Since receiving his masters degree in violin performance from Wichita State University in 1976, René has made his living in music, as a performing violinist, teacher, and conductor. Before moving to Denver in 1994, he was a violinist with several professional orchestras, including Oklahoma, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Birmingham. His first job after college was at Lamar University, in Beaumont, Texas, where he taught violin and viola, and conducted the university’s orchestra. While living in Birmingham, Alabama in the early 90’s, where he played in the Alabama Symphony, René had the opportunity to be the music director of the Red Mountain Chamber Orchestra, a community orchestra in many ways similar to the Parker Symphony Orchestra. It was this group that made him come to understand the important role that community orchestras play in providing opportunities for musical expression to many who would otherwise not have that chance.
He made his mark in the Denver area playing as the principal 2nd violinist with Opera Colorado and the Central City Opera Orchestra, as concertmaster for the Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra, and as conductor of the Arapahoe Community College. He is now semi-retired, but continues to conduct the PSO and play with Inside The Orchestra – a group that performs classical music concerts in elementary schools and Tiny Tots concerts for young children and parents.
When he is not busy with his musical endeavors, René spends time in his woodworking shop at home. He has been an avid woodworker since he was in high school.
John has been playing Tuba since his Junior year in High School (1993). He graduated Community College with an associate’s degree in business administration in 1996. He married his wife in 2000 and has 2 daughters, ages 18 and 10. He went back to school in 2021 and graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Project Management in 2023. John has played with the Parker Symphony Orchestra since 2012 and also directs a Dixieland Band and subs in Castle Rock Orchestra. In addition to playing in the Parker Symphony Orchestra and serving on numerous non-profit boards, John works in the Title Insurance Industry and has his own small business as an audio engineer with a focus on houses of worship.
Katie is a native to Colorado and began playing violin at the age of 3. She graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Music Performance Degree from the University of Denver. Katie and her husband moved to Los Angeles, California where she earned a Master of Teaching Degree with Credential from Pepperdine University in 2017.
While in California, they also adopted their first daughter, Micah, and gave birth to their second daughter, Elaena. They returned to Colorado in 2020 to be close to their families, while the love of the ocean remains in their hearts. Their third daughter is expected to join the club in fall 2025.
After graduating with her teaching credential, Katie taught kindergarten in California and Colorado for 5 years before becoming a full time mom to her kids. Katie joined the Parker Symphony Orchestra with her mom (cellist Nancy Marble) during the 2023/24 season as a way to dust off her violin and also have a moms night out. She is extremely grateful to the orchestra for their warm welcome, their camaraderie, and the opportunity to rekindle her love of playing!
Fr. Kevin Kasel is a lifelong Coloradan who grew up in Pueblo, where his passion for music began at an early age. With the support of his family, he studied violin through private instruction, performed in the Pueblo Youth Symphony, and later joined the Pueblo Symphony while still in high school.
He continued his musical journey at the University of Northern Colorado, performing with the university orchestra on both violin and viola while earning his undergraduate degree in Mathematics. After graduation, he built a career in the computer field, working in the insurance and oil and gas industries.
Answering a call to ministry, Fr. Kevin later entered St. John Vianney Seminary and studied for the Archdiocese of Denver, where he earned his STB and Masters of Divinity. He now serves as a Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Loreto in Foxfield.
Drawing on his professional background, Fr. Kevin has worked closely with accountants and finance managers to review and improve workflows. He brings this experience, along with his lifelong love of music, to support the Parker Symphony Orchestra and its Board of Directors.
My name is Katie St. Gemme-Pate, and I am a clarinetist with the Parker Symphony Orchestra, where I will be entering my fifth season with the ensemble. Within the orchestra, I serve as Personnel Manager, where I oversee roster management, attendance tracking, seating coordination, and general ensemble communications, as well as support onboarding and rehearsal/performance logistics. Outside of the ensemble, I am the Director of Instrumental Music at Ponderosa High School, where I am dedicated to fostering a lifelong love of music while helping students grow as musicians, leaders, and collaborators. My work in both education and performance provides a well-rounded perspective on the impact strong music programs can have on individuals and communities!
Joey grew up in Parker, Colorado, and was involved with many music programs at Legend High School. He has experience playing in concert bands, jazz ensembles, and symphonies. While having played many brass instruments, he primarily plays the French Horn. His earliest memory of playing music was banging on his mother’s piano, which got old really fast, and prompted a professional teacher. He currently works for Ent Credit Union as a Financial Coach and Business Consultant, helping educate and serve local community members and businesses. He currently is going to school for a Bachelor of Business Administration, and wants to work with community-serving non-profit organizations after he graduates. Joey has been with the Parker Symphony since 2019 and is excited to be involved with the operations of this organization. During his free time he loves to hike, paddleboard, eat local, and play video games.
After a 50 year career as a professional musician and teacher in the Denver-Boulder area, Lynne came out of retirement to play in the Parker Symphony. She is married to PSO music director René Knetsch, and is glad that she can support the orchestra by playing in either the violin or viola section – wherever she is most needed.
Bruce has been playing violin with the Parker Symphony Orchestra since it was the South Suburban Community Orchestra from early 2003. With great passion for the orchestra, Bruce has been a board member off-and-on over a number of years, playing the role of member-at-large up to president. He has been a software developer nearly his entire life with a B.S. degree in Mathematical Physics from California State University, Northridge. Married since 1994, Bruce has a wonderful wife and daughter, both of whom work and teach with Douglas County schools.
Katherine McMurray has played the cello for a mere 25 years. Upon retiring from being a nationally certified Legal Assistant (one of only 100 in the nation at that time) she served on the Fine Arts Board and the Historic Preservation Board for the City of Littleton and on the Arapahoe County Cultural Council.. She joined the Parker Symphony Orchestra in 2010 and has served on the PSO Board in various capacities. She is currently a Member-At-Large.