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Spotlight on the Musician
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Having graduated in Pinchas Zukerman’s first class at
the Manhattan School of Music in New York City,
Marjorie Bagley made her Lincoln Center concerto
debut with the Little Orchestra Society in 1997. As
age 18 she graduated summa cum laude from the
University of Michigan where she studied with
Stephen Shipps. Bagley received her master’s degree
from the Manhattan School where she studies with
Zukerman and Patinka Kopec.
In 2002 Bagley joined the faculty at Ohio University
where she teaches violin and chamber music. Prior
to coming to Ohio, she served on the faculty at
Manhattan School’s Music Preparatory Division, the
Perlman Music Program, the Kinhaven Music School,
Utah State University and the Brevard Music Center.
Currently Bagley is concertmaster of The Ohio Valley
Symphony and a member of the ProMusica Chamber
An active recitalist, she has given world premiere
performances of many works including Paul Chihara’s
Concerto “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine” for String Quartet
and Orchestra. Bagley is an avid teacher as well as
performer and has given master classes at the
University of Michigan, Carnegie Mellon University,
Williams College, the University of Massachusetts-
Amherst and the State University of New York-
Buffalo. Her violin is a 1708 Grancino, built by
Giovanni Grancino (c. 1685-1726), who was the most
important Milanese violin maker of the time.
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Maine native C. Scott Smith is Associate
Professor of Horn and Theory at Ohio
University's School of Music. He earned his
bachelor’s degree at the University of Southern
Maine, his mater’s degree at Michigan State
University and is working toward a doctorate in
horn performance at the Hartt School of Music.
Prior to locating in Ohio, Smith taught at
Susquehanna University, the University of
Southern Maine and Bates College.
Smith joined The Ohio Valley Symphony in
1992 and has been principal horn since the
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In addition to the OVS, he returns frequently to Maine where he is principal horn
of the Maine State Ballet Orchestra. Along with teaching, Smith’s other professional
work ranges from soloist, to conductor, to chamber musicians, to clinician, to
adjudicator. He has performed as a back-up musician to many well-known artists
such as Chuck Mangione, Chris Vadala, Doc Severinsen, Rosemary Clooney and
Debbie Boone.
C. Scott, as his friends call him, is married to Catherine McCall-Smith who also
plays horn. They are the parents of two children: Cauley Noel and Cooper Leigh.
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Bernard Di Gregorio has held the position of Principal
Viola with the Roanoke Symphony since 1991. He
currently resides in Charleston, WV, where he is a
member of the West Virginia Symphony, Seneca
Chamber Orchestra and The Ohio Valley Symphony
(principal viola). Being active as a performer takes him
to many different areas such as the New Hampshire
Music Festival Orchestra during the summer months.
He has also performed with the Columbus Symphony
and has been Assistant Principal viola with the
Wintergreen Music Festival.
As an educator, Di Gregorio helped initiate the Ariel
After School String Project and has a private studio in
Charleston where he instructs students in violin and
viola. He serves as a sectional instructor with the West
Virginia Youth Symphony and as a chamber music
coach. Having studied at the New England
Conservatory of Music, Di Gregorio holds a diploma in
viola performance from the Longy School of Music in
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Wendell Dobbs
A long-time friend of The Ohio
Valley Symphony, principal flutist
Wendell Dobbs is one of the OVS
originals who performed at the
Ariel’s opening on April 1, 1989.
Since that time he has performed
here many times and has become a
familiar face to all. His life as flutist
has been diverse and far ranging. A
Memphis native, Dobbs graduated
magna cum laude from Memphis
State University, and at age 19,
joined the United States Army
Band (Pershings’s Own) in
completed masters and doctoral
degrees at Catholic completed
masters and doctoral degrees at
Catholic University. After the
Army Band, Dobbs was awarded a
scholarship by the French
Government to study two years
in Paris with Michel Debost and
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Since 1985 Dobbs has been professor of flute at Marshall University. A recent tour
as featured soloist with the Varna (Bulgaria) Philharmonic drew enthusiastic
notice from critics; “...could not have brought a more incredibly lyrical and
expressive flutist than Wendell Dobbs...” His performances have aired on National
Public Radio and Public Television and he has premiered many works for flute
including: Katherine Hoover’s Dances and Variations for flute and harp on the
Terrace Theater Series at the Kennedy Center (1995), James Kessler’s
Appalachian Folksong Suite for Flute and Orchestra (1996) and Paul W. Whear’s
Celtic Concerto (1999)). Dobbs is featured principal in the television documentary
New Music (which has won three national awards) which
chronicles the creation and premiere of Hoover’s Dances and Variations. He also
performs throughout the region with the Celtic music combo Blackbirds and
Thrushes whose second CD appeared in December, 2003. Dobbs was honored as
the 2007-08 Marshall University Drinko Fellow.
On October 20, Dobbs and guitarist Leo Welch will appear with the Great Artists
Benefit Series in their program titled “With Rocks in Their Shoes.” Welch, formerly
professor of guitar at Marshall and currently Assistant Dean of Public Service at
Florida State University, is also a familiar face to Gallipolitans. His latest project
is the formation of John Marshall’s fife and drum corps at Marshall University.
He is currently the musical director of the Timber Flute Festival in Elkins, WV.
Contact Wendall
Dobbs
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Scott Milam
Percussionist Scott Milam is a
familiar face to OVS patrons,
because he has performed with
the orchestra since its inaugural
season. His musical studies were
begun at an early age with
William Wiant, founder of the
Charleston Symphony Orchestra
graduate of Marshall University,
Milam completed his master’s
performance at Morehead State
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In addition to a wide variety of musical venues, such as the Seneca Chamber
Orchestra and Stolen Moments Jazz Quartet, Milam has been a contracted member
of the West Virginia Symphony for 21 years. As a private instructor, he has worked
with students ranging in age from college to pre-school. His wife Danielle is a
vocalist, choral conductor and educator and they have a son Colin. There is also a
four-legged member of the Milam family: Lady, a Springer Spaniel.
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Chris Hayes
Prior to his 2000 appointment as associate
professor of trombone at Ohio University, Chris
Hayes held similar teaching positions at Eastern
Kentucky and Murray State Universities. An
active performing artist, he serves as principal
trombonist with The Ohio Valley Symphony, and
with the quintet Ohio Brass, has performed
throughout the region. Hayes studied at
the Crane School of Music (Potsdam, NY), and
the University of Louisville where he earned
the BM in trombone performance, BME in
music education, and MM in trombone.
His PhD in music education was completed at
the University of Missouri.
During the summer Hayes has served on the
faculties of the Steven Foster Music Camp
(KY) and the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (MI).
Last summer he spent two weeks performing
concerts at venues around Austria as part of
the 31st Annual Classical Music Festival.
The work for which Hayes and wife Michele
exhibit the most pride is with the March of
Dimes whose mission is to find the cause and
cure for premature birth. Their son
Benjamin died at 16 months from
complications arising from his ten-weeks-
premature birth. The March of Dimes
team the Hayes founded in Ben's memory
is consistently one of the top family teams
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Wan Zhao & Patrick Higgins
Newlyweds (St. Patrick's Day 2007) Wan
and Patrick Higgins have very special
ties to The Ohio Valley Symphony and
to Gallipolis. They met three years ago
as both performed with the OVS, and
their March wedding was officiated by
Pastor Tim Luoma of the First
Presbyterian Church. The Higgins stay
with the Luomas during OVS concerts.
Wan, a native of China, is a violin major
at the University of Cincinnati's College-
Conservatory of Music. She studied violin
with world renowned violinist Lin Yaoji
at Wuhan Conservatory of Music in
China. At age 18 Wan arrived in the
United States, and in 2002 she won
first prize in the coveted Starling Violin
Scholarship competition at UC-CCM.
In addition to playing with the OVS since
2003, Wan is a contracted violinist with
the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra.
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.jpg) A native of Atlanta, GA, Patrick earned a bachelor's degree in
viola performance at The Ohio State University where he studied
with Dr. Cathy Carroll. In addition to performing, he has been
studying violin making for approximately three years
under the tutelage of renowned Master Violin Maker Jules
Azzi. Patrick performs on one of the two violas he has made.
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Jim Simonson
An OVS veteran of ten plus years, French
horn player Jim Simonson holds a
Bachelor's degree in music education
from Eastern Illinois University and a
Master's degree in horn performance
from Kansas University. After spending
several years freelancing in the Chicago
area, where he founded the Chicago Tower
Brass Quintet, he joined the U. S. Air Force
Band of Flight, stationed in Dayton,
where he performed full time for audiences
totaling over 100,000 per year in a nine
state region. During this time Simonson
trained as a volunteer firefighter and
emergency medical technician, eventually
earning his paramedic certification.
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He left the Air Force to pursue a career in emergency medicine and now serves as a
Senior Paramedic for the Dayton Fire Department, supervising the medical
incidents throughout the city on a 24-hour shift every third day. He also does
EMT training and remains available for emergencies nationwide with a Disaster
Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) through the Department of Homeland Security.
.jpg) Simonson also serves as Assistant Professor in the Emergency
Medical Services department at Sinclair Community College in
Dayton where he teaches future paramedics. In his spare time, he
enjoys traveling with his fiancée and, as he says, "simply getting
some rest." His current musical projects include performing
with The Ohio Valley Symphony, which he has done regularly
since 1993, working on several recording and arranging projects,
and serving as a bugler for ceremonies
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Ken Johnson
If, as Thoreau has said, some folks
step to the music of a different
drummer, would that be doubly
true of percussionists? Portsmouth,
OH native Ken Johnson might
know the answer to that question...ask
him some time. A graduate of
Marshall University with a B.S. in
music education, Johnson has
taught junior high and middle school
band in Charleston, WV since
1984. He is currently posted at
Stonewall Jackson Middle School.
Johnson has been named to the
Teachers five times. First published
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in 1990, Who's Who honors educators who have been nominated by students.
Since only about 5 percent of the educators receiving this honor represent
the music field, to have been nominated five times is a significant
.jpg) Johnson has performed with The West Virginia Symphony,
The Huntington Symphony, The Huntington Pops Orchestra,
The River Cities Orchestra, The Senneca Orchestra, and he is a
member of The Ohio Valley Symphony. In addition he has been
with the Huntington Outdoor Theatre Pit Band since 1995 and is
a member of the Mountain State Brass Band. Johnson is a
diverse percussionist experienced with combo, big band, dance
band, rock, country and reggae bands.
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Lori Akins
Flutist Lori Akins has been a part of
The Ohio Valley Symphony for most
of the past fifteen years. In addition to
the OVS she performs with the Springfield
Symphony and is an associate musician
with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.
Akins earned a Bachelor's degree in Music
Education and a Master of Music degree in
flute performance from The Ohio State
University. She serves on the faculties at
Cedarville University, Heidelberg
College, and Wittenberg University where
she teaches flute and directs flute choirs;
in addition, she is a recitalist on the faculty
performing artist series at each institution.
Prior to these appointments, Akins taught
at Capital University and Muskingum
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In demand as an adjudicator and clinician, Akins also maintains a private flute
studio. She is past president of the Central Ohio Flute Association and, for many
years, was chairman of their Young Artist Flute Competition. Lori is currently
Assistant Secretary/Secretary-Elect of the National Flute Association and
previously served as the General Competitions Coordinator. Akins resides in
Dublin, OH with husband Jim, tuba player with the Columbus Symphony
Orchestra, and their two daughters, Julianne and Amanda.
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Emily Van Niman
Emily Van Niman’s musical career
began at age six with piano
lessons. By age nine, she had
discovered the oboe which she
studied first under the tutelage
of Nancy King and then William
P. Baker, former principal oboist
Orchestra andProfessor at The
Ohio State University. She earned
her bachelor’s degree at Capital
University and her master’s
degree at theUniversity of
Cincinnati, College Conservatory
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Following graduation, Van Niman remained in Cincinnati where she gave oboe
lessons and served as Adjunct Professor of Oboe at Northern Kentucky
University. In 2000 she left Cincinnati to go on tour playing oboe and English
Horn in the pit orchestra for Big League Theatrical’s musical Peter Pan. Upon
completion of the tour, she returned to Cincinnati to continue performing
Van Niman’s first appearance with The Ohio Valley Symphony was in the spring
of 2001. She currently teaches privately and performs with various other
orchestra such as the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, the Indianapolis
Chamber Orchestra,the Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra and most recently with
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
Contact Emily Van Niman
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Karen Elliott |
How many can recall exactly what they
were doing on April 1, 1989? Karen Elliott
can! She was one of those stalwart
musicians who participated in the
inaugural Ohio Valley Symphony
concert…in a cold, damp Ariel Theatre.
And she has been here ever since,
although the theater has warmed up
A bassoonist, she earned her Bachelor
of Music Education and Master of Music
degrees from Bowling Green State
University. In addition Elliott has
published the college text Method Book
for Bassoon Techniques Class.
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Her teaching experience includes serving as adjunct faculty at Bowling Green
where she taught music theory and woodwinds in the Creative Arts Program,
woodwinds instructor for Blissfield MI schools, and instrumental and choral
music teacher for Vinton County schools. Currently she teaches instrumental
music in the Jackson City School Elliot is married to Jeff, a pharmacist with
Holzer Family Pharmacy and a professional songwriter. He has had 12 songs
recorded and released. The Elliotts have a daughter, Susannah. Not
surprisingly, Susannah is actively involved in music and currently is studying
journalism at Ohio University.
An accomplished musician, Elliott has performed with the Toledo Symphony
Orchestra, Toledo Zoo Band, West Virginia Symphony, Northlake Woodwind
Quintet, Huntington Chamber Orchestra, Huntington Pops Orchestra, and Ohio
Valley Symphony. She says she enjoys being active in church, keeping up with
Jeff’s and Susannah’s activities, and learning to play golf.
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Darrell Murray |
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A familiar face to veteran OVS patrons, Darrell Murray is a man with many
interests, talents, and hats. A Lancaster, OH native, he earned degrees in
music education at Ohio University and musicology/violin performance
at Cleveland State University. Murray has been a member of the West
Virginia Symphony Orchestra since 1988.
 Among his many hats, Murray frequently "hawks" OVS
subscription renewals, teaches strings in Kanawha Co.
schools, and fiddles. In 2006 he won 5th place in the
National Scottish fiddling competition. Interested in
all things Scottish, Murray also plays the bagpipes.
Many might recall his piping talent (in full Scottish
dress) for the OVS production of Brigadoon and how
A versatile musician, Murray is equally fluent in jazz, folk, Scottish,
and classical music. Additionally, his eclectic interests range from
leather carving, to knitting, to cooking.
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MATTHEW SCHULER
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Bicycling an average of 5,000 miles per year, Matthew Schuler confirms that
there is life outside the concert hall. This Centre College adjunct professor
serves as principal bassoonist with The Ohio Valley Symphony, as second
bassoonist with the Lexington Philharmonic, and has performed with the
West Virginia and Columbus Symphony Orchestras. Schuler earned his
DMA degree at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Owner of a massage therapy business specializing in chronic pain treatment,
Schuler is also an aspiring world traveler. In what he expects to be the first
of many such trips, this year he learned Italian then spent a month
traveling in Italy, alone, with no itinerary or reservations. Some people
are dreamers…clearly, Schuler is a doer.
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