Craig Sorgi
Concertmaster

Craig Sorgi is a graduate of DePaul University ('82) in Chicago, Illinois where he was a student of Victor Aitay, formerly Concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Sir Georg Solti.

Nina Mavrinac
Principal 2nd Violin

Nina Mavrinac was born in Roswell, New Mexico. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Texas and received her BME from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She has played with the Austin Symphony, has played first violin with the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra as well as principal 2nd violin with the Corpus Christi Symphony and the Victoria Symphony. Nina teaches Suzuki violin at her private studio in Converse, Texas and is a faculty member for the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio summer strings camp.

Each season, Nina coordinates a performance opportunity for young strings players to join the Mid-Texas Symphony in playing a concerto movement or other work. The young players are thrilled to be featured with their professional mentors.

Wanda B. Lydon
Principal Viola

Wanda B. Lydon has been a violist in the San Antonio Symphony for over 20 years and is Principal Viola for Des Moines Metro Opera. A graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, she attended the University of Iowa on scholarship. She completed further studies at University of Washington with Donald McInnes, at Roosevelt University with William Schoen, and with Wayne Crouse of the Houston Symphony.

Wanda’s very talented family included: her grandfather, Forrest L. Buchtel, a famous band composer and arranger; her grandmother, who played in the Women's Symphony of Chicago and had her own String Quartet for many years; her mother, Bonnie Cataldo, who played cello in the Milwaukee and Houston Symphonies.

Wanda is a member of the music faculty at The University of the Incarnate Word and also teaches privately using the Suzuki method.

Dan Zollars
Principal Cello

A native Kansan, Dan Zollars graduated from Wichita State University and earned a masters degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where his teachers included Bernard Greenhouse, Uzi Wiesel, and Timothy Eddy. For many years, Dan was a member of the San Antonio Symphony cello section for more than 20 years and served as Assistant Principal Cellist.

Dan has also participated in the Bach Aria Festival in Stony Brook, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Breckenridge and Colorado music festivals. As a chamber artist, he and San Antonio pianist Martha Oppenheim have performed throughout the Midwest. Dan has also appeared as guest soloist with the UTSA Symphony Orchestra and the Winters Chamber Orchestra. In addition to an active performance schedule, Mr. Zollars maintains a private teaching studio, and is a member of the faculties of the University of Texas at San Antonio and San Antonio College. Dan also enjoys teaching courses in computer programming.

Ray Fisher
Principal Bass

Ray Fisher, who was born in Gladewater, Texas, received his B.A. in Mathematics in 1972 and his J.D. in 1977 from the University of Texas at Austin. When he is not performing on bass, he practices law in Austin.

Ray studied double bass with Keith Robinson, Stuart Sankey, Steven Zlomke, and David Neubert and performs in many musical genres including: symphonic, opera, ballet, chamber, musical theatre, and jazz. He is a member of the Fond Kiser and the Swingin’ Johson Band (performing Outlaw country, Americana, and Blues) and the Blue Channel Jazz Quartet (classic jazz). In addition to the Mid-Texas Symphony, he performs regularly with the Waco Symphony.

Rita Linard
Principal Flute

Rita Linard, principal flutist with the Mid-Texas Symphony, earned her doctoral degree from the University of Texas in Austin, and also attended Indiana University, the University of Illinois, and Northern Illinois University. She frequently performs with the San Antonio Symphony, San Antonio Opera and Austin Lyric Opera. She also makes frequent chamber music appearances with the UTSA Faculty Woodwind Quintet, the Nova Flute and Guitar Trio, and the Hemisphere Quartet, with which she toured in the Bergerac region in the southwest of France in 2005.

Rita is a faculty member at the University of Texas at San Antonio where she coordinates the Wind and Percussion program and teaches flute, aural skills, and flute ensemble. In the summers, Rita directs the UTSA Flute Camp and teaches at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan. Her numerous performances have been broadcast on Michigan Public Radio and National Public Radio. A member of the National Flute Association, Rita has performed at several conventions and adjudicated the Newly Published Music, High School Flute Soloist, and Professional Flute Choir competitions.

Vanguel Tangarov
Principal Clarinet

Vanguel Tangarov, a native of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, performs as Principal Clarinet for the Austin Lyric Opera and Mid-Texas Symphony. In addition, Mr. Tangarov teaches clarinet at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, Baylor University, and Texas State University. He is an active teacher and clinician in the Leander and Round Rock Independent School Districts.

Vanguel Tangarov previously served as Principal Clarinet at Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Bulgaria; Academia Chigiana Symphony Orchestra, Siena, Italy; Jeunesses Musicales World Symphony Orchestra, Berlin, Germany; and Monterrey Symphony Orchestra in Mexico. He has appeared as a soloist with the Plovdiv Philharmonic, Rousse Philharmonic, Varna Philharmonic, and Sofia Philharmonic orchestras in Bulgaria and the Monterrey Symphony (OS UANL) and Monterrey Chamber Orchestra in Mexico performing concertos by Mozart, Weber, Copland, Jean Francaix, Cimarosa, Giampieri, and Pipkov.

In 2010, Tangarov recently performed at the International Clarinet Fest in Austin, Texas, premiering music by Bulgarian and Romanian composers. He can be heard as principal clarinetist on a recent Naxos recording titled “Circus Maximus” by John Corigliano with the University of Texas at Austin Wind Ensemble and as a clarinetist on more than ten other recordings.

Mr. Tangarov has been awarded numerous prizes in both national and international clarinet competitions including: Prague Spring International Competition 1996, 6th place overall; United Nations International Clarinet Competition, Lisbon, Portugal 1994, 4th place overall; First International Clarinet Competition, Constanza, Rumania 1993, 2nd Prize; “The Music and the Earth” International Chamber Music Competition, Sofia, Bulgaria 1993, 3rd Prize; Bulgarian National Clarinet Competition for French Music, Plovdiv, Bulgaria 1997, 1st Prize; Brahms Academy Competition for Chamber Music, Sofia, Bulgaria 1993, 2nd Prize; Bulgarian National Radio-Mozart Chamber Music Competition 1991, Clarinet Quintet 1st Prize, and Bulgarian National Clarinet Competition, Provadia, Bulgaria 1990, 1st Prize. Vanguel Tangarov holds a Master’s Degree from the State Academy of Music in Sofia, Bulgaria where he studied with Professor Petko Radev, former Principal Clarinet of Teatro Alla Scala di Milan, Italy and a DMA at the University of Texas at Austin.

Sharon Kuster
Principal Bassoon

Sharon Kuster obtained her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of California where she studied with the late Norman Herzberg. She is the Principal Bassoon of the San Antonio Symphony, with which she has been a featured soloist. Before moving to San Antonio, Sharon performed with La Orquesta Sinfonica de Veracruz in Mexico.

In the summers, Sharon has performed with the Breckenridge Music Institute, the Sunriver Music Festival, the Cactus Pear Music Festival, and the Masterworks Festival in Indiana. She is in her 21st summer with the Grand Teton Music Festival in Wyoming. Sharon also plays with the Olmos Ensemble, a chamber music group in San Antonio, and teaches privately.

James Baker
Principal French Horn

James Baker, French horn, studied music at the University of Texas at Austin as a student of Wayne Barrington. He also studied with Dale Clevenger and Arnold Jacobs, both of the Chicago Symphony.

In addition to performing with the Mid-Texas Symphony, James has performed as a member of the Mexico City Philharmonic, the Orquestra of the State of Mexico, and the Orquestra Sinfonica de Xalapa. He has also appeared with the Houston and Austin symphonies. James divides his time between his career as a free lance musician and as a classical music host and producer for Texas Public Radio station KPAC.

Andrew Gignac
Principal Trumpet

Mid-Texas Symphony principal trumpet Andrew Gignac is an Associate Professor of Music at San Antonio College where he teachers music theory, trumpet, and conducts the Jazz Ensemble. He is also principal trumpet of the San Antonio Opera and performs regularly with the San Antonio Symphony. During the summer, Andrew performs with the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra of Contemporary Music in Santa Cruz, California.

Gignac has performed as a soloist with Mid-Texas Symphony, the San Antonio Symphony Pops, the Victoria Bach Festival, and the Austin Chamber Music Festival. He has been a member of the San Antonio Brass since 1989, and has served as a member of its board of directors. With the San Antonio Brass Quintet, he is very active as a chamber musician and an educator.

Gignac earned his Bachelor’s of Music from Sam Houston State University and a Masters of Music from the University of South Carolina with a concentration in in Music Theory and Composition. Before joining the faculty at San Antonio College, Andrew was an Assistant Professor of Music at the University of the Incarnate Word.

Andrew is married to Lauren Eberhart, a member of the San Antonio Symphony trumpet section. They are often featured together on recitals at weddings and in chamber music recitals. Their young daughter Julia is already a trumpet music lover.

Andrew Converse
Principal Trombone

Robert Petrisky
Principal Tuba

Robert Petrisky holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in music education from Southwest Texas State University where he studied tuba privately with J. Lesley Varner and conducting with James Sudduth. He has taught band for over 20 years and was selected "Teacher of the Year" at A. J. Briesemeister Middle School in 1993 and 1996 and at J. Frank Dobie Junior High School in 2005. District-wide, Petrisky was honored as "Secondary Teacher of the Year" by Seguin I.S.D. in 1996 and by Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City I.S.D. in 2005. Rob is currently Director of Bands at Samuel Clemens High School in Schertz, Texas. In addition to playing with the Mid-Texas Symphony, Rob has performed with the Heart of Texas Concert Band and the Hi-Toppers Polka band. He is married to Dr. Irene Petrisky, an education consultant and artist.

Shana Norton
Principal Harp

Shana Norton graduated with highest honors earning a bachelor of music education from Abilene Christian University and attended Eastman School of Music, studying with Julia Hermann Edwards and Eileen Malone. In 1995, she graudated from The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs with a master of public affairs degree. She plays principal harp with the Mid-Texas Symphony and the Hot Springs Music Festival, and performs frequently with the San Antonio Symphony and Temple Symphony Orchestra.

Shana is also a founding member of “Chaski,” an Austin-based trio performing Latin American folk music. Chaski has toured Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, California, Washington DC, England, Scotland, Costa Rica, and Venezuela and produced five recordings.

Sherry Rubins
Principal Percussion

Sherry Rubins, principal percussionist since 1991, received a B.A. from Western Illinois University. She was awarded a teaching assistanship at Baylor University in 1982 and later earned a Master of Music Performance at University of Texas in San Antonio. Sherry currently directs the Percussion program at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She has been a member of the percussion faculty at the University of Houston, the Interlochen Arts Camp, and Texas Lutheran University.

In addition to performing with the Mid-Texas Symphony, Sherry is the Principal Timpanist of the San Antonio Opera and has a busy freelance career. She has also performed with the San Antonio Symphony as Acting Principal Timpanist, Assistant Principal Timpanist/Percussionist, and as a percussionist.

Eric Daub, Keyboard
Principal Keyboard

Eric Daub is a professor of piano and music theory at Texas Lutheran University, where he holds the Baenziger Professorship in Music. Eric earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Wisconsin, studying the piano with Tait Barrows and Leo Stephens, and jazz piano with Ted Jackson and Richard Davis. He then moved to Austin, Texas in 1985 to pursue a Master of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at the University of Texas at Austin, studying piano and accompanying with Dr. William Race, Anton Nel, David Garvey, and Gerard Souzay.

Eric has a wide range of experience as a solo recitalist, chamber musician, recording artist, accompanist, church musician, arranger, jazz, blues and gospel pianist, and rock keyboardist. He has worked with various singer-song writers in the Austin area co-writing, arranging, and recording music in a variety of styles.