Christmas in Golden Valley

Currently a freelance violinist in the Twin Cities area, Steven DeNiro will make his first guest artist appearance with the orchestra. A native of Columbus, Ohio Steven holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester (NY), and Carnegie Mellon University. At present, Steven is finishing his Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Minnesota. His teachers have included Leonid Polonsky, Mikhail Kopelman, Cyrus Forough, and Sally O'Reilly. As principal second violin of the Golden Valley Orchestra, Steven has also played in various regional orchestras in Ohio and Pennsylvania, including being a
substitute in the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (OH), Rochester Philharmonic (NY), and Minnesota Sinfonia. He frequently performs as a chamber musician and recently joined the faculty of the Saint Paul Conservatory of Music.

Our winner of the 2022-23 Silent Auction, "Conduct the GVO" will make his second appearance with the orchestra. David Dust is currently a 5th grader who enjoys playing the violin and is a member of GTCYs (Greater Twin Cities Youth Orchestra).  When David is not playing his violin, or going to school he enjoys video games and reading. Please help the orchestra welcome David back to the podium!

Born and raised in Costa Rica, Jose David Carrillo Silliezar comes from a musical family. Starting on the violin at the age of four under his mother's instruction, he was also shaped early as a conductor by his father, a choral conductor himself. While finishing schooling in Costa Rica and working for the Universidad de Costa Rica, David was also an active performer, giving solo and chamber recitals in Costa Rica, Italy, El Salvador, Peru, Panama, Nicaragua, and across the United States. David holds an undergraduate degree in violin performance from the University of Minnesota and is currently finishing a doctoral degree in orchestral conducting and violin performance at the same institution. David is currently studying with Dr. Mark Russell Smith and Sally O’Reilly. When David is not busy conducting or playing his violin he enjoys cooking, playing chess and hiking around the many lakes in the Twin Cities area.