The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in Texas has appointed JOSEPH DUBAS as principal trombone, ANNA KOLOTYLINA as principal viola, and NIKOLETTE LaBONTE as principal horn.
Prior to joining the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra as principal trombone this year, Joseph Dubas held positions in the Richmond Symphony and Sarasota Orchestra. He has performed with the Florida Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic, Chicago Sinfonietta, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Dubas studied at Northwestern University, and was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and served as a Civic Fellow, engaging in creative outreach programming and project design as well as chamber and solo recitals. He was a fellow at the Pacific Music Festival and the Music Academy of West, where he was a finalist in the 2018 Concerto Competition. In 2017, he won the International Trombone Association’s Lewis Van Haney Prize.
While in school, Ukrainian violist Anna Kolotylina performed as a soloist with the Lutsk Philharmonic Orchestra and was part of the “Volyniany” ensemble, which tours widely. In 1999 and 2001 Kolotylina won a First Prize and Grand Prix at the Regional Competition in Lutsk and participated in the Kiev National Competition, receiving the “New Name in Ukraine” award. She studied at the Special Music School in Lviv, where she was soloist with the Lviv Symphony Orchestra; at the National Lviv Music Academy; and at the International Menuhin Music Academy, Switzerland. She received her master’s degree from the National Lviv Music Academy. As a chamber musician, she was part of the IMMA Quartet and has performed with the Ebene String Quartet, Tokyo String Quartet, Guarneri String Quartet, and Camerata Menuhin.
Nikolette LaBonte joined the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in 2019 and is currently on leave from her position as associate/assistant/utility horn of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, where she has served since 2016. LaBonte has held positions with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and Oahu Choral Society and has performed with the New York Philharmonic, Buffalo Philharmonic, New World Symphony, and Syracuse-based Symphoria. LaBonte received her bachelor’s degree in 2018 from the Eastman School of Music, where she is completing her graduate degree. She has been a guest lecturer at the University of Arizona and SUNY Potsdam, and is a member of the Antara Winds and the American Wild Ensemble. She is a faculty member of the Eastman Horn Institute and associate operations director of the Kendall Betts Horn Camp in Powder Springs, Georgia.
Posted October 28, 2019
