Meet the Members - Valley Symphony Association

I am very thankful for the wonderful group of musicians, the camaraderie in the organization, and the community support of the group.

Featured Season 52 Second Half Program

Sheri has been playing horn since she started in 5th grade in Colorado Springs. She chose it because it was her favorite brother’s instrument. Her love of music started much earlier than that, though, with piano lessons and singing as a young child—but don’t ask her to do either now! She ended up loving the sound of the horn and was glad that she chose it as the best instrument for her.

As a music education major at CU Boulder, Sheri met her future husband, Dave, at marching band camp. “We like to say that’s where all the cool people meet!” At CU, she played in many groups including brass and woodwind quintets, the symphonic band, wind ensemble, as well as the orchestra. “That was my first time playing with an orchestra, and I loved it from the start.”

The VSA is a very important part of our community! Coming together to master a piece of orchestral music and share it with the larger community is an amazing thing. I believe that humans need to make music together and share it with audiences, regardless of professional or amateur level, and it is something I encourage all students to try out.

Featured Season 52 Second Half Program

Julie has played the violin for 39 years and the viola for 33 years. She started lessons with Sharon Gillespie, a Suzuki teacher in Boulder, CO. She joined her middle school orchestra and transitioned from violin to viola in the space of a single school year. She went from trying to convince her parents to let her quit playing the violin to wanting to pursue a career as a symphonic violist. She credits her orchestra director, Brett Wallace, with this about-face and for his inspiration. “I connected with the viola in a way I hadn't with violin, but now I love both instruments.”

She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in music performance at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, and a master’s degree in music performance at University of Denver. She has played as a violist with the San Juan (Durango), Grand Junction, Cheyenne, Fort Collins, Greeley, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Colorado Symphonies. She is a private instructor of violin and viola, both classical and folk styles, at Precedence Music Academy in Montrose where she very much appreciates the community of teachers. In addition, she also assists with sectionals and mentoring for the Valley Youth Orchestra. Julie also plays the Norwegian Hardanger Fiddle and spent a year in Norway studying folk music and culture.

Our community is incredibly blessed to have such an organization as the VSA. I love that many people, who have a passion for music but didn't choose to make it their career, can experience being in a symphony. We all are here volunteering our time because we love making music. Everyone dedicates countless hours of practicing and rehearsals to put on a concert for our community that we love. What an incredible organization where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together to play music!

Featured Season 52 First Half Program

As a six-year-old, Chase started piano lessons under Joy Thompson and absolutely loved it. She continued through mid-high school and then began lessons at CMU under Professor Monte Atkinson.

At the end of her junior year, Chase decided to take the leap to learn the violin, which she always wanted to try, but she was scared to start all over with a new instrument. Her parents gifted her with her first violin, which gave her the courage to go for it! After a year of lessons with Deb TenNapel, the VSA’s former concertmaster, Deb encouraged Chase to join the Valley Youth Orchestra (VYO).

“It just goes to show that anyone can start and learn to play an instrument at any time in their life. If you've always wanted to play, DO IT! You don't have to start as a young child to be successful.”

Sheri Williams - Horn

Julie Appelhanz- Viola

Chase Houck - Violin 1

Orchestra Members Featured in Previous Seasons

Bringing Classical Music to Life