The Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra in Indiana has appointed MICHAEL CHU as principal second violin, REBECCA SALO as principal horn, and MACKENZIE BRAUNS as principal bassoon.
Michael Chu has been appointed principal second violin for the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra and the Eykamp String Quartet. The orchestra and University of Evansville collaborate in the selection and employment of Eykamp Quartet musicians, who participate in the orchestra’s performances as principal string players and as artists-in-residence at the University of Evansville. Chu also plays with the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, and has served as a substitute violinist in the Quad City Symphony Orchestra and as a substitute concertmaster for the Kenwood Symphony Orchestra and Linden Hills Chamber Orchestra. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where he received a B.M. in violin performance and music education, and earned a master of music degree in violin performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Rebecca Salo has been appointed principal horn and Consortium member for the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra. The orchestra and University of Evansville collaborate in the selection and employment of Consortium personnel; Salo serves on the university’s horn faculty and participates in performances and educational activities. Salo has taught natural horn (historical performance) at the Eastman School of Music, worked as a sectional coach at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, directed a summer horn choir program, and founded the Purdue Christmas Horn Extravaganza. Recently, she appeared as a soloist with the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, Purdue Wind Ensemble, and Kokomo Park Band, and co-founded the horn and piano duo Duo Giústo. Salo pursued doctoral studies at the Eastman School of Music, where she earned a performer’s certificate for her recital performance. She completed her master of music degree at Indiana University, and holds a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University.
Mackenzie Brauns, the Evansville Philharmonic’s new principal bassoon, is a fellow with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and principal bassoon of the Firelands Symphony Orchestra, Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, and Columbus Indiana Philharmonic. She has performed with the Canton Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, New World Symphony, and West Virginia Symphony. A founding member of the Cleveland Wind Trio, she has performed as a soloist with the CCM Philharmonia Orchestra and won prizes in the Cincinnati Three Arts Scholarship Competition and Arapahoe Philharmonic Concerto Competition. Brauns received bachelor and master of music degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and an artist diploma at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She has attended the Aspen Music Festival, National Repertory Orchestra, Round Top Music Festival, Colorado College Music Festival, Sarasota Music Festival, Kent/Blossom Music Festival, Festival Napa Valley, and the National Orchestral Institute.
