Lauren Root

Cello, Orchestra Principal

Lauren has lived in the PNW since 1979. She has been active freelancer and teacher since then.She studied at the Peabody Institute of Music in Baltimore with the late Stephen Kates. Lauren was lucky to also studied chamber music with Karen Tuttle. Ms Tuttle’s style of coaching has been a life long inspiration. Lauren coached cello for over 30 years for Seattle Youth Symphony and was one of the first of three faculty members who formed that organization’s summer camp for ages 14 and under. She taught at the camp for over 26 years. Lauren is glad to be back with the festival and performing with so many fine musicians and friends. She’s lost count of how many years she’s played with Bach Fest. She’s still hoping to find a host family who would welcome her 220lbs pet pig, Wilson. But that’s another sort of adventure!

Ed Phillips

Tuba, Orchestra Principal

Edgar Phillips, tuba, has been a prominent freelance tubist in the Puget Sound region. He's been featured in such soundtracks as Barney's Great Adventure, Die Hard 3 and 10 Things I Hate About You, to name a few. He has performed with the American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, Seattle Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Bellevue Symphony, and Yakima Symphony. He teaches Middle School Special Education in Tacoma where he resides with his wife and daughter.

Li-Ling Liao

Violin

Taiwanese-Canadian violinist Li-Ling Liao is a member of Symphony Tacoma, and is currently second violin principal of the Northwest Symphony Orchestra.  She performs frequently with the Vancouver Symphony (B.C.) , Vashon Opera Orchestra, Tacoma City Ballet Orchestra, Auburn Symphony, and many other ensembles.   Li-Ling holds performance degrees from the Boston Conservatory, the New England Conservatory of Music, and University of Maryland.

John Dimond

Oboe

John Dimond holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in oboe performance from the University of Illinois. He attended the Berkshire Music Festival at Tanglewood where he studied with Ralph Romberg of the Boston Symphony and performed with the Fellowship orchestra. John played principal oboe with the Savannah Symphony for three years, and went on to study with Ray Still of the Chicago Symphony for another three years. He has played under the direction of Michael Tilson-Thomas, Seiji Ozawa, Geoffrey Simon, Colin Davis, Carl Maria Giulini, Georg Solti and Leonard Bernstein. Since moving to Seattle in 1994 John has played principal oboe with Orchestra Seattle, Northwest Symphony, Rainier Symphony, Wenatchee Symphony, and Northwest Mahler Festival. He retired this year from the Lake Union Civic Orchestra, but continues to play with Octava Symphony and Lake Chelan Bach Festival. John is also woodwind coach for the Icicle Creek Summer Symphony and teaches oboe and bassoon in the Wenatchee Valley and North Seattle areas.

Ashley Cook

Clarinet, Orchestra Principal

Ashley Cook has been the Principal clarinetist of both the Olympia Symphony Orchestra since 2008 and the Lake Chelan Bach Fest since 2013, and also works throughout the state of Washington as a freelance clarinetist. Currently living in Seattle, WA, she maintains full private teaching studios in both Seattle and Olympia. A passionate educator, she is most proud of her work as a teacher, and enjoys seeing her students excel in their school music programs and beyond, including as music majors in college. Aside from her lifelong dedication to the practice and performance of Western Classical music, Ashley is also an avid practitioner and aficionado of flamenco dance and music. Beginning in the fall of this year, she will be pursuing advanced degrees in ethnomusicology at the University of Washington, and is looking forward to blending her background in classical music with her deep interest non-western music practices.

Kathryn Castrodale

Piano/Keyboard, Orchestra Principal

Kathryn Castrodale, pianist, is a frequent performer throughout North Central Washington. She has been participating in the Bach Fest since its beginning and was one of the founders who worked closely with Cora Hartley to gather musicians together for a celebration of music, performing concerti with the orchestra, soloing and playing chamber music on noon concerts, accompanying the choir, and is an orchestra member. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Willamette University and a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Oregon. Kathryn is a member of the trio Classic Pizzazz and also arranges music for the group. She plays jazz piano with various groups and has been musical director of many community theatre productions. 

Sherry Krebs

Timpani, Percussion

Sherry came to Wenatchee in 1973 to accept a teaching position at Pioneer Junior High School where she taught PE, Health, English and coached Gymnastics, Volleyball and Softball. Because she loves music and is adventurous, she has had a lifetime of friends, fun and experiences as a percussionist, singer, recorder and guitar player, conductor and actress. She has played in ensembles, symphonies, brass bands and before retiring, conducted over thirty musical theater pits. Sherry would like to thank everyone that supports the arts for making these opportunities possible and would especially like to thank the many people she has shared these adventures with. In 2013 she retired from a 23 year stint as the music specialist at Lincoln Elementary in Wenatchee. Other hobbies include weaving, knitting, gardening, distance walking in Britain and having coffee with friends.