Eugene Concert Orchestra
Diane Retallack, Conductor
Hannah Willard, Concertmaster
Eugene Concert Orchestra is the newest ensemble of the Eugene Concert Choir organization. The debut performance was the Haydn St. Cecilia Mass performed by the Eugene Vocal Arts and guest soloists, conducted by artistic director Diane Retallack, featuring concertmaster Searmi Park on October 25, 2015, in Beall Concert Hall at the University of Oregon School of Music.
The orchestra was formed as part of a multi-year landmark project supported by a $125,000 two-year grant from the Fred W. Fields Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation. The project Shadow and Light; an Alzheimer’s Journey in 16 Movements by Joan Szymko, is an original commission for choir, orchestra and soloists. It was awarded the American Prize Ernst Bacon Memorial Award in the Performance of American Music, community division, 2016-2017 for the world premiere performance recording.
The Eugene Concert Orchestra performs with both the Eugene Concert Choir and Eugene Vocal Arts for all of their choral/orchestral works. We are thrilled to have the caliber of this fine group of talented, professional musicians from Portland to Eugene as a part of our organization.
Concertmaster Sofie Yang
Sofie Yang moved to Eugene in 2021 and performs in many local groups including Eugene Symphony and Oregon Mozart Players, where she also served as Personnel Manager and is Music Librarian. Previous engagements include Associate Concertmaster of the Rogue Valley Symphony for three years. Beginning in the 2026-27 season, Sofie embraces new roles as Concertmaster of both Eugene Concert Orchestra and Eugene Opera, as well as Personnel Manager and Principal Violinist of Orchestra NEXT.
Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sofie studied with Dr. Samantha George at Lawrence University and Janet Sung at DePaul University, where she was also a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts with Dr. Sunmi Chang at the University of Oregon as a Graduate Employee and Promising Scholar. In addition to performing, Sofie enjoys teaching, spending time in nature, and playing with people’s pets.
Assistant Concertmaster Hannah Willard
Hannah Willard is a violinist based in Eugene, OR. She graduated with her MM in Violin Performance at the University of Oregon in 2021 with a certificate in violin/viola Pedagogy, and received the Outstanding Graduate Performer in Strings award. She also won first prize for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Concerto Competition in 2017 and performed the Dvorak violin concerto with the UNL Symphony Orchestra.
Hannah currently performs with the Eugene Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Mozart Players, and Eugene Concert Orchestra. She also manages Black Bear Strings, a String Trio that performs around Oregon for weddings and events. When Hannah isn’t teaching or performing, she loves to rock climb, hike, read, and hang out with her Cockatiel, Sir Wallace.
Orchestra Musicians
Violin
Sofie Yang, Concertmaster
Hannah Willard, Assistant Concertmaster
Annie Pham, Principal Second Violin*
Ben Ehrmantraut
Julia Frantz
Megan Fraser
Ben Gardner
Alwyn Wright
Jannie Wei
Viola
Daphne Gooch, Principal*
Carson Mangum*
Anika Meisel*
Cello
Jerrel Martin, Principal*
Jennifer Jordan
Bass
Clinton O'Brien, Principal*
Flute
Alexis Evers, Principal
Second Flute, Position Open
Oboe
Cheryl Wefler, Principal
Wesley Becherer*
Clarinet
Caniel Cathey, Principal
Justin Kim*
Bassoon
Joseph Hartman, Principal
Kely Cunningham
Horn
Jon Kuhns-Obana, Principal
Jen Harrison*
Trumpet
Logan Thane Brown, Principal
David Bender
Timpani
Mitchell Vogel, Principal
* Tenure-track
thank you to our season supporters
Eugene Concert Choir Inc receives support from the Oregon Arts Commission, a policy-making and
advisory body within the Oregon Business Development Department, and the National Endowment for the
Arts.
