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 17 and 8. He went back to school in 2021 and graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Project Management in 2023. He has played with the Parker Symphony Orchestra since 2012 and has served as President of the Board since 2014. Along with being active in PSO he also directs a Dixieland Band and subs in Castle Rock Orchestra. In addition to playing in the Parker Symphony Orchestra, John works in the Title Insurance Industry and has his own small business as an audio engineer with a focus on houses of worship.
Joy first picked up a double bass in 4th grade, after being cautioned to choose something small and easy to carry around. In college she double majored with music and Spanish. Her graduate degree is in International Policy and she now works for a consulting firm. In addition to supporting the Parker Symphony Orchestra, Joy likes to spend time outside, teach others how to make sourdough bread, and spend time with her husband, spunky toddler daughter, and elderly, genteel, 8 lb dog.
Sam serves as the treasurer for the Parker Symphony, bringing 12 years of experience in accounting to the organization. In this role he is responsible for overseeing the orchestra’s financial operations, including budgeting, financial reporting, and ensuring the efficient use of the resources to support the orchestra’s mission.
He holds a Master in Accounting from the University of Colorado and is a licensed CPA through the state of Colorado.
Beyond his professional expertise, Sam is passionate about music and has been involved with the Parker Symphony for the last 4 years as a viola player. He began playing the viola when he was in middle school.
He is dedicated to supporting the growth and sustainability of the Parker Symphony!
Andrea grew up in Tucson, AZ and has lived in Colorado since 1997. Her passions have always been music and literature. She started singing as a young child, whether along with the radio or old records, under her breath at a touring Broadway show, or while sitting next to her mother at church choir practice. At the age of 9, she began playing the violin in her elementary school orchestra. In high school she moved to a small town in New Mexico that didn’t have an orchestra, so she opted to register for choir and drama and quickly re-discovered a love for all things theatrical and vocal.
Andrea pursued Theater and English while attending college in New Mexico, but she shifted her focus to Vocal Performance after moving to Colorado. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts from Colorado State University – Pueblo in 1999, majoring in Music and minoring in English. At CSU, she trained as a soprano under her beloved mentor, the late Barbara Beck, and studied violin with Veronika Afanassieva of the Veronika String Quartet.
Andrea is the proud mother of 3 remarkable children. Her older daughter and son are attending rival universities in Arizona and her younger son is currently in high school here in Colorado. She has sought to stay involved in the local performing arts community, occasionally performing in theater productions as well as singing with the Parker Chorale since 2018. Andrea has also volunteered many hours directing church choirs and organizing musical and non-musical events for her local church. She joined the Parker Symphony Orchestra in 2019, has served on the PSO Board since 2022, and became the Personnel Manager in 2023.
Aside from music, Andrea enjoys traveling, reading, yoga, and her role as a substitute teacher for the Cherry Creek School District. She hopes that the sense of kinship she feels within the PSO will continue to be shared by the community at large in the years ahead.
Piano and French Horn were my first two instruments in grade school and high school, but when I left my childhood home in the New York metropolitan area and moved to California to attend university (UC Berkeley, 1976, Ph.D. Geology & Materials Science), it was my love of the harp that was on my mind. I wouldn’t realize the dream of learning to play the harp until almost 30 years later here in Denver where I’ve spent most of my career as a glaciologist with the US Geological Survey. I found a harp teacher in 2001 and bought my first pedal harp in 2002. When I told my teacher that playing in orchestra was my eventual goal, he told me ‘Well, now you haven’t just bought a harp, you’ve bought a whole lifestyle!’ This proved to be quite true, and it’s a lifestyle I’ve loved and enjoyed since 2005 as I’ve played with multiple ensembles in the Denver metro area. I’ve enjoyed playing with the Parker Symphony for the past 8 seasons and I look forward to more concerts to come with them!
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.