2026 Inaugural Summer Festival Recap
The Unbound Symphony 2026 Inaugural Summer Festival was held from July 8th-10th, at Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien, Washington. It was a three-day summer gathering of approximately 60 professional musicians in the pacific northwest. Our goal was to celebrate and empower women and gender marginalized musicians and use music as a way to express ourselves artistically and uplift the community.
Participants rehearsed orchestral repertoire, took part in workshops, presentations and activities, and concluded with a public, family-friendly performance.
Starburst by Jessie Montgomery
Concerto for Double Bass by Dr. Sarah Bassingthwaighte with soloist Rebecca Lawrence
Spider Boots (World Premiere) by Dr. Sarah Bassingthwaighte and Tessa Brinckman, includes Audience participation!
Selections from the Montgomery Variations by Margaret Bonds
Kauyumari by Gabriela Ortiz
Our concert was Friday, July 10, 2026
We had open rehearsals July 8 & 9 at 2:00-4:00pm
We were featured in the Seattle Times: HERE!
The repertoire performed was:
Unbound Symphony Summer Festival 2026
Musician Roster
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Dr. Anna Edwards
Festival Conductor
(Read Bio) -
Hsing-Hui Hsu
Festival Conductor
(Read Bio) -
Rebecca Lawrence
Double Bass Soloist
(Read Bio) -
Dr. Sarah Bassingthwaighte
Inauguaral Composer-in-Residence
(Read Bio) -
Tessa Brinckman
Co-Composer
(Read Bio)
Viola
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Jenn Shoval
Principal Viola
(Read Bio) -
Aleida Gehrels
Principal Viola
(Read Bio) -
Christine Bastian
Viola
(Read Bio) -
Laura Jesson
Viola
(Read Bio)
Cello
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Erika Fiebig
Principal Cello
(Read Bio) -
Devin LaMarr
Cello
(Read Bio) -
Erika Pierson
Cello
(Read Bio) -
Mary Riles
Cello
(Read Bio)
Double Bass
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Anna Doak
Principal Double Bass
(Read Bio) -
Esther Kwon
Double Bass
(Read Bio) -
Kim Plewniak
Double Bass
(Read Bio)
Flute
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Dr. Sarah Bassingthwaighte
Principal Flute
(Read Bio) -
Alyssa Gaines
Flute
(Read Bio) -
Emma Pease-Byron
Piccolo
(Read Bio)
Oboe
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Dr. Rong-Huey Liu
Principal Oboe
(Read Bio) -
Bridget Long
Oboe
(Read Bio) -
Hayley Monk
English Horn
(Read Bio)
Clarinet
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Dr. Florie Rothenberg
Principal Clarinet
(Read Bio) -
Amy Hur
Clarinet
(Read Bio) -
Jennifer Nelson
Bass Clarinet
(Read Bio)
Bassoon
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Rosie Rogers
Principal Bassoon
(Read Bio) -
Samantha Epp
Bassoonist
(Read Bio) -
Nicole Buetti
Contrabassoon
(Read Bio)
Trumpet
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Alison Pesacreta
Principal Trumpet
(Read Bio) -
Shelly Devlin
Trumpet
(Read Bio) -
Emily Sotelo
Trumpet
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Kate Jackson
Trumpet
(Read Bio)
Horn
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Shanyse Strickland
Principal Horn
(Read Bio) -
Suzanne Feinstein
Horn
(Read Bio) -
Julie McConnachie
Horn
(Read Bio) -
Mary Monaghan
Horn
(Read Bio)
Trombone
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Sara Mayo
Principal Trombone
(Read Bio) -
Elizabeth McDaniel
Trombone
(Read Bio) -
Audrey Stangland
Bass Trombone
(Read Bio) -
Jenny Young
Trombone
(Read Bio)
Tuba
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Portia Njoku
Principal Tuba
(Read Bio)
Timpani & Percussion
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Devon Rafanelli
Principal Timpani
(Read Bio) -
Dr. Gabriela Garza
Principal Percussion
(Read Bio) -
Cyan Duong
Percussion
(Read Bio) -
Dr. Miho Takekawa
Percussion
(Read Bio) -
Emmy Ulmer
Percussion
(Read Bio)
Harp
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Ellie Yamanaka
Principal Harp
(Read Bio)
Personnel
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Katie A. Berglof
Personnel Chair & Manager
(Read Bio)