Featured Musicians of the Macon Symphony Orchestra

MSO Musicians

Jason Eklund

Jason Eklund, Horn, graduated summa cum laude from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Music in Horn Performance in 1998. While at the University of New Mexico he served as Principal Horn of the Santa Fe Symphony and a substitute for the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. In 2000, he earned a Master of Music in Performance from the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX under the guidance of Gregory Hustis. Currently, Jason resides in Atlanta, GA where he is an instructor of Music Theory at Emory University and adjunct professor of horn at Columbus State University. He is also an active performer in Georgia, serving as Principal horn of the Macon Symphony Orchestra, third horn in the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, fourth horn in the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and a substitute with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Phil Elkins

Phil Elkins has been a member of the Macon Symphony since 1987, and also is a member of the Greenville Symphony (SC) and the Columbus Symphony (GA) Orchestras. Prior to moving to Atlanta in 1986, he was a member of the Elgin Symphony (IL), the Illinois Philharmonic, and Charleston Symphony Orchestras (SC). An active freelance musician, Mr. Elkins frequently performs with the Atlanta Opera, Atlanta Ballet, Charleston, Savannah, Alabama, Augusta, and Atlanta Symphony Orchestras.

As a performer of chamber music since 1976, he has appeared and recorded with many diverse brass ensembles, including the Atlanta Brassworks, the Atlanta Symphony Brass Quintet and the Greenville Brass Quintet. Mr. Elkins has performed extensively in Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Illinois, North Dakota, and California. He has presented masterclasses and clinics specializing in Chamber Music and Freelance Performance at Columbus State University, Furman University, Mercer University, Clemson University, and San Jose State University, and has published several arrangements for brass ensembles.

Chris Enghauser

Bassist Chris Enghauser earned a MM in Music Performance from The University Georgia, a BM in Music Performance from George Mason University and has been a proud member of the Macon Symphony Orchestra since 2007. An avid jazz player and professional bassist for over 20 years, Chris has kept a busy schedule in many musical genres having performed or recorded with artists such as Chuck Leavell, Sarah Evans, Crystal Gayle, Randall Bramblett, Bela Fleck, Victor Wooten, Roy Wooten, Mimi Fox, and Jeff Coffin (of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and The Dave Mathews Band) to name a few. Chris has served as principal bass with the Toccoa Symphony (GA) and has performed with the Seattle Mandolin Ensemble, the McLean Symphony (VA), the Boeing Symphony (WA), and the symphonies in Columbus, Gainesville, and Augusta, Georgia. Chris has performed extensively throughout the USA, Canada and Bermuda including national Broadway tours of “A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline”, Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes”, and “Pump Boys and Dinettes”. Mr. Enghauser is currently the Director of Bands at Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School in Athens and has served as jazz bass instructor in the Jazz Studies Department at the University of Georgia, clinician for the UGA Jazz Festival, jazz band director for the UGA Summer Music Camp, and co-coordinator of the UGA Bass Symposium.

Megan Ganyard

Megan Ganyard, violinist, was the first graduate of the prestigious Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University in 2010. As a soloist and chamber musician, Megan has had unique performance opportunities early in her career with the internationally-acclaimed St. Lawrence String Quartet, violinist Robert McDuffie and under the baton of Maestro Robert Spano.

A recipient of several honors, Megan won the 2008 Joseph Maerz Award Competition, the 2007 Macon Symphony Concerto Competition, and was awarded the 2009 Robert McDuffie Scholarship. In 2008, Ms. Ganyard was selected by Robert McDuffie to play in Rome, Italy’s Chamber Music Festival.

Megan graduated Summa Cum Laude from Mercer University with her Bachelor’s degree in violin performance. As a student in the McDuffie Center for Strings, she studied with master teachers and violinists Robert McDuffie, Amy Schwartz Moretti and David Halen. Megan has been a member of the Macon Symphony Orchestra for the past four years and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in music at Mercer University's Townsend School of Music and McDuffie Center for Strings.

Bob Goin

Bob Goin A Georgia native, Bob has played section bass for the Macon Symphony since 1984, principal bass for the Georgia Symphony since 1998, and been performing in and around Atlanta since 1977. Since 1993 he has taught Strings in DeKalb County and is assistant conductor and lower strings coach for the DeKalb Youth Symphony. He also teaches double bass at Agnes Scott College. He earned a Bachelors and Masters in Double Bass Performance and Music Education Certification from The University of Georgia. His principal studies were with Dr. Brownlee Waschek, Charlotte Clark, Dr. Peter Dundon, Dr. Milton Masciadri and Milton Masciadri Sr. Bob has performed in master classes for Gary Karr, Rodney Slatford, Warren Benfield and Francois Rabbath.

Bob has performed with the orchestras of Macon, Augusta, Columbus, Charleston, Greenville, Hilton Head, Carrollton, Rome, Savannah, Orchestra Atlanta, The Atlanta Pops and The Atlanta Balalaika Orchestra. While studying in Athens, he was a member of several bands most notably The Vigilantes of Love. Bob has travelled and performed in Brazil, China, Japan, Italy, Hungary, Austria and The Czech Republic. During the summers of 97, 98 and 99 he studied violin bow making with Reid Hudson at the White River Artisans School in Cotter, Arkansas. His hobbies include motorcycles, old cars, camping, hiking, and carpentry.

Bob and his wife Gael have three daughters and live in Stone Mountain.

Candace Keach

Candace Keach - Flutist Candace Keach, flutist, originally from Athens, Georgia has been principal flutist with the Macon Symphony Orchestra for over 20 years. She has been a featured soloist with this orchestra as well as with summer music festivals in Italy, Switzerland and France. Her orchestral experience in the southeast has also included playing with the Atlanta, Birmingham, Columbus and Greenville Symphony Orchestras. She was principal flutist with the National Touring Company’s “Phantom of the Opera” at the Fox. Candace is flute professor at Spelman College. Her own studies were at the University of Georgia and at the New England Conservatory in Boston. Candace is creative director of the Spiral of Sound Crystal Bowl Choir and is a founding board member for the International Sound Therapy Association. She is in great demand as a motivational presenter, leading workshops and presenting concerts which introduce the archetypal elements of sound! In 2010 she was awarded placement on the Georgia Arts Council Touring Artist Roster and the Southern Artistry Registry. Her therapeutic music CD, “As Above So Below”, has been embraced within the healing arts community as well as by mainstream music lovers!

Hollie Lifshey

Hollie Lifesay - Flutist Maintaining an active performing career playing trumpet professionally throughout the Southeast Hollie Lifshey is Principal Trumpet of the Macon Symphony and Savannah Philharmonic. She has also performed with the Atlanta Symphony, Atlanta Opera Orchestra, and Atlanta Ballet Orchestra.

Prior to starting her professional career in the United States, Lifshey performed in Europe spending two summers playing with the Opera Theater of Lucca Festival Orchestra in Lucca, Italy, and was a guest performer with the Gulbenkian Orchestra in Lisbon, Portugal. She has appeared with The Four Freshmen, Jennifer Holiday, Ryder’s In the Sky, and the Dallas Brass. Lifshey earned a Masters Degree in Trumpet performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and teaches trumpet at Reinhardt University.

In her spare time she enjoys cooking vegetarian meals, traveling, and outdoor activities. One of her dreams is to visit a US National Park every year. She lives in Atlanta with her husband Richard.

Dr. David Morris

David Morris been a member of the Music Faculty at Valdosta State University since 1985, where he also served as Head of the Department of Music and Assistant Dean of the College of the Arts. Dr. Morris holds the Ph. D. in applied percussion from Michigan State University, the Master of Music in Percussion Performance from East Carolina University, and the Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His percussion teachers include F. Michael Combs, Harold Jones, Mark Johnson, Salvatore Rabbio, Mark Yancich, Jim Atwood, and Cloyd Duff. Dr. Morris has served on the faculties of Limestone College, Michigan State University, the Governor's School of North Carolina, and the National Music Camp at Interlochen, Michigan. During the summer months, Dr. Morris currently teaches percussion and music theory for the Governor's Honors Program of Georgia, hosted at Valdosta State University.

Dr. Morris currently is Principal Timpanist with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, the Macon Symphony Orchestra, and the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Morris has held principal timpani positions with the Asheville Symphony, the Lansing Symphony, and currently performs as a substitute timpanist and has recorded with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He has performed as percussionist in orchestras in Charlotte, North Carolina, Savannah, Knoxville, and Oak Ridge. At VSU Dr. Morris has coordinated percussion studies, taught applied percussion lessons, and conducted the Valdosta State University Percussion Ensemble. He currently teaches Percussion Methods, Arranging, Graduate Music Theory, and second year Music Theory.

Jeannie Ohnemus

Jeannie Ohnemus - Oboe Originally from Quincy, IL., Jeannie holds a Master of Music in oboe performance from The University of Akron (OH) and a Bachelor's degree from Penn State University. She has performed with orchestras throughout Illinois, Northeast Ohio, and Pennsylvania including: Lakeshore Symphony, Sinfonietta Arts Chamber Orchestra, Canton Symphony Orchestra, Trinity Chamber Orchestra, Erie Philharmonic, Akron Lyric Opera, Youngstown Symphony, Canton Civic Opera, Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, Pennsylvania Centre Chamber Orchestra, and Quincy Symphony. Jeannie was a member of chamber groups including the Mosaic Quintet, Consort D'Amici, and the Aleotoric Quintet and participated in the Georgia Chamber Music Retreat, Idyllwild Arts Festival, Music at Penn's Woods, Sunflower Chamber Music Festival and Sound of America European Concert Tour. In 1993, she was awarded as the Young Artist Concerto Competition Winner with the Quincy Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Bradley Palmer

Dr. Bradley Palmer has served as the trombone professor at Columbus State University's Schwob School of Music since 1999. He earned his bachelor’s degree in music from Millikin University, his master’s degree from the University of Iowa, and he completed his doctoral work at Florida State University. An avid soloist, Dr. Palmer can be heard on the Summit label performing Richard Peaslee's "Arrows of Time" with the CSU Wind Ensemble. He has performed at five International Trombone Festivals, most recently at the 2011 Festival in Nashville where he also served on the faculty. Engagements for 2010-2011 included solo recitals at Columbus State University, the University of Alabama, the University of South Carolina, and the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte as part of the Brazilian Trombonists Association conference in Natal, Brazil, where he also presented a masterclass and conducted a trombone choir. In 2012-2013 he will perform concerti with the Millikin University and Columbus State University Wind Ensembles, and the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra.

As an S.E. Shires Performing Artist, Dr. Palmer performs regularly with a number of orchestras in the Southeast and has held the principal trombone chair with the LaGrange Symphony since 2003. At Columbus State University, Dr. Palmer is the coordinator for brass studies. He teaches trombone, coaches chamber music and teaches graduate courses. His former students include national and international solo competition winners, college, high school, middle school and elementary school teachers, music ministers and a number of others performing professionally. As a recording engineer and producer, Dr. Palmer has recorded some of today's leading players from the Chicago Symphony, Houston Symphony, New York Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic and Atlanta Symphony in Columbus State University's Legacy Hall. In addition, Dr. Palmer serves as the International Trombone Festival Recording Coordinator. He is the host for the 2013 International Trombone Festival in Columbus, GA.

Ulisses Silva

Ulisses Silva, a native of Brazil, received his Bachelor of Music degree from the State University of Sao Paulo. He came to the United States to study in the Master of Music program at the University of New Mexico in 2004. After graduating with his MM degree with distinction in 2006, he came to Athens to pursue a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Georgia under the direction of UGA viola professor Dr. Mark Neumann.

Mr. Silva has participated in many masterclasses and festivals in Brazil, Argentina and the USA, both as student and viola professor. In 2006 he was awarded a Performance Fellowship by the Aspen Music Festival. He also was awarded the first prize in several concerto competitions in Brazil and the USA. Mr. Silva is currently serving as Principal Viola of the Macon Symphony Orchestra, Ocmulgee Symphony Orchestra, and of the UGA Symphony Orchestra, as well as being active in solo and chamber performance in a variety of other ensembles and events. In 2009 he was the feature soloist of the Macon Symphony Orchestra and found the Hodgson String Quartet at the University of Georgia.

Dr. Patti Tolbert

Dr. Patti Tolbert - Music Education Coordinator and Professor of Music (1997). Dr. Tolbert received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia in 1997, the Master of Education in Music Education from Georgia Southern University in 1986, and the Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Berry College in 1970. She has worked at Georgia College and State University (GCSU) since 1997 and is a full tenured professor in the Department of Music. Dr. Tolbert has twenty years of experience as an instrumental music educator teaching in Polk, Glynn, McIntosh and Oconee County schools before coming to GCSU.

Honors include the Gene M. Simons Fellowship Award for musical and academic excellence given by the School of Music of the University of Georgia, Student Organization Advisor of the Year at GCSU as the Sigma Alpha Iota women's music fraternity advisor and GCSU 2006-2007 Excellence in Teaching Award. This year she received an award for 40 years of service and membership in the Georgia Music Educators Association. Dr. Tolbert also serves as the Music Education Coordinator, SAI and CMENC Advisor and Web Master for the Georgia College Department of Music.

Kelly Via

Kelly Via received the Bachelor of Music from Drake University and the Master of Music from East Carolina University. He plays piccolo with the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra and Macon Symphony Orchestra. A flute choir enthusiast and arranger, Kelly has been selected to perform with the National Flute Association Professional Flute Choir each year since 2000. His arrangements and compositions for flute choir are available through Nourse Wind Publications. One of his arrangements was named a winner in the NFA 2002 Newly Published Music Competition and another was a finalist in 2004. Most recently he was appointed to serve as Flute Choir Coordinator for the NFA from 2007 to 2012. He conducted the NFA National High School Flute Choir in 2008 and has served as guest conductor for flute choirs in Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey and Virginia. Kelly is currently teaching flute at Mercer University, Agnes Scott College, Carere Music and the Atlanta Music Academy. He also directs the Mercer University, Agnes Scott College and Atlanta Metro Youth flute choirs.

Vadim Volynets

Vadim Volynets is Principal Double Bass of the Macon Symphony Orchestra.
He received the highest-class degree of the Diploma as a Soloist, Chamber Musician and Pedagogue, graduating from the most prestigious music schools in the Ukraine: Kiev State Music School For Gifted Children; Kiev State Music College; Kiev State and Odessa State Conservatories.

As a soloist, Mr. Volynets gave a successful debut during his third year of the Music College with the premier of the Contemporary Concerto for Double Bass with Chamber Orchestra by Ukrainian composer Ya Lapinsky. He has won multiple times First Place Performance Awards in different music competitions, and just after graduating from the Music College won an audition in the State National Academic Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine ( 4th chair).

As a performer, Mr. Volynets has been a soloist with: the Kiev National State Chamber Orchestra; Chamber Orchestra “Virtuoso of Crimea"; Classical Trio “Riturnel"; Jazz Quartet “Black Fan"; Jazz Band, and Principal Bass with the "Ukraine" Symphony Orchestra, Kiev Symphony Choir and Orchestra and the Crimea State Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also performed with orchestras in Italy, France, South Korea and the United States. Mr.Volynets is a teacher with over 25 years experience, successfully teaching string instruments, guitar and piano in his private studio. He has been invited to teach at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Wesleyan College and Mercer University. His hobby is composing music.

Since 2008, Mr.Volynets has been the Principle Double Bass of the Savannah Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and Choir. Currently he performs with: Atlanta Opera and the symphonies of Columbus (GA), Valdosta(GA), Beaufort (SC) and Hilton Head (SC) as well as with various chamber ensembles.

Raymond Walton

Raymond Walton has served as principal bassoon of the Macon Symphony Orchestra since 1983. Since 1984, he has also continued to play with the Northwinds Symphonic Band, a volunteer community ensemble based in Gainesville, GA.

His debut as a professional bassoonist was in the fall of 1970—just shy of his 18th birthday—as a new member of the Jacksonville (FL) Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of guest conductor Arthur Fiedler, who was, at the time, the legendary conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra. He continued to play with the JSO for 12 years, and in 1972, the orchestra commissioned and gave a world premiere performance of "Celebration", by the great Duke Ellington, which they subsequently performed on tour to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Raymond has been featured as soloist with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, the Gainesville (GA) Symphony Orchestra, the Toccoa (GA) Symphony Orchestra, and the Macon Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he was a Concerto Competition winner while a graduate student at the University of Georgia. He is also a member if the International Double Reed Society, and has performed on programs at their annual conferences on numerous occasions.

Raymond is proud to have a family that is involved in the fine arts. His wife, Dianasue, is a professional clarinetist and a long-time music educator. His son, Steven, is a recent graduate of the University of Oklahoma, with a degree in Drama/Acting, and his daughter, Sarah, is a student at the University of Alabama, pursuing a degree in Horn Performance. Raymond currently holds the position of Associate Director of Bands at Marianna (FL) High School.

Tracy Woodard

Ms. Woodard recieved an MM in performance at University of Georgia and a BM in performance at Georgia State University. Her principal instructors were Raymond Leung, Valerie Gardner, and Levon Ambartsumian.

Ms. Woodard is a full-time member of the Macon and Ocmulgee Symphonies, and has performed in the Huntsville, Rome Opera, Gainesville, LaGrange, and Valdosta symphonies. Samples of her solo recordings can be found at www.rosindust.biz.