Toccata’s regularly appearing soloists
JAMES RAWIE is Artistic Director and conductor of the three musical organizations he founded: the Symphonic
Chorus of Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Chamber Orchestra, and the Mayormente Mozart Festival. California born,
Rawie's undergraduate years were spent at the University of California, Irvine, where his first academic degree obtained
was in Psychobiology in 1969. His musical studies there included: trumpet with Jimmy Sachs, voice with Heyden
Blanchard, choral conducting with Dr. Maurice Allard, and orchestral conducting with Dr. Peter Odegard. He received a
Master of Musical Arts degree in Orchestral Conducting from the State University of New York, Stonybrook in 1979 as a
student of David Lawron and Arthur Weisberg. He prepared Bach's Passion According to St. Matthew with Dr. Otto
Werner Mueller at Yale University-Norfolk. He also studied in Berlin, Germany, at the Aspen Music Festival, and for
ten years with Helmuth Rilling in the Oregon Bach Festival. Maestro Rawie conducted the premieres in Puerto Rico of A
German Requiem of Johannes Brahms in 1984,; Mozart's Requiem in 1985; Gounod's Missa Solemnis in 1988; Dvorák's
Mass in D major in 1989, Mozart's Mass in C minor in 1993, and a goodly number of Bach's cantatas. In 1985 he led the
first performance in Spanish of Bach's St. Matthew Passion , celebrating the tricentennial anniversary of the German
master's birth which brought together the largest number of Puerto Rican choristers ever to perform a major choral
masterpiece in the history of Puerto Rico. From the operatic repertory, Rawie has presented Mozart's Il Impressario;
Bastien et Bastienne, The Marriage of Figaro, Cosi fan Tutte and Menotti's, Amahl and the Night Visitors. In 1986
Maestro Rawie initiated founded the Luis A Ferre Piano Competition., He has taken Coro Sinfónico on tours to Spain,
Catalonia, and Athens, Greece.
He is the age group champion in Xterra triathlon for the SouthEast US division and Vineman-Ironman.
DONNA AXTON, alto and accompanist ,began playing piano at the age of seven while living in New York. She earned
a Bachelor of Music at Allegheny College before moving to Tahoe City. Most recently, she studied with James Wynn at
UNR and earned a Masters in piano. She is currently a professor of music and humanities at Sierra Nevada College and
works with many professionals and young musicians. Additionally she has directed scores of musical theater
productions, accompanied the Nevada Opera Chorus, the Sierra Nevada Chorale, conducted the SNC Concert Band, and
currently directs and conducts the SNC Concert Choir. In 2003, she and Chip Meyrelles co-wrote a modern cantata, based
on Paradise Lost, which has been performed in Incline Village, Carson City, and New York City. In a previous phase of
her life Donna spent 14 years touring with Hoyt Axton, playing country-western, boogie-woogie, gospel, and rock and
roll all over this country and Europe.
JOSUÉ CASILLAS, flutist, born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, started his flute studies at 13 years old. He later joined the
Escuela Libre de Música where he graduated with high honors. At sixteen, he joined the Conservatorio de Musica de
Puerto Rico and one year later moved to Cleveland, Ohio to study with the late Maurice Sharp at The Cleveland Institute
of Music. In 1986 Josué obtained his Bachelors in Music and a year later was awarded the Artist Diploma, a degree
granted only to the most promising musicians at The Cleveland Institute of Music. In 1986, Josué won the CIM Concerto
Competition and the Master Class Competition of the National Flute Association, and performed, among other works, the
Ibert Flute Concerto with the CIM Chamber Orchestra. In 1991, he won the Solo Competition in FOSJA. This event led
to becoming Guest Soloist of the Mayormente Mozart Festival Puerto Rico. After four seasons in the Mayormente
Mozart Festival and one year as Teacher Assistant at Baylor University (Waco, Texas), Josué won an Internship to
perform and study with the Houston Symphony Orchestra in 1994. This Internship provided a full scholarship to pursue a
Master in Music Degree from Rice University. The Houston Internship proved so successful that on the second season
with the Symphony, Josué won the Principal Flute position in the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra in May 1996. In 2004,
Josue was appointed Principal Flutist the Puerto Rico Symphony.Josué studied with New York Solo Artist Carol
Wincenc, Principal Flutist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Anne Diener Giles, Aralee Dorough and Piccoloist of the
Chicago Symphony Walfrid Kujala.
OLIVIA ANDERSON, soprano , raised in California, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal Performance from
the University of California, Irvine. She studied acting at the South Coast Repertory Theatre, also in Southern California.
For seven seasons she sang with the New Orleans Opera Company. There she performed in La Boheme, Carmen,
Turandot, Madame Butterfly, and Aida, among others. She has also performed the roles of Adriana in The Boys from
Syracuse, and Baroness Elsa Schraeder in The Sound of Music. Recently she sang the role of Annina with Nevada Opera
in Verdi’s La Traviata, under the direction of Michael Borowitz. She will perform in recital in February of 2007 at
United Methodist Church in Reno. This is her second season with Toccata.
MARIA ARRIGOTTI, lyric coloratura soprano, a Carson City native, has recently been seen performing such roles as
Magnolia in scenes from Showboat (Tahoe Arts Company), Julie in Carousel (Western Nevada Musical Theatre
Company (WNMTC)), Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni (Sierra Lyric Opera Studio), Maria in West Side Story (WNMTC),
Marian in The Music Man (WNMTC), Serpetta in La Finta Giardiniera (Bay Area Summer Opera Theater Institute),
Sophie in scenes from Der Rosenkavalier (Oberlin at Casalmaggiore, Italy), Vallencienne in The Merry Widow
(University of Nevada, Reno (UNR)), and Mabel in Pirates of Penzance (WNMTC and Valhalla Players). In 2000,
Maria placed third in the nation in the Music Teachers National Association Collegiate Voice Competition. She
graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts (high distinction) in both Music and
Math, and in 2004 with a Master of Science in Math. Maria is now a full-time math instructor at Truckee Meadows
Community College.
DAVID BROCK, organist, began his musical training at age 8, but his professional music work started at age 11 as a
cathedral chorister at Washington National Cathedral under the direction of Paul Callaway. He performed solo treble
work at the Dennedy Center and the White House. His early organ studies were with Anthony Furnivall, Shirley and
Norman Scribner, and St. Albans music master, Richard Roeckelein. He completed his studies at St. Albans School in
1978. At Swarthmore College, he studied with Robert Smart and Gerald Levinson. He is Director of Music and Organist
at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Incline Village. He is also a frequent contributor to the weekly organ concert series of
Trinity Episcopal Church, Reno, St. Mary’s Cathedral (RC) San Francisco, and Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los
Angeles. In 2001 he released the first recording of Op. 3778, featuring works of Jean Langlais Neuf Pieces and J. S.
Bach Six Schobler Chorales at the Casavant organ of Trinity Church, Reno. David is an associate of the American Guild
of Organists and continues his organ studies with Dr. Roger Nyquist. He and his wife, Juanita, and their organ mascot,
Snowdrop, live in Zephyr Cove, Nevada.
KATHARINE DEBOER, soprano, is director of Vocal Studies at UNR. Dr. DeBoer earned her masters and doctoral
degrees in vocal performance at the University of Illinois where she studied with Mark Elyn. With her coach and
renowned accompanist, John Wustman, she performed on the 1990-1997 U.S. tour of the complete songs of Franz
Schubert. As a soprano soloist, DeBoer has received critical acclaim for her appearances with choral societies,
rCHESTra, and opera companies. As a skilled performer of chamber music, she has collaborated with Argenta, the
Chamber Music Society of Sacramento, and the Telluride Chamber Music Festival. She has appeared as soloist at the
Casals Festival in Puerto Rico and as artist/faculty of the International Music Festival in Pitten, Austria. She has also
served as collegiate faculty at San Francisco Conservatory of Music (2003-2004).
STUART ALAN DUKE, baritone, earned his B.S. in Music Education at the University of Vermont in 1976, with voice
a specialty in voice.. He made his European debut in 1994 as a soloist at the Pitten International Music Festival, in
Austria and toured New England, under the direction of Robert DeCormier, performing the role of The Loudspeaker, in
Viktor Ullmann’s Holocaust opera, The Emperor of Atlantis. He was a founding member and soloist with the Vermont
Symphony Orchestra Chorus.. He graduated from UNR in 2001 with a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance. His
appearances in local performances include King Melchoir in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Don Alphonso in Cosi fan
tutti, Baron Zeta in La Traviata, Reverend Olin Blitch in Floyd’s Susannah, and Mr. Gobenot in Menotti’s The Medium.
His appearances with Nevada Opera include Fiorello in The Barber of Seville, the Imperial Commissary and Prince
Yamadori in Madame Butterfly.
MARTIN GOLLERY has performed in numerous theatrical and musical roles, including starring roles in Godspell,
Plaza Suite and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He has played Supporting characters in shows such as
You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Pygmalion, Anne of the Thousand Days and The Sign of Jonah. He was seen
momentarily in the movie 'The Trust'. Marty has sung with Jazz Bands and charity performances, at weddings and parties,
and sings regularly with the St. Patricks' Church Saturday Night Alive band. With the Sierra Nevada College Chorus, he
has recently sung 'Music of the Night', 'La Ci Darem La Mano', and 'On the Street where you live'. At a notorious charity
performance, he once sang 'Music of the Night' in the voices of Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra, the Beach Boys and Ozzie
Osborne. In the daytime, Marty has been a photographer, Aerospace Engineer, systems administrator, and Director of
Research, and is currently the Associate Director of Bioinformatics at the Nevada School of Medicine. He was on the
first ascent team for Jade Dragon Mountain and Dzambala III, and has hiked the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to
Canada.
MARY ANN HELMAN, alto, has been a member and alto soloist for community and church choirs from Los Angeles to
the San Francisco Bay area. She received her training while attending Nursing School in the San Francisco Bay area. Like
many, music has been a creative and relaxing outlet from the stresses of Medicine. She has resided in South Lake Tahoe
since 1979 along with her husband, Jon, and Wheaten Terrier, LuLu. She has been a member of Lake Tahoe Community
Choir for over 20 years where she has performed as soloist for Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi Gloria, Beethoven's Mass in C,
Mozart Requiem, Bach Magnificat, and Christmas Oratorio, Britten Ceremony of Carols, and the Brahams Liebeslieder
Walzes. She is a frequent guest and soloist for St. Theresa's Catholic Church in South Lake Tahoe, and member and
soloist for St. John's Episcopal Church, Glenbrook, Nevada.
LISA HOOPES, soprano, studied voice at Azusa Pacific University and participated in several recordings with the
University Chorus and Orchestra in Los Angeles and London She has sung with the Sierra Nevada Choir and small
ensembles for the past seventeen years. In addition to a full time job with IVGID,. she and her husband keep busy raising
three boys. Lisa believes that “music is a direct line to the heart.”
EUNICE MARION, soprano/alto/accompanist, began her musical studies in piano, voice and violin with her father,
Joseph Wahlton, an organist, violinist and choirmaster, and professor from the Royal Academy of Sweden. She
graduated from San Jose State University with majors in English and Music. In addition to a rewarding 20-year teaching
career, she performed in musical theater, both as a vocalist and instrumentalist, and wrote and directed numerous drama
productions for the Cupertino and Santa Rosa School Districts. She also performed four-hand piano recitals with local
artists in the San Francisco Bay area and Sonoma County and was a violinist in the Santa Rosa Baroque Sinfonia. On
early mornings she may be spotted running with her two dogs along Lakeshore Drive or kayaking, hiking, skiing or
snowshoeing. She and her husband Dennis are recent transplants from Sonoma County and are now permanently
ensconced in Incline Village, where both feel they have “come home”. Currently, Eunice teaches piano, violin and voice
in her music studio in Incline. Later she studied piano and violin in Westmont College, Santa. Barbara, and San Jose
State University. As a teacher, she is also prepared in Classroom Music, Choral Conducting and Children’s Drama. In
the Bay Area, she performed Duo Piano Recitals and was a member of the West Bay Opera and played violin in the
Baroque Sinfonia of Santa Rosa. She has been a soloist in Musical Theater and church choirs.
DARRELL MOORE. baritone was raised in Kings Beach, California, and had his musical start at North Tahoe High
School. He studied clarinet with Richard Dasher at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and played with the
Rohnert Park Symphony. He has sung with the Petaluma Cinnabar Opera Chorus and the Sierra Singers. His acting,
singing, and dancing have graced the stage of productions by Tahoe Mountain Musicals, Tahoe Players, Truckee Actors
Guild and Tahoe Arts. He sings in the St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church choir and is an organ student of David Brock.
NANCY RAWIE, alto, is an educational therapist by profession, teaching reading, math, and writing skills to children
who have learning disabilities, attention deficit, or are functioning below grade level, but music has been her lifetime
hobby. She has sung with Coro Sinfónico and the Chamber Singers since 1992 and is the alto section leader. She directed
the Llorens Torres Children's Choir project from 1997 to 2002. She is also the manager of the Chamber Orchestra. As
her old hobby has now become part of her work life, triathlon now fills the void in her leisure time
JOY STROTZ, soprano, is a frequent guest artist for many fundraisers and oratorio performances throughout the Tahoe
region. Her most recent roles are The Diva in Nevada Civic Light Opera’s production of Phantom of the Opera, the
Countess Ceprano in Nevada Opera’s Rigoletto, and as guest artist for the Lake Tahoe Summer Music Festival and
Sierra Nevada Concert Choir’s performances of Vivaldi’s Gloria and Handel’s Messiah. This fall, Joy will play the role
of Emma in NVCLOP’s Jekyll and Hyde. In one of her favorite appearances she was double cast as both Aunt Em and
Glinda the Good Witch for the Tahoe Player’s Shakespeare Festival performances of The Wizard of Oz. Other
engagements include the Sierra Nevada College Summer Artist Series, Kate Pinkerton in Piper Opera House’s Madama
Butterfly. and performances with the San Francisco Civic and Winifred Baker Chorales. Ms. Strotz, who has several
radio jingles to her credit, is a member of the Nevada Opera’s chorus and madrigal group, Il Nome.