MUSIC PERSONNEL
The Venice Symphony was founded in 1974 with volunteer musicians that included an 86-year-old French horn player and an 8-year-old violinist. 45 years later, today’s orchestra is comprised of 70 experienced, professional musicians from all over Southwest Florida. Their backgrounds and music careers have spanned the United States and the World and bring depth and diversity to The Venice Symphony.
First Violin
Marcus Ratzenboeck -Concertmaster
The Venice Symphony Chair Society Chair
Claudia Birdsall*
Dave Preves
Serena Scibelli
Karen Bell
Craig Hunting
Renee Inman
Will Martin
Setsuko Nagata
Karissa Ratzenboeck
Katie Ridgeway
Laurie Vodnoy-Wright
Second Violin
Michael Cloutier**
Nicole Rawley *
Victoria Carney
Joy Chatzistamatis
Francesca Jourawleff
Jon Magendanz
Jim Reynolds
Donna Smith
Karen Tuttle
Mary Wirth
Viola
Shawn Snider**
Tami Guz*
Carla Bellosa
Bradley Blaufuss
Kelly Emmons
Monica MacMichael
Linda Vasilaki
Yuri Vasilaki
Cello
Scott Crowley**
James M. Seamon Chair by Plantation Community Foundation
Leo LaBrecque*
Mike Amos
Kevin Bellosa
Julie Cornwall
Ellen Niemi
Karolyn Silbaugh
Charles Wright
Bass
Chris Riley**
Dan Peterson
Christian Abreu
Steve Fillo
Isaac Mingus
A.J. Topp
Flute
Linda Bento-Rei**
The Venice Symphony Chair Society Chair
Patti Preves
Teri Perrin
Oboe
Leslie Jones**
Michelle Nicolette
Delia Montenegro – English Horn
Clarinet
Alexander Ravitz**
Wesley John Schumacher Chair
Susan Custer
Asher Carlson – Bass Clarinet
Bassoon
David Weirnicke**
Travis Peplinski
Kevin Fuller – Contra Bassoon
Trumpet
Joseph Martinez**
Cindy Scaruffi-Klispie
Aaron Romm
John Baker
French Horn
Robert Moore**
William Gill Chair
Troy Messner
Floyd & Mary Juday Chair
Jennifer Miller
Brandon Lotchmie-Maharaj
Milford Kuhn
Trombone
Herb Bruce**
Steve Terry
Bob Medlin
Tuba
Aidan Conerly**
Timpani
Gavin Dougherty**
Percussion
Dana Kimble**
Robert Gilbert Storyk Chair
Dean Anderson
Scott Crawford
Al Lyman
Harp
Tasha Robinson**
Piano / Keyboards
Judi Glover**
**denotes principal
*denotes assistant principal
AUDITIONS
For information, please contact musicpersonnel@thevenicesymphony.org.
OUR CONCERT MASTER
The Venice Symphony is excited to announce that our new concertmaster for 2017-18 is violinist Marcus Ratzenboeck, a versatile musician who has made a successful career as a performing and recording artist. On his appointment as concertmaster, Marcus said, “I look forward to an era of fine musicianship working with The Venice Symphony.”
Marcus received his Master of Music degree from Indiana University where he was concertmaster of the IU Symphony and the Columbus, IN Philharmonic. After his studies with renowned teachers such as Yuval Yaron, Henryk Kowalski, and Eliot Chapo, Marcus was appointed Principal Second Violin of The Louisville Orchestra and Adjunct Professor of Violin at the University of Louisville. During his tenure, he was also a member of the acclaimed Louisville String Quartet and Concertmaster of The Louisville Bach Society.
Marcus Ratzenboeck has participated in numerous music festivals including Tanglewood, American Institute of Musical Studies (Graz, Austria), Sarasota Music Festival, Hirosaki Chamber Music Festival (Japan), and he served as concertmaster of Spoleto (USA) for several seasons. An active performer, Marcus has had an impressive recording and touring career having worked with several major and independent record labels and publishers. Marcus lives in Sarasota and has played with The Florida Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra, and St. Petersburg Opera. He also has his own recording studio, H&M Productions.
