Music Coaches

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.

Valerie Doerrfeld , Cello

Valerie Doerrfeld, cellist and music educator has been performing, freelancing and teaching in the Seattle area since 1993. Music education includes BM form the Eastman School of Music and MM form the University of Akron, and tutelage under Michael Tilson-Thomas at the New World Symphony. She currently is a member of the highly acclaimed chamber orchestra, the Northwest Sinfonietta, which reaches audiences from Seattle to Tacoma, and cellist in the Allegria Trio. Valerie resides in Issaquah where she teaches, performs and maintains a very active cello studio.

David Drassal, Violin Coach

Matt Drumm, percussion, timpani, received his BA in Percussion performance from the University of Washington. He currently plays with the Bellevue Philharmonic, Tacoma Symphony Orchestra, Auburn Symphony, and Philharmonia Northwest. He also substitutes on a regular basis for Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera, and Village Theatre. He has taught at Marrowstone in the City, Tacoma Symphony Elementary School Residencies, and the Bellevue Philharmonic Education Program.

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.

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 starting 2005; plays principal bassoon with the Everett Symphony Orchestra and freelances and teaches in the greater Seattle area; MM degree from University of Arizona.

Matt Swihart, trumpet

Matt Swihart received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in 1995 and his MM from Rice University in 1998. Matt has been a Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Festival and at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, where he performed under conductors including Seiji Ozawa, Christoph Eschenbach, Mitislav Rostropovich, Robert Spano and Andre Previn. Matt spent 2001 - 2003 in Germany on a Fulbright Grant. Matt is on leave from a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Stony Brook, New York. He moved to Seattle in late 2003 to join his lovely wife Maya who is a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington.

Walt Timpe, brass, 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