Toni Reineke, conductor and founder, has had two careers in music. After graduating from Central Washington University with her bachelor’s in music education, she taught instrumental music (mostly orchestra) for about 10 years. During that time she returned to Central for a master’s degree in music performance. Later she earned a Ph.D. in Systematic Musicology from the University of Washington, then worked as a freelance editor for 18 years. Toni recently retired from her second music teaching career, having taught instrumental music to fourth- and fifth-grade beginners for Seattle Public Schools for ten years. In the fall of 2002, Toni co-founded the Symphonette with the late Kathleen Hunt. She knows that Kathleen would be proud that the organization has now grown to three orchestras with over 150 members!.

Rachel Nesvig is excited to conduct the Debut Orchestra this year! Rachel just spent the past year teaching violin, viola and cello at the Mount Kenya Academy in Nyeri, Kenya. She had an incredible time teaching there, but is looking forward to being back in Seattle to teach more music. Although Rachel has a new love for Kenyan music, Norwegian music plays an important role in her life. She plays the national folk instrument of Norway called the Hardanger Fiddle, which she has studied at St. Olaf College, in the Seattle area and also in Norway. She was the first student at St. Olaf to receive a distinction award in the Hardanger Fiddle and has taught at the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America's annual workshop. She received her BA in Music and Norwegian at St. Olaf College in 2007, and received her Masters in Violin Performance and K-12 teaching certificate in music from Central Washington University in 2011. Besides teaching string instruments, Rachel plays with various symphonies in the area such as the Yakima Symphony, Tacoma Symphony, Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Rock Orchestra and other local groups. She is looking forward to getting to know the West Seattle community and be a part of the West Seattle Community Orchestras.

Anton Coleman received his B.A. in Music from Texas A&M University where he was also a member of the nationally famous Fightin' Texas Aggie Band and studied Flute with Penny Zent, Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra's principal flutist. Currently, Anton is a Post-Bacc Music Education major at the University of Washington where he has studied Flute/Flute-Pedagogy with Donna Shin and is a former member of the UW Symphonic/Wind Ensembles under the directions of Tim Salzman and Steve Morrison. Anton works as a woodwind coach in the Northshore School District and Assistant Conductor of the Intermediate Orchestra for West Seattle Community Orchestras. Anton remains an active member of the Seattle Flute Society and the Collegiate National Association for Music Education.

Kim Roy, versatile conductor and violist, is a native of Western Washington. Kim is the conductor of the Seattle Rock Orchestra. In this position, she has collaborated with many popular Seattle bands/songwriters, such as talented soul-singer, Allen Stone and popular band, Devotchka. Kim conducts the West Seattle Symphony, is music director of the Snohomish County Music Project, and is currently serving as interim conductor for the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra. As an enthusiastic educator, Kim directs the orchestra programs at Renton High School and Dimmitt Middle School.
         In addition to conducting, Kim is busy performing as an orchestral violist. She performs with the Yakima Symphony, Northwest Symphony, Seattle Modern Orchestra, and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra. Kim earned her Bachelors degree in Viola Performance from Central Washington University in 2007 and her Masters in Orchestral Conducting from Central in 2009. When Kim is not doing something music related, she can be found drinking coffee or walking her German Shorthaired Pointer, Nora.

Kriszti Bunica holds a B.A. in Music Education from Pacific University where she worked as a Teacher-In-Preparation during the inaugural year of the nationally recognized String Project program. In addition to being a candidate for the Masters of Arts in Teaching program at Seattle Pacific University, Kriszti continues her professional development with active membership in both the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and the American String Teachers Association (ASTA). With strong, personal interests in Performing Arts Medicine, her pedagogical philosophy reflects the need for mind-body training (and re-training), therefore focusing on fundamental principles with appropriate approaches for quality musical development. Kriszti wants "to be a part of each student's process towards meeting their goal, to inspire creativity and freedom in musical expression, and to enhance their quality of life!"

Rob Duisberg, conductor, has been a composer and music director in Seattle for 30 years. His Doctor of Musical Arts degree is in composition, and he’s composed symphonies, chamber music, choral pieces, an opera, and several musicals. He’s been performed by the likes of the Seattle Symphony, the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Civic Light Opera, ACT Theater, Issaquah Village Theatre, and several chamber ensembles. He taught at the UW School of Music for six years, has conducted for numerous orchestras and theatres in town, and is proud to now be affiliated with the West Seattle Community Orchestras.

Coaches and support:

Clare Bresnahan is really enjoying working with the WSCO Debut and Intermediate orchestras as an Upper Stings Coach! Clare began her musical studies on the piano at the age of four. At eight, her musician father recommended that she learn an instrument that she could carry with her wherever she went and without hesitation she chose the violin, despite having only limited exposure to the instrument. Eventually she outgrew the musical opportunities available in her very rural eastern Washington hometown. In order to continue her studies, Clare became one of the youngest students ever to attend Central Washington University at the age of fifteen. In June 2011, she received a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance, Magna Cum Laude. Following graduation, she went to London for one school year to study privately with David Takeno, Eugene Ysaye International Chair of Violin at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In addition to performing, Clare greatly enjoys teaching people of all ages, both privately and in groups or ensembles. She is a Suzuki certified teacher and has experience coaching ensembles of widely varying skill levels. Outside of music, Clare enjoys baking and volunteering at the Seattle Animal Shelter.

Daniel Mullikin holds a Bachelor's Of Music degree in Cello Performance from the University of Redlands. He studied the Kodály Pedagogical method and folk music at the Zoltán Kodály Pedagogical Institute of Music in Kecskemét, Hungary. He is a performer, teacher, and collaborator in Seattle and surrounding areas. He is currently working with Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra as a Cello/Bass coach with their SYSO-in-the-schools program, where he assists and works with a number of West Seattle public school music teachers and students. Daniel is a cello coach with West Seattle Community Orchestra's Intermediate Orchestra and Maple Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra. He is the conductor/director of the Maple Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra's String Sinfonietta, an all string chamber ensemble and a member of the North West Symphony Orchestra. Daniel is an accompanist of dance and dance classes at a number of dance studios in the Seattle Area and with the Dance for Parkinson's Disease program. Besides cello, Daniel also plays piano, guitar, mandolin, bass, sitar, sarangi, banjo, and didjeridoo.

Jared Ballance is a dedicated teacher in many fields. He has studied, performed, and taught extensively on five instruments, is a certified Dalcroze teacher, and music theory teacher. He has performed chamber music with members of the Cleveland Orchestra, was the cellist of the Samford String Quartet, and the Brandywine Trio, and currently performs as a member of the Ballance Duo. He was professor of cello, chamber music, and music theory at Oakwood University and Samford University before moving to Seattle. Dr. Ballance specializes in developing comprehensive musical skills and healthy physical performance techniques on all instruments. Dr. Ballance earned BM and MM degrees in cello at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with Richard Aaron and Desmond Hoebig, and a MA in Music Theory Pedagogy and DMA in cello from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with Alan Harris. He is a trained Suzuki teacher, having studied Suzuki cello pedagogy with Gilda Barston, Beth Cantrell, Tanya Carey, and Jean Dexter. He currently is the co-director of Ballance Talent Education, on the faculty of the Music Center of the Northwest, and teaches in SYSO's Secondary Orchestral Mentorship Program and SYSO In the Schools Program.

Kaia Chessen started her musical studies at the age of 6. She began studying the cello with Nancy Critelli, and then with Montana State University professor, Ilse Mari Lee. She has since had opportunities to perform for Irene Sharp, Rajan Krishnaswami, and Jozef Luptak. Besides her work with the Rain City Quartet, she is currently teaching with Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra's outreach program and plays regularly with Orchestra Seattle, West Seattle Community Orchestras, and the Seattle Celloship. Kaia has performed or recorded with artists such as the Seattle Rock Orchestra, Jeremy Enigk, Grand Hallway, Fences, Brian Kinsella, The Senate, Princess Seismograph, Beatbox Allstars, Pete Bush and the Hoi Polloi, and Cassandra Speaks. She has performed at Benaroya Hall, the Showbox, McCaw Hall, Neumos, and on KEXP.
When Kaia is not playing her cello, she enjoys writing short stories.

Mariane Hermanson, manager and music librarian, jumped at the chance to become the WSCO (then Westside Symphonette) manager in 2006 and is pleased to be working with this great group of musicians. She started playing the French horn in fifth grade and continued into college. After a long break, she started playing again when her children started playing musical instruments. Mariane currently plays the French horn with WSCO, Boeing Employees’ Orchestra of Flight, Rainy Day Brass Quintet, and various theater groups including Twelfth Night Productions.