Musician Spotlights

June 4, 2018
Rachel Rencher

Rachel Rencher, Principal flute

Rachel Rencher is a freelance flutist in the Portland area. She is the principal flutist for The VSO, for which she has played since 1993.   […]
June 4, 2018
Garrett Jellesma

Garrett Jellesma, Principal bass

Now in his 13th season with The VSO, Garrett grew up in Milwaukie, Oregon where he was a violinist in the youth symphony.   His bass […]
June 4, 2018
Tracie Andrusko

Tracie Andrusko, Principal 2nd violin

Tracie began her music training at the age of 5, on both violin and piano, developing a love of music as she watched both her parents […]
April 3, 2018
Brian Gardiner, percussion

Dr. Brian Gardiner, Principal percussion

Dr. Brian Gardiner is a versatile percussionist, having performed throughout the U.S. and Canada with professional orchestras, rock bands, dance and choral groups, as well as […]
April 3, 2018
Dr. Angelika Furtwangler, viola

Dr. Angelika Furtwangler, Principal viola

Angelika holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin and has lived and worked in the Portland/Vancouver area for the last 10 […]
April 3, 2018
Margaret McShea, bassoon

Margaret McShea, Principal bassoon

Margaret hails from Texas, where she received a bassoon performance degree from the University of Texas in Austin.   She and her trombonist husband, Greg Scholl, […]
December 29, 2017
Margaret McShea, bassoon

Bruce Dunn, Principal trumpet

Now in his 19th year as The VSO’s principal trumpet, Bruce B. Dunn is an accomplished freelance trumpeter who holds performance degrees from both Washington State […]
December 29, 2017
Dieter Ratzlaff, cello

Dieter Ratzlaf, Principal cello

Portland cellist Dieter Ratzlaf grew up in a musical family. He began cello studies at the age of seven and performed with the Portland Youth Philharmonic […]
December 29, 2017
Dr Igor Shakhman, clarinet

Dr. Igor Shakhman, Principal clarinet

Igor has been heard in recitals, chamber music concerts and concert appearances throughout Europe and the US. As an orchestral clarinetist, he has performed with the […]