The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO), the region’s premier orchestra whom you may have seen collaborating with Big Freedia earlier this year, has announced the appointment of 11 musicians to its roster, with seven set to make their LPO debut. Music Director Matthew Kraemer shared the news, highlighting the orchestra’s commitment to artistic excellence and community representation.
The new additions to the LPO for the upcoming 33rd season are a diverse group of talented musicians who bring a wealth of experience and skill to the orchestra. Among the appointments, the LPO welcomes Hayoung Cho as Assistant Principal 2nd Violin and Shaquille Southwell as the Principal Clarinet, making history as the LPO’s first-ever Black Principal Clarinetist. Southwell’s appointment follows in the footsteps of Andrew Brady, who previously held the position of Principal Bassoon from 2013 to 2015.
In another significant milestone, the LPO introduces Kyle Anderson as the orchestra’s first-ever second-generation musician. Anderson’s father, David Anderson, is currently the LPO’s Principal Bass and Kyle’s inclusion further solidifies their family’s musical legacy within the organization. Having honed his talent in New Orleans, Kyle received training from the New Orleans Youth Orchestra and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts while also performing with local ensembles such as the LPO, the New Orleans Chamber Orchestra, and the Viennese Operetta Ensemble.
Expressing his excitement, Music Director Matthew Kraemer said, “The LPO attracts musicians of the highest caliber from around the world, and these eleven musicians exemplify the artistic excellence that we continuously strive for within the orchestra. We are thrilled to welcome them to New Orleans and collaborate with them to create musical experiences that uplift and represent our vibrant community.”
The complete list of Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra appointments is as follows:
One-Year Appointments:
- Hayoung Cho, Assistant Principal 2nd Violin
- Shaquille Southwell, Principal Clarinet
Tenure-Track Appointments:
- Kyle Anderson, Section Cello
- Catherine Chen, Section Viola
- Rebecca Edge, Section Violin
- Jon Gannon, 4th Horn
- Casey Kearney, English Horn/Section Oboe
- Roy Park, Assistant Principal/Second Clarinet
- Max Paulus, 2nd Horn
- Milena Rusanova, Section Violin
- Patrick Smithers, 2nd Trumpet
