
Coachella Valley Symphony. During the later
years in her musical life, she developed a
love for playing chamber music, performing
with The Astoria Chamber Players and The
Amicus Trio. Currently she enjoys playing
chamber music with her husband, violinist
Gary Lindstrom, and cellist Mike Woods. She
and Gary enjoy sailing their sailboat, Kestrel
in Puget Sound in the summer, and golfing
in Palm Springs in the winter.
Sharon Floyd (flute and piccolo) - Ms. Floyd
joined the symphony in 2005 and teaches
third grade in the Ridgefield School District. A
native of Cowlitz county, she studied with Tom
Hall and Dorothy Rose Mason. Harvey
Redmond and Dennis Creek inspired Ms.
Floyd to live a life filled with making music.
She plays with the Lower Columbia
Symphonic Band, Mahler Fest and is a
member of the National Flute Association.
Ms. Floyd plays an Oston-Brannen flute, a
Brannen Piccolo and a Kingma Alto Flute. She
holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Washington
State University and Master’s Degree from
George Fox University. Beyond playing, Ms.
Floyd loves to knit, sew and travel.
Perry Calabrese (Tuba) - Joined the
Symphony in 2008 following his son’s
departure. A veteran of the United States
Marine Corps Field Band, Mr. Calabrese is a
graduate of Western Washington University
and is retired from 33 years of public school
band directing. His bands over the years
have been recognized as setting the highest
standard of excellence in performance at All
Northwest Music Educator’s Conference,
Two PacTen half-time shows, Mt.Hood and
Reno International Jazz Festivals, and guest
performances including Lower Columbia
College Honor Bands. Mr. C resides in Castle
Rock where he’s raised his five children. In
his retirement, his passion is restoring
vintage motorcycles.
Rebecca Rodriguez (trumpet) - Rebecca
joined the symphony is 2015 and currently
resides in Longview, WA. Rebecca attended
Central Washington University earning a
Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and
Eastern Washington University for her
Master’s degree in Educational Leadership.
Rebecca is currently teaching band and
choir at Cascade Middle School and enjoys
the opportunity to share music with students and the community
through her participation in the symphony.
Judy Woodward, (cello) joined SWWS in
2018. Although she commutes to Longview
from Astoria, Oregon, on rehearsal and
concert nights, Mike (cello) and Trudy
Woods welcome her in their home, where
Judy is wined and dined, provided her own
bedroom, and the next day joins Mike in
cello duets. Other musical highlights include
playing in a string quartet to accompany the
first Canadian youth to be Queen Elizabeth’s
organist, during his homecoming recital in
Nelson, B.C. Now retired from writing
environmental impact statements, Judy
gives private cello lessons, plays in
numerous large and small ensembles, and
makes fiber art.
Sue Marble (cello) - After careers in nursing
and psychology, Sue returned to the cello,
her first love, in 2018. She is a student of
Elizabeth Byrd and joined the Symphony in
Autumn of 2019. Sue, her husband and two
cats are enjoying their retirement by the
river in Columbia City, Oregon.
Rachel Davis (cello) - Rachel joined the
Symphony in 2019 after moving from
Gresham, OR. She was blessed to grow up in
a family that encouraged her musical
interests. Rachel began playing the cello in
her school orchestra at age 10. She pursued
a degree in Music Education and graduated
with a Bachelor’s degree from Berry College
in 2007. After graduating, she has
performed with various groups including the
Beaverton Symphony, the Willamette Falls
Symphony, and the Portland Civic Orchestra.
She also has recorded cello tracks and
performed with several independent rock
bands like Capraesque and Matthew
Fountain and the Whereabouts. Currently,
she teaches music at Napavine Elementary
and teaches private lessons to students in
Lewis and Cowlitz counties. Rachel lives
with her family in Winlock, WA.
David Walworth (percussion) David
Walworth has been with the Southwest
Washington Symphony since 1969. He is
currently the timpanist for SWWS and
percussionist for LCC Symphonic Band. He
has performed as timpanist and
percussionist with Whatcom Symphony,
University of Washington Wind Symphony,
Bremerton Symphony, Central Kitsap High
School Band, and beat on a bass drum with
Silverdale Elementary Sixth Grade Marching
Band. He enjoys his mini farm, raising cows,
chickens, carrots and corn. And oh, he loves
to sing, and conducts the Symphony
Christmas
Brad Dutz (Percussion) Brad Dutz currently teaches at LOWER
COLUMBIA COLLEGE in Longview, Washington and was on the per-
cussion faculty at Cal State Long Beach 1997-2020. He has con-
ducted hundreds of clinics at colleges and high schools. Dutz has
been a member of Broadcast Music, Inc. since 1985. He has pro-
duced seventy seven albums as a leader. Dutz composed for Dance
companies, Theatre, Documentaries (including Shirkers 2018),
Movies, and Silent Films. Over the last thirty five years, his composi-
tions have been featured on numerous CD releases. Everything
from solo pieces to large ensembles are featured on his albums. He
has performed on prestigious stages such as the Angel City Jazz
Festival, Boston Court, and The REDCAT Theatre. Dutz has done
master classes, lectures and concerts featuring his composition at
many schools including Cal Arts, NIU, OSU,SOU ,SUU, Winona State
in MN, Cal state LA, Indiana University, UNT, Weber college, USC,
UCLA, EIU, ISU, U of I, Pierce college, Brigham Young, and many oth-
ers. His percussion ensemble work “Freaked out ROWS “ debuted in
2014 at Elmhurst College in Illinois and has been performed at six
other universities including a one week residency at Saint Olaf in
Northfield MN. The new percussion tenet “AMTRAK TO ASHLAND “
was 1st heard in 2022 at SOU. He has recorded 400 CDs as a side-
man for a variety of artists, and he has just completed a brand new
series on youtube.
David Taylor (Principal Bassoon) Bassoonist David
Taylor has been involved in the music of the Pacific
Northwest for his whole life, beginning his career as
principal bassoon of the Spokane
Philharmonic/Spokane Symphony in 1960, he went
on to join the Seattle Symphony in 1968, playing
bassoon, contrabassoon and saxophone until his
retirement in 2002. He is presently principal bassoon
of the Southwest Washington Symphony and
frequently plays in regional orchestras as well as in
smaller ensembles. His teachers include Arthur Biehl,
Morgan Griffin and Arthur Grossman.
Karen Strand (Principal Oboe) Oboist
Karen Strand is a native of the Lower Columbia
area, having grown up in St.Helens, Oregon.
Since 1989, Karen has been Associate
Professor of Music at Portland State University.
Collegiate music studies were at the University
of Oregon and the Eastman School of Music.
Among her teachers were J. Robert Moore,
Evelyn Barbirolli, Robert Sprenkle, Ron Roseman , Thomas Stacy
and Fred Korman. Karen studied for a college academic year in
Reading, England and in the time since has performed
internationally in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Switzerland
and the People’s Republic of China. She is an active performer in
the Pacific Northwest, working as a member of the Portland
Opera Orchestra, Portland Chamber Orchestra, the Vancouver
Symphony, the Oregon Coast Music Festival, and Siletz Bay Music
Festival. Much to her delight, having just moved to Longview in
2022, Karen is now busy locally, performing with the Southwest
Washington Symphony and the Columbia River Chamber Music
festival. Since 1989, Karen has been Associate Professor of Music
at Portland State University.
Judy Jones grew up in Bremerton, Washington, where she
started piano lessons at age 6 and violin lessons in the third
grade. She continued with both through high school, but her
lifelong love of the violin playing began with her experience in
the Bremerton Symphony. Judy also played violin in the
Washington-Idaho Symphony while majoring in music at
Washington State University, where she earned her teaching
certificate in 2001. She taught
orchestra in Spokane for one year, then moved to Albuquerque,
New Mexico, where she taught orchestra for 17 years and
played in the Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra. When she
and her husband planned to retire and move back to
Washington in 2020, Judy was excited to learn of the
opportunity to join the Southwest Washington Symphony,
where she could continue to enjoy playing great music with
other dedicated musicians while
fostering a love of music in young people and the community.
She now lives in Silverlake with her husband and two cats.
Dick Uthman (Principal Clarinet) Graduated from WSU 1960,
1971 MA in Music Education. Taught in public, private schools and
university 1961 until 2013. Nine years Army Reserve, one year in
Vietnam as engineer Company Commander. Member Southwest
Washington Symphony since 1973, principal clarinet and librarian.
Elected WMEA Hall of Fame 2002. People to People Ambassador
of Music to China 2001. Directed and played in many local musical
theater productions, including “Annie” “Les Miserables” “West Side
Story”. Member Lower Columbia Clarinet Guild.
John Muir (violin) initially joined the symphony in 2017 but left
shortly after to go to college at Eastern Washington University
where he received his BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology
with a Minor in Music. He returned home in 2020 due to
everything happening during the COVID -19 pandemic and has
rejoined the symphony. He lived in Kelso since he was 8. He
started learning violin at Butler Acres from Mr. Bruce Williamson,
and has been in the area ever since. He’s currently working at
Cowlitz PUD as an engineer but spends his free time making
music, skiing, and cycling. He is currently serving as the Publicity
Chairman for the Southwest Washington Symphony and greatly
appreciates the opportunity to be more involved with the
organization.
Whitney Henion (viola) Whitney started
playing the violin in 5th grade, but by
high school, she realized that the Viola
was a better fit with her personality, and
she’s been playing ever since. In 2002,
she graduated from WSU with two
degrees in Architecture and a minor in
Music. The combination of Music and
Architecture is a consistent theme in
her life so you can often find her
designing things or working with kids to
get excited about STEM or attending concerts of friends. She works
full-time at an Architecture firm in Portland, and plays the viola in
various groups in the area like SWS, Clark College Orchestra and
the Nutcracker Ballet in Astoria, OR. Whitney lives in Camas, WA
with her husband, a middle school Band director and percussionist,
whom she met at music camp just outside Seattle, and their two
teenage girls who also play various instruments and sing in choirs
and a black cat named Pepper who doesn't play any instrument, at
the moment.
Dennis Weber (violinist 1967- 70, 1975 – present)
Dennis was born and raised in Longview. His Grandfather Weber
played the violin, flute, and accordion. His Grandfather Klein also
played the violin. His three sisters all played violin as youngsters
and, in fact, his sister Beth taught violin for years in northern Idaho.
Dennis began playing in grade school and studied privately under
Longview School District orchestra teacher William “Bill” Watson for
eight years. Watson incidentally made the violin Dennis plays to this
day. His time playing in orchestras at Kessler School, Monticello
Junior High, and R. A. Long High Schools were life-changing experi-
ences. He still maintains friendships with several fellow orchestra
members from those years. While attending the University of
Washington in Seattle, Dennis also played in the University
Orchestra under the renowned direction of both Stanley Chapple
and Samuel Krachmalnick.
Competing in music contests each year during his junior and senior
high school years, Dennis performed in soloes, duets, and ensem-
bles, culminating in a finalists’ performance by the R. A. Long Violin
Quartet his senior year (1970). Another highlight was being a mem-
ber of the 1970 All-State Orchestra. Plus, Dennis joined the
Southwest Washington Symphony Orchestra while in high school
(1967).
He has also played in numerous local musical events, including the
Longview Community Church’s annual production of Handel’s
Messiah for many years. One of the most memorable events was a
1975 R. A. Long High School production of the Wizard of Oz. He
began meeting his future wife Kris McElroy after practices of the pit
orchestra. (She played clarinet then and still plays for the sym-
phony.) They married in 1977 and raised three daughters. Their
daughter Juliana is a percussionist, studying under R. A. Long Band
Director David Klander and Kurt Harbaugh, and has played in com-
munity bands at LCC and in southern Ontario, Canada.
Dennis taught high school social studies, especially American
Government and History for the Longview School District for 35
years, mostly at his own high school, R. A. Long, and was president
of the teachers’ union from 2010 to 2012. He was also elected to the
Longview City Council serving from 1980 – 1991. During this time, he
joined with other council members in saving the Columbia Theater
from the wrecking ball. During the 1990s he served for a time as
President of the Symphony Board of Directors. He returned to the
City Council again from 2002 – 2012 and led city council efforts to
both restore affordable senior housing at the Theater, as well as se-
cure a major state grant to make structural improvements to the
Columbia Theater. All told, Dennis served over 9 years as Mayor.
In 2012 he co-authored a pictorial history of Longview which in-
cludes a photo of the symphony from its second year. Since 2013 he
has served as a Cowlitz County Commissioner.
Kris McElroy Weber (clarinetist 1974 to present)
Kris was born and raised in Montana and began playing the clarinet
in Havre under the instruction of C. I. Carlson. One sister played
flute, while another one played oboe. Her younger brother played
saxophone while his twin sister sang in the choir.
During her senior year (1968-1969) at Havre High School, she was a
member of the All-State Band as well as the McDonald’s All-American
Band, marching that year in New York City at Macy’s Thanksgiving
Day Parade and then in Pasadena at the 1969 Rose Bowl Parade.
After graduating from Havre High, Kris attended Bethel College in
Minneapolis, MN and graduated from Seattle Pacific College (now
University). She began a 36-year teaching career in 1973. She taught
biology, plus anatomy and physiology, for most of those years at R.
A. Long High School where faculty members introduced her to her
future husband, Dennis Weber.
Her love of music led to her insistence on auditioning for a non-exist-
ing vacancy in the woodwind section of the Symphony Orchestra in
1974, shortly after arriving in Longview to teach. She has been play-
ing next to first chair clarinetist Dick Uthmann ever since. Her fa-
vorite moments in Symphony do not include repeated performances
of “No, No, Nanette.” She has truly enjoyed the distinctive conduct-
ing styles of each of her symphony conductors: George Simonson,
Ryan Heller, and Rob Davis. She enjoys playing duets with Uthmann,
playing in a cello-flute-clarinet trio, as well as a local clarinet choir.
Kris also has played in numerous local musical events, including the
Longview Community Church’s performances of Handel’s Messiah.
She has especially enjoyed musicals presented over the years. One
1975 event was R. A. Long’s production of the Wizard of Oz. It was
after practices for that play that she and Dennis began going out.
Another memorable event was playing in a roach-infested orchestra
pit at the Columbia Theater (prior to its remodeling) for a production
of the musical 1776.
Eventually, Kris joined actors on stage originally with her daughters
for Fiddler on the Roof and a later school production of Wizard of Oz.
One play she was in that had a huge emotional impact was Playing
for Time, a melancholy story of classical music played by prisoners
inside a Nazi concentration camp.
Kris retired from teaching in 2010. She has served on the boards of
the local Habitat for Humanity and the Cowlitz County Historical
Society. She has remained active with a number of groups, including
with Altrusa, 100 Women, several book clubs, a women’s Bible fellow-
ship, while volunteering at FISH. She and Dennis married in 1977 and
together they raised three daughters. Their daughter Juliana is a per-
cussionist, studying under R. A. Long Band Director David Klander
and Kurt Harbaugh, and has played in community bands at LCC and
in southern Ontario, Canada.
