About the Musicians

Amy Boyd, French Hornist

Amy Gier Boyd grew up in a suburban Wilmington, Delaware home wired with speakers in nearly every room by her music-loving father.  Her earliest memory is listening to recordings played by her violinist mother of excerpts from classical symphonies of Brahms and Beethoven and the tone poems of Richard Strauss.  “I really had no choice but to become a hornist, listening to all that fantastic [french] horn music every day at nap-time!” she laughs.  Inadvertently taught to play the piano by older sisters practicing their own lessons, Amy also learned to play folk guitar from a public television series.  Her singer-saxophonist father exposed her to an eclectic range of musical styles, from ancient chant and Baroque oratorios to Fats Waller and Art Tatum, Big Band, Latin, calypso, Sinatra, and Charlie Parker.  “What a blessing, growing up in my family’s musical jukebox, keeping myself company with music, having the loving support of my church choir programs and of my dedicated band directors in the Delaware Music Educators Association.  Every time I play it is a tribute to them and a gift of divine grace meant to be shared to the best of my ability.”

Having taught Kindermusik and brass instruments to students ages 18 months to adult, Amy especially appreciates the Kennett Symphony’s role as community music educator, providing a free annual young people’s concert, youth solo competitions, and a venue for the Kennett Symphony Children’s Chorus.  A fond memory is of playing as horn soloist on the Children’s Chorus 2001 Vancouver B.C. tour with both of her children singing in the choir. 

Amy was a student of Peter Landgren of the Peabody Conservatory, of Francis Orval for her masters in horn performance, and was recently accepted into a doctor of musical arts program in horn performance.  She is currently brass instructor at the Sanford School, contracts musicians for performances and recordings, and freelances in regional ballet, symphonic, and opera orchestras.  Her brass quintets [Brandywine Brass, Basilica Brass, and Capitol Brass] play throughout the Delaware Valley.  A tenor hornist and soloist with the Atlantic Brass Band, a North American Brass Band Association Championship division contesting band, Amy also is a member of the Lancaster (PA) British Brass Band and New Amsterdam Brass Band, consisting of members of the West Point and NY Salvation Army Staff Bands. She volunteers as state director of Bugles Across America, honoring veterans.

Amy joined the Kennett Symphony in 1988.

Monica Buffington, Principal Flutist

Monica Buffington hails from Wilmington, Delaware where she began flute studies in 9th grade with Joan Sparks. Monica earned a Bachelor of Music Education from West Chester University, and won a full scholarship to Yale University where she studied with Ransom Wilson and graduated summa cum laude with a Masters of Flute Performance. She first performed with the Kennett Symphony in 1985.

Monica’s interest in the “business of music” was sparked at Yale, and she merged her passion for performance with her desire to learn about business by working for the American Symphony Orchestra League, Washington, DC.  Monica then became Director of Development of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and subsequently joined National Bank of Commerce in Atlanta where she worked in business development.

Monica has made it a priority to continue her flute playing and to perform, teach, and “gig” in every city she has worked, while maintaining her association with the Kennett Symphony, which began in 1986. She has performed with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Seneca Chamber Orchestra, Prince George Symphony Orchestra, and New Haven Symphony. She has taught at the University of Charleston, and has maintained private flute studios throughout her career.

Monica is currently Sponsorships and Promotions Manager for Supervalu and serves on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Resources Council.

When not at work or playing the flute, Monica can be found with family and friends celebrating just about anything, trying out new recipes, reading, and working with her husband, Jonathan, on the major restoration of their 1920s bungalow.

Luis Engelke, Principal Trumpet

Brazilian-American trumpet artist, educator, and scholar Luis Engelke is Professor of Trumpet and Director of the Master of Music program at Towson University, Principal Trumpet of the Kennett Symphony Orchestra, and Associate Principal Trumpet of the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra. He performs well over one hundred engagements annually as a soloist and orchestral/chamber musician and serves as a Music Reviews Editor for the International Trumpet Guild Journal, a member of the Board of Directors for the International Trumpet Guild, and a Yamaha Performing Artist. He has made solo appearances throughout North America, South America, Asia, Europe, and Australia and has appeared on more than 20 commercially released recordings for the Pro-Arte, Decca, Innova, Aurora, and several other labels. His performances and research into Latin music are highlighted by his first solo CD titled A Brazilian Collection, an anthology published by Balquhidder Music under the same title and containing editions of significant Brazilian solo trumpet works, and many world and modern premieres of Latin-American works for solo trumpet. These include premieres and/or the first performances and recordings of lost works by noted Brazilian composers Claudio Santoro, José Siqueira, and Santana Gomes, as well as first performances of music from the library of legendary Mexican-American Rafael Méndez since his passing in 1981. Hailed as “one of the greatest Brazilian talents of his generation” by Isaac Karabatchevsky (former conductor of Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira), Engelke’s performance has been described as having a “light feel with many beautifully rendered ethnic embellishments,” possessing a “vigor and a tasteful array of rubato,” and a “mastery of the horn with many subtle tone colors and always a beautiful sound” (ITG Journal).

As a member of Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira, Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, and Mid-Atlantic Symphony, Engelke recorded trumpet solos for soundtracks for the films Villa-Lobos: Sua Vida de Paixão, Stories of the Land, and Elefteria. He has performed with more than 40 professional orchestras internationally including the symphonies of Baltimore, Delaware, Harrisburg, Maryland, Phoenix, San Diego, and Sydney and the Thailand Philharmonic as well as numerous chamber and opera orchestras. Engelke has appeared as a soloist with Orquestra Eintracht, Rome Festival Orchestra, Naval Academy Band, Gulf Coast Symphony, Frederick Symphony, Lancaster Symphony, and Lancaster British Brass Band and performed with such diverse musicians as Andrea Bocelli, and Brazilian legends Paulo Moura, Ivan Lins, and Ze da Velha. Engelke’s work in popular music includes appearances with The Moody Blues and Ricky Martin.

Engelke’s writing includes more than 200 publications in the ITG Journal, Euro-ITG Newsletter, Jazz Educators Journal, NACWPI Journal, The Double Reed, and Triad. Topp Brass in Switzerland and Triplo Press in the USA published several of his arrangements and editions. His articles include “Twenty-First Century Practice Techniques” describing the use of modern technologies in brass pedagogy; the history and literature of the trumpet including “Twentieth Century Brazilian Trumpet Works” and the music of Baroque composer Johann Melchior Molter; and jazz education, the national standards, and other education related issues and topics. The following organizations have supported him through scholarships and grants: CAPES-Fulbright, Music Teachers National Association, International Trumpet Guild, and Rádio Mec. He has taught at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Conservatório Brasileiro de Música, Arizona State University, Ohio State University, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and Florida State University Music Camps. He has appeared as a soloist and presented lectures in many regional, national, and international conferences sponsored by such organizations as the International Trumpet Guild, Music Educators National Committee, and the College Music Society. A frequent lecturer and guest artist, he has presented master classes and recitals around the world including Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Appalachian State University, Central Michigan University, the University of Connecticut, West Chester University, Southeastern Louisiana University, Texas Christian University, James Madison University, Montgomery College, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, and Mahidol University. He holds the DMA from Arizona State University, an MM and an MA from The Ohio State University, and a BM and BME from Florida State University.

Marlena Gal, Principal Cellist

Marlena Gal comes from a musical family. Both her mother and her maternal grandfather were classically trained musicians who remained actively performing throughout their lives in their respective positions of soprano and cantor in various congregations in their native Romania.

Ms. Gal received her Bachelor of Music in cello performance from Musik Hochschule in Freiburg, Germany, where she studied with the distinguished soloist and pedagogue Marçal Cervera. In Philadelphia, she continued her studies with Lorne Munroe, former principal cellist of the New York Philharmonic.

Over the years, Ms. Gal has played with local musical ensembles including the Philly Pops, Philadelphia Classical Symphony, Delaware and Reading Symphonies, the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia and numerous Atlantic City show rooms. Ms. Gal regularly performs as a soloist in Philadelphia’s Fringe Festival, with the Ocean City Pops, and with the Meetinghouse Chamber Players in Maine

Ms. Gal, who joined the Kennett Symphony in 1990, presently divides her time between teaching strings, directing the orchestra at Radnor High School, performing and spending time with her husband and sixteen year-old son, Julian.

Eliezer Gutman, Concertmaster

Israeli-born Eliezer Gutman has a performance record that spans the continents.  He was concertmaster of the Israel Technion-Institute Symphony Orchestra, Kibbutzim Symphony Orchestra, Haifa Israel Symphony Orchestra, and the Ensemble-Carmel-Israel Chamber Orchestra.

Now living in the United States, Mr. Gutman also performs with various other Philadelphia area orchestras including the Opera Delaware Orchestra, Delaware Symphony Orchestra, Reading Symphony Orchestra, and the Allentown Symphony Orchestra. He has performed solo recitals in France, England, Spain, Israel and the United States.

His degrees include a Bachelor of Industry and Management from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and a Master of Music from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.  Mr. Gutman also studied under David Arben, assistant concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Avigdor Zamir, Associate Concertmaster of the Dutch orchestra: “The Concertgebow.”

Mr. Gutman is the founder and the First Violinist of the Copeland String Quartet, which has performed in many functions for the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, the Allentown Symphony, and was invited to the Marcella Sembrich Museum in New York as part of the Schumann festival.

Mr. Gutman joined the Kennett Symphony in 2000.

Lisa Hammell, Violist

Violist, Lisa Hammell spent her early years in Lower Pottsgrove, Pennsylvania. She began viola lessons at age 7. Her parents chose this instrument for her because “the violin was too squeaky.” Practicing at first at the insistence of her parents, Lisa then grew to love music and enjoy performing. In High School, she was placed as principal viola with four orchestras in Pennsylvania - South Eastern District Orchestra, Regional Orchestra, State Orchestra, and The Honors Principal Orchestra. At age 14 , she was a member of the Pottstown Symphony and the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra.

She graduated, cum laude, from Philadelphia College of Performing Arts, as a student of Joseph DePasquale, former Principal violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Lisa followed an orchestral career in the tri-state region, performing for 20 years in the Princeton Symphony, Riverside Symphonia, Pottstown Symphony, and Kennett Symphony. She has also played with the Delaware Symphony, West Jersey Chamber Symphony, the Philadelphia Classical Symphony, Choral Arts, Princeton Pro Musica, Tenth Presbyterian Chamber Orchestra, Ocean City Pops, and Boheme Opera, as well as showrooms in Atlantic City.

Lisa is a founding member of the Wharton String Quartet. Their repertoire ranges from Mozart to Late Beethoven and Borodin. Her favorite performance was of “the Grosse Fuge” a piece Beethoven could only hear in his head. Ms. Hammell also performs regularly with the King’s String Quartet, most recently performing for a fund raiser for the Philadelphia Orchestra in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania. She owns a baroque viola and has performed with the Brandywine Baroque ensemble. She has a full private teaching schedule and regularly places students in top notch regional student ensembles, including the South Jersey Orchestra and Temple Prep.

Lisa and husband, composer, Charles Hammell, reside in Moorestown, NJ and are parents of two adult children. On discovering that several of Lisa’s ancestors founded Germantown, Pennsylvania, she and Charles have become dealers of high quality antiques, relating to her heritage. This past year, they were asked to participate in the prestigious Princeton Antiques Show, as well as, the New Guilford, Connecticut Spring Antiques Show, and Hartford Connecticut Shows, and Two Rivers Show in Red Bank, NJ. A sample of their collection can be seen on www.noonmarkantiques.com.

Lisa would like to thank Mary Green for her extraordinary commitment to Kennett Symphony . Mary’s dedication, musicality, and generosity towards the musicians in the orchestra is an inspiration.

Robert Hoch, Principal Clarinetist

Robert Hoch has spent nearly all of his adult life teaching and performing music.  He has been employed by the Kennett Consolidated School District for 35 years as an instrumental music teacher and band director and also teaches privately on his two main instruments, the clarinet and saxophone.

Mr. Hoch has held the principal clarinet chair with the Kennett Symphony for 30 years and also serves as the Music Librarian for the organization. He also plays with the Kennett Trio.  Mr. Hoch has a passion for good band music and is a long time member of the New Holland Band.  A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, he grew up playing with the renowned Allentown Band under the direction of Albertus L. Meyers, a former cornet soloist with John Phillip Sousa.  He has also played with the Allentown Symphony.

Mr. Hoch holds music degrees from West Chester University and Temple University and spent several years studying clarinet with Anthony Gigliotti, former principal clarinetist with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

He currently resides in West Chester with his wife Kate and his 12-year-old son David (who plays a pretty mean trombone). He also has two stepdaughters, Meghan and Sheila and two grandchildren. It is Mr. Hoch’s belief that music is a precious gift from God and reflects the beauty and excitement of His creation.

John Jadus, Principal Bassoonist

Principal Bassoonist John Jadus joined the Kennett Symphony of Chester County before the country’s bicentennial, making him the member with the longest tenure. During his membership, John has been an assistant conductor, contractor, co-librarian, and soloist.

John started life in the “coal regions” of Pennsylvania and turned to music when his mother (bless her!) nixed football as an after-school endeavor. Thus, this member of the International Double Reed Society poured his energy into woodwinds and deep woods camping instead of the gridiron. His passion for them both continues to this day.

John studied with Bernard Garfield and earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Musical Performance from Temple University. He is a retired Philadelphia School District music teacher. Some of the ensembles with which he performed include the Louisville Orchestra, Louisville Woodwind Quintet, the Delaware Symphony, and Reading Symphony; and numerous pit orchestras including the Du Pont Theatre, the Pennsylvania Ballet, Walnut Street Theater, and the Mann Center. Furthermore, he has played in numerous big bands including Myron Floren, Benny Goodman, Sammy Kaye, and Jimmy Dorsey. John has conducted the Frankford Symphony and Northeast Concert Orchestra in Philadelphia, and presently conducts the Exeter Community Band in Reading, PA.

Highlights of John’s musical life are incredible. When with the Louisville Orchestra, John played under the baton of guest conductor Igor Stravinsky (an “amazing experience”.) While playing in the pit for the National Ballet of Canada at the Lincoln Center in New York, internationally acclaimed dancer (and Soviet defector) Rudolf Nureyev performed onstage. In 1985 he played in the inaugural ball for President Ronald Reagan with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. Furthermore, John performed at Wolf Trap in a reed trio, debuting “The Seven Tricks of Max and Moritz” commissioned by the trio from the Canadian composer Blago Simeonov.

John lives in Douglassville with the love of his life, Gail. Their daughter, Shelly, her husband, Bill, and grandchildren, Josh and Ally, live close by. He sincerely thanks Kennett Symphony conductor Mary Woodmansee-Green for her wonderful conducting style, marvelous ears, compelling interpretations, and sensitivity to the needs of the musicians.

Jennifer Lee, Violinist

Instrument: Violin, piano (accompanist)

Birthplace: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Earliest musical memory: hearing my mother play the piano

Schools: Eastman School of Music (Charles Castleman), Indiana University (Franco Gulli)

Noteworthy: I played in the Savannah Symphony Orchestra for 10 years, as section, principal second, acting concertmaster and soloist and was also principal second of the Hilton Head Orchestra, which Mary Green conducts. Currently, besides playing in the Kennett Symphony, I play in the Delaware Symphony, and in the orchestras of the Opera Company of Philadelphia and the Academy of Vocal Arts. In addition to playing the violin, I teach at Temple Prep and maintain a private teaching studio of students in this area as well as some who live in Savannah, GA. (One of my Savannah students just won a concerto competition.)

Interests: Spending time with my 20 month old daughter. Playing tennis.

Favorite thing about performing music: It depends on the type of performance. In an orchestra performance, I like being part of something that sounds good and being able to fit my part in exactly where it should be. In an opera performance, I love hearing great singers, and in a solo performance, I love being able to decide exactly how I want the music to be played and communicating that to an audience.

If you could play another instrument it would be: I wouldn't want to play another instrument, just have more time to play the piano.

Favorite composer: Chopin

First performed with the Kennett Symphony: Oct. 15th, 2005

Douglas Mapp, Principal Bassist

Douglas Mapp is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts and Temple University. He is principal bassist with the Reading Symphony, Kennett Symphony of Chester County and Opera Delaware. He is a member of the Delaware Symphony and regularly performs with the Northeastern Philharmonic, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Ballet, the Philly Pops, and Harrisburg Symphony.

He has also performed as soloist with the Reading Symphony. Mr. Mapp has performed as a substitute musician with the Philadelphia Orchestra, both at their Philadelphia home and their summer series in Saratoga Springs, New York. His affiliation with the orchestra has also taken him on a European tour led by Wolfgang Sawallisch.

Mr. Mapp is an active chamber musician having performed with the Mendelssohn and Serafin Quartets. Mr. Mapp is a core member of the Relâche Ensemble with whom he has toured throughout the United States, Japan, Europe, and Latin America. He also performs regularly with the SEM Ensemble of New York and with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

As a jazz performer he has performed with artist such as Ernie Watts, Doc Severenson, Randy Brecker, Sean Jones, Donald Byrd, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Denis DiBlasio, Vic Damone, Rosemary Clooney, and Billy Childs. He has performed at numerous jazz and music festivals including: Mellon Jazz, Cape May Jazz, Clifford Brown Jazz, Willingboro Jazz, Kool Jazz, and Lincoln Center Outdoors. He is also called upon frequently to serve as clinician and judge a numerous jazz festivals.

Mr. Mapp is an Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at Rowan University.

Phil McClelland, Trombonist

Instrument: Trombone (bass and tenor)

Birthplace: Carbondale, PA

Musical Influences : My interest in music began not as an instrumentalist but as a singer. My sister and I sang popular songs as duets for local PTA, Kiwanis Clubs and community gatherings. I studied voice, but then branched out into the instrumental world, first on trumpet and then trombone. My first trombone teacher was a jazz drummer and his enthusiasm for all types of music have stayed with me for all these years. In addition to classical, I also enjoy playing big band music, and have toured with Buddy Rich, Stan Kenton and Glenn Miller. I continue to play big band music in Atlantic City showrooms for headlining stars. I have had the privilege to play for Sammy Davis, Jr., Lou Rawls, Dean Martin and Johnny Mathis, to name a few. Most recently I played for the Temptations and Frank Sinatra, Jr.

Schools: Lebanon Valley College; Curtis Institute of Music

Professional life outside of Kennett Symphony: I am a tenured member of the Harrisburg Symphony as well as the orchestras of the PA Ballet and Opera Company of Philadelphia. I am also an adjunct trombone instructor at Temple University. I continue to sing as well, and am currently the tenor soloist at Good Samaritan Church in Paoli, PA.

Noteworthy: I am the only bass trombonist on the "A" sub list with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Interests: Audio engineering has been an ongoing passion of mine. I was the Director of AV Services at the Curtis Institute for many years, and continue to have requests to record artists. Last year I went to Israel to record Hagai Shaham for Hyperion Records and consulted with Jerusalem Music Center for updates in their studio. I recorded and produced the complete Schubert and Beethoven Sonatas with world-renowned pianist Seymour Lipkin, and was also the engineer for a soon-to-be-released CD of the Guarneri String Quartet.

Favorite thing about performing music: The brass sections that I work with in the tri-state area freelance community are not only some of my favorite musicians but are some of my closest friends and people I most enjoy spending time with. It is a real treat to enjoy going to work on both a professional and personal level.

If you could play another instrument it would be: I have always fantasized about playing the cello, and am thrilled that my youngest son, Evan, is an enthusiastic young cello student!

Favorite composer: Hmmmmm.....it depends on my mood.

Personal: I live in Philadelphia with my wife and 3 children. My twin sons, who just turned 16, proudly share our family's passion for music. They play oboe and flute, sing in a barbershop quartet as well as an acapella ensemble at Germantown Friends School.

Alan Start, Tuba

Alan Start is retired from the University of Delaware where he performed with the University of Delaware Faculty Jazz and The Delaware Brass Quintet. He currently is principal Tuba with the Kennett Symphony Orchestra, and performs with the Atlantic Brass Band and the Chesapeake Brass Band. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval School of Music in Washington, D.C., and has performed with the Orchestras of Tex Beneke, Warren Covington, Bob Crosby, Sammy Kay and Les Elgart. He is currently serving a two-year term on the Board of the Kennett Symphony Orchestra. Al and his wife Cindy have been married for 50 years and are the parents of three grown children and grandparents of three children.

Mark Ward, Cellist

Instrument: cello.

Birthplace: Nyack , N.Y.

Earliest musical memory: I think I have forgotten, but my father is a composer and music was everywhere when I was a child.

Schools: N. C. School of the Arts, Manhattan School of Music and Juilliard.

Most influential teacher: Janos Starker, though I never had a private lesson with him. He is amazingly observant and extraordinarily thoughtful about how to play an instrument. I don't really care for his music making which has been instructive too.

Noteworthy: I am the cellist of the Copeland String Quartet comprised of KSCC members Eliezer, Gutman, Thomas Jackson and Nina Cottman.

Interests and hobbies: Human relations, world politics, cooking and dining with friends and family and my cat.

Books at bedside: "Guns, Germs and Steel" By Diamond.

Favorite thing about performing music: Being in the moment, one of a kind, swept away and being a small part in a world of wonder.

Favorite composer: There are a few contenders; certainly Bach and Beethoven...

First performed with the Kennett Symphony: Way back in the 70's.