Meet the Orchestra Header 2022

BFO Principal Percussion/Keyboard/Harp

STRINGS  |  WINDS  |  BRASS  |  PERCUSSION/KEYBOARD/HARP

Alex Wadner, Principal Timpani

Alex Wadner 2022Alex Wadner is the Principal Timpanist of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera. He was previously the Timpani Fellow at the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas for four seasons where he was praised for his “accuracy and panache” (Miami Herald) and his “thunderous, ominous, and dramatic" performances (South Florida Classical Review).  In 2018, he was named Principal Timpanist of the Britt Festival Orchestra by Maestro Teddy Abrams in Jacksonville, Oregon.  Alex also performs with the Iris Collective, under the direction of Maestro Michael Stern.  He has appeared as a guest timpanist with numerous orchestras including the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra (UK), and the Malaysian Philharmonic.  He performs regularly as a substitute percussionist with the Atlanta Symphony and Alabama Symphony.  Alex earned his Bachelors of Music in Percussion Performance from Indiana University in 2010, where he studied with John Tafoya and Gerald Carlyss.  He earned his Master’s Degree in Timpani Performance with Honors from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 2012 under the tutelage of David Herbert and Jack Van Geem.

Elizabeth Dorman, Principal Keyboard

Elizabeth Dorman 2023

Praised by Joshua Kosman of the San Francisco Chronicle for her “elegance and verve,” pianist Elizabeth Dorman enjoys performing music both new and old as a soloist and chamber musician.

A finalist of the 2018 Leipzig International Bach Competition, Elizabeth has been widely recognized as a leading performer for her inquisitive interpretations of Bach’s music on the modern piano. Elizabeth has appeared as soloist with orchestras including the Louisville Orchestra, the Leipzig Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra, the Santa Rosa Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Folsom Lake Symphony, the Stanford Summer Symphony, Symphony Parnassus, as a soloist for interdisciplinary projects at New World Symphony, and as a keyboardist at the San Francisco Symphony. She can be heard on Delos records as a concerto soloist with Santa Rosa Symphony’s new album celebrating the music of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich and this season will perform as a soloist with California Symphony and Vallejo Symphony. Read More

Julia Coronelli, Principal Harp

Julia Coronelli, Principal HarpBorn and raised in the city of Chicago, Julia Coronelli is the Principal Harpist of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Previously, she held positions as Principal Harpist of the Sarasota Orchestra, as well as the New World Symphony in Miami Beach. Her playing has been described by The New York Times as "precise and shimmering", and as "exquisite," "exceptional," and “stunning" by The Miami Herald. She has performed in the role of Principal Harpist in many of the world's greatest halls, including Teatro alla Scala (Milan), Musikerverein (Vienna), Philharmonie de Paris (Paris), Teatro dell’Opera di Roma (Rome), Palais Des Beaux Arts (Brussels), Kolner Philharmonie (Cologne), Philharmonie Essen (Essen), Philharmonie Luxembourg (Luxembourg), Alte Oper (Frankfurt), National Concert Hall (Budapest), Teatro San Carlo (Naples), Teatro Maggio del Musicale Fiorentino (Florence), Auditorium Lingotto (Torino), Lugano Arte e Cultura (Lugano, Switzerland), Bunka Kaikan (Tokyo), Symphony Hall (Birmingham, UK), Oriental Art Center (Shanghai), National Centre for the Performing Arts (Beijing), National Concert Hall (Taipei), Festival Hall (Osaka), Carnegie Hall (New York), and Orchestra Hall (Chicago). Additional performance credits include regular concerts with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, as well as the New York Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (UK), St. Louis Symphony, and San Diego Symphony. Ms. Coronelli has joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on six recent tours under the direction of Riccardo Muti, five as Guest Principal Harpist. She holds degrees from The Juilliard School and Chicago College of Performing Arts.

BFO Percussion/Keyboard/Harp

TIMPANI
Alex Wadner, Principal

PERCUSSION
TBD, Principal
TBD
Madison Shake

KEYBOARD
TBD

HARP
Julia Coronelli, Principal*

LIBRARIAN
John Rosenkrans

ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL MANAGER
Jim Decker+

+ Orchestra Member for 20 or more years