Cheryl Sears

Flute

Cheryl Sears, flutist, grew up in the Seattle area and currently lives in Olympia.  She has been a member of the Olympia Symphony Orchestra for many years, and holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in flute performance.  Over the years, she has taught privately, performed in the Governor’s Mansion Chamber Music Series, and performed with several orchestras and operas throughout the Puget Sound region.  Her flute, violin, and cello trio has performed at the Governor’s Mansion on several occasions and regularly for recitals, parties, and weddings.  Cheryl is an elementary teacher in the North Thurston Public schools, where she teaches 3-5th graders.  During the summer she enjoys resting up from the school year, taking on house projects, and spending time with her husband and 2 daughters.

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.

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.

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.