Index - SWS Program

Alyce Gardner

Message from the Board.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire symphony family, it is my pleasure to welcome you to a new season filled with the magic of live music and the joy of shared experiences. We are thrilled to present an extraordinary lineup of performances that promises to captivate your hearts and minds. Each concert offers a unique opportunity to engage with the art of symphonic music, showcasing both timeless classics and innovative compositions. We eagerly anticipate moving into our new Symphony home at the renovated Cox auditorium next summer and hope you will continue to join us as we celebrate this monumental achievement. Thank you for your unwavering support and generosity which makes the music possible. We can’t wait to make beautiful memories together this season!

Lucas Darger

Message from the Maestro

Every time I stand before these remarkable musicians, I am overwhelmed with gratitude—not just for the opportunity to do what I love, but for the privilege of doing it alongside such a dedicated and talented group of people. Music, as many of you know, has the unique power to move us, to connect us in ways that transcend words, and it’s this connection that makes each performance special.

What makes an orchestra so powerful is that it’s never the work of one individual. It takes all of us—musicians, staff, board members, donors, and you, our patrons—coming together with a shared love of music and a belief in its transformative impact. Through this collective effort, we create something that’s much bigger than any one of us, something that resonates deeply with everyone who experiences it. I truly believe that the music we share has a profound effect on all involved, and for that, I am deeply thankful.

As we look toward to the future, there is much to be excited about. We are hopeful that the renovation of our home will move swiftly, and in the meantime, we are immensely grateful to Desert Hills for hosting us and to all of you for your continued support during this transition.

This season promises to be one of our best yet, filled with performances that will inspire and uplift. I hope tonight’s music touches you in a meaningful way, and that you’ll continue to be part of this journey with us. Together, we’re creating moments that stay with us long after the last note fades—and I can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together.

Concert Sponsors

Aurora & Eve Vasefi

Aurora Vasefi (13) is an Iranian-American piano student of Dr. Christie Sowby, and currently lives in Lehi, Utah with her parents and 3 siblings. She first learned piano from her mom at the age of 3. She competes regularly and has won multiple awards in various competitions including the Salt Lake Piano Competition, the Paderewski Festival, and several Encore Competitions. She also plays cello in her middle school advanced orchestra and the Vivace Youth Orchestra. When she’s not playing piano or cello, she loves to read, play soccer, hang out with friends, play with her siblings, and listen to music.

Eve Vasefi (15), is an Iranian-American from Lehi, Utah. She is a student of Dr. Christie Sowby, and first started learning piano at the age of four. She has received multiple awards in various competitions, including the Salt Lake Piano Competition, Paderewski Festival, and Encore concerto competition. She especially enjoys performing duets with her sister, Aurora. She has also played the viola in her middle school orchestra and the clarinet. When she isn’t playing piano, she enjoys wrestling for Lehi High School, painting, reading, and doing mixed martial arts with her mom.

Program Notes

Meet our Musicians

Violin I

Rachel France – Concertmaster
Debbie Hafen – Assistant Concertmaster
Kaylie Benites
Kezia Goggia
Saya Hart
Lucinda King
Julia Monson
Amber Morris
Natalie Nelson
Tonya Summers
Cassidee Torres
Kimberly Warburton
Lacie Young

Violin II

Joie Whittaker – Principal
Lichelle Jones – Assistant Principal
Camille Gay
Lauren Jess
Kristen Kjar
Jim Laudie
Allen McCandles
Bryn Tafoya
Debbie Thornton
Tammy Tremea

Viola

Linda Ghidossi DeLuca – Principal
Shaylin Seaich – Principal
Janna Brown
Robert Fawson
Kevin Lasnier
April Olsen

Cello

Ka-Wai Yu – Principal
Peter Romney – Assistant Principal
Gordon Larsen Chair
Ethan Allen
Kamille Brooks
Longo Chu
Aria Dutson
Joe Duwel
Ann Evans
Sandy Gustaveson
Leslie Jack
MaryAnn Oram
Mia Taylor
Debra Vradenburg

Bass

Deni Jones – Principal
Ed Candland
Shawn Hanson
Braxton Leavitt
Joshua Monson
Will Walker

Harp

Maggie Maxfield – Principal
Savanna Krogh

Flute

Katrina Jones - Principal
Derek Cochran
Cassey Flinders

Oboe/English Horn

Marcus Phillips – Principal
Tanner Dawson

Clarinet

Melissa Bennion – Principal
Greg Johnston

Bassoon

Shannon Arslanian - Principal
Carolyn Johnston

Horn

David Lintz - Principal
Randy Bassuener
David Hay
Leslie Lintz
Tabitha Nygaard

Trumpet

Amy Paterson – Principal
Byron Ward
LuWayne Barber
Jared Nicholson

Trombone

Timothy Francis – Principal
Josh Holt
Nate McGary--> Jay Nygaard

Tuba

Jim Brickey - Principal

Percussion

Tyson Jones – Principal
Dominic Dodge
Grace Palfreyman
Rhett Powell
Sonia Roberts

Pre-Show: Hurricane High School Advanced Orchestra
Conductor: Kamille Brooks

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Mission

We inspire and enrich audiences through the transformative power of symphonic music. As the cultural heart of the community, we share the beauty of music through educational and entertaining performances.

Vision

Our vision is to become the Southwest region's premier orchestra.

Values

• We value our legacy and dedicate our efforts to maintaining our position as the cultural heart of our community.
• We serve our community and respect our commitment to perform quality symphonic music.
• We value transparency, honesty, integrity, and ethical stewardship.
• We are strategically minded. We are action-oriented and plan for our future sustainability.
• We value creative collaboration and cooperation with arts, education, and civic and business partners in the community.
• We value diversity and innovation as we strive for cultural inclusion and excellence.
• We are dedicated to life-long learning and impacting student-centered achievement and growth.