Bruce Carpenter, Double Reeds

Edward Castro, Trumpet, received his doctorate from the UW School of Music, his Bachelor of Music from the Manhattan School of Music; and his M.M. from Yale University. At the Manhattan School of Music Ed studied trumpet with Chris Gekker, former member of the American Brass Quintet and with Tom Smith of the New York Philharmonic. At Yale Mr. Castro studied with chamber musician Allan Dean. After teaching a year at Rafael Hernandez Dual Language Magnet School in his hometown, Ed attended the University of Maryland with Steven Hendrickson while receiving classes in Music Pedagogy from Mr. John E. Wakefield. Ed is currently living in Seattle with his wife Alyssa.

David Drassal, Violin Coach

Merle Harris, violoncello, Bachelor of Music, University of Puget Sound, has played for the Tacoma Symphony as assistant principal cellist, and is currently with the Bellevue Philharmonic. She also plays with the Ambrosia String Quartet. She began with BYSO in 2003.

Linda Joyce, Debut String Orchestra conductor,1993 - 2008, received a BA in Music Education from Arizona State University and a Masters of Music degree in viola performance from the Peabody Conservatory. She has been a member of the Phoenix Symphony, the Oakland Symphony, and the Baltimore Symphony. She also played in the Aspen Festival Orchestra. She was the founder of the original Sammamish Strings in 1991 and a co-founder of Youth Philharmonic Northwest in 1993 which merged with the Bellevue Eastside Youth Symphonies to create BYSO in 1999. She has taught viola, violin, and piano for over 30 years. She lives in Sammamish, is married, has two sons, and two grandchildren.

Mary Kantor, clarinet, graduated from the Academy of Music and the Performing Arts, Vienna, Austria. She is currently principal clarinet with the Bellevue Philharmonic, and adjunct professor of clarinet at Seattle Pacific University.

Brenda Nash, woodwinds, attended the University of Washington. She is a paraprofessional with the Bellevue Public Schools working with 5th grade band and orchestra students. She has worked with BYSO since 1986. She writes, "I enjoy working with young musicians at the level, many who are experiencing the joy of orchestral playing for the first time."

Aundrea Schmidt, Viola Coach

Judy Stoffel Loewen, woodwind coach since 2005; plays principal bassoon with the Everett Symphony Orchestra and freelances and teaches in the greater Seattle area; MM degree from University of Arizona.

Walt Timpe, brass coach is a native of Seattle, and began his musical career in 5th Grade as a trombone player. He played through high school (Roosevelt), and went on to graduate from the University of Washington in Music Ed. He served in the State National Guard Band for over 20 years, and retired form public school teaching in 1999. He currently is principal French horn player for the City of Renton Band, and teaches band part time at Kirkland Junior High School.

Judith Webb, Violin/Viola coach, graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, currently performs with the Ambrosia String Quartet and the Philharmonic Strings of NW Florida. She has coached the BYSO string sections since 2004.

Carolyn Wyman, Viola coach, graduate of the Guildhall School of Music in London, England, Member of the Bellevue Philharmonic as violist since 1995, founder and manager of the Ambrosia String Quartet, former conductor of the Everett Youth Symphony Young String Symphony and the Eastlake Junior Youth Symphony Orchestras. She currently teaches violin and viola as director of the Beaux Arts Suzuki Academy of Music.