The Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra Music Director & Teaching Artist Team
Bill Capps, Music Director Emeritus
Bill Capps led the RFYO as its Music Director since the program's start in 2011. He will return to conduct part of the program on the March 2023 concert, which will be an opportunity for all to celebrate his time with the RFYO!
Bill holds a B.A. in music from Wheaton College and a Master of Music degree from University of Denver. In addition to conducting, he is an accomplished cellist, private music instructor, and classroom music teacher. Bill recently retired as general music teacher at the Aspen Country Day School after 17 years of teaching.
Dr. Brittni Brown, Co-Music Director
Ross Kribbs, Co-Music Director; RFMS Development Director
Dr. Brittni Brown is a sought-after violin pedagogue and artist- performer in Aspen, Colorado. She maintains a full studio, with the focus of transforming students into artists, and is an avid performer of solo and chamber music in the Roaring Fork Valley.
Brittni is on the string faculty at Interlochen Arts Camp, spending six weeks mentoring some of the most advanced and dedicated young students. Dr. Brown received her undergraduate and masters degrees with honors from the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying under William Preucil. She went on to receive a doctorate in violin performance from the University of Texas under the tutelage of Brian Lewis.
She is a certified Suzuki teacher, having received her long-term training from Kimberly Meier-Sims at the Sato Suzuki Center.
Ross Kribbs is active as a performing violinist and teacher. A fluent player in wide range of styles from classical to bluegrass to jazz, Ross enjoys sharing these skills with student musicians. After graduating from Brown University, Ross moved to the Roaring Fork Valley. Ross plays with many bands and ensembles throughout the Valley and has a thriving private violin studio in Carbondale, CO. Ross has coached students in the Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra since 2012.
Sarah Graf, RFMS Executive Director; Co-Music Director
Cellist Sarah Graf is an avid chamber musician, soloist, and teacher. Since moving to Colorado in 2007, Sarah has performed extensively in concerts across the state on both modern and baroque cello. She earned degrees from the Eastman School of Music, studying with Alan Harris and Steven Doane. While there, Sarah focused on performing with the new music ensembles and the Collegium Musicum. Sarah has attended festivals including the Freiburg Baroque Academie, National Orchestral Institute, and Aspen Music Festival. More recently Sarah has performed in the Colorado Bach Ensemble, as principal cellist of the Aspen Choral Society and the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, and as a soloist with the High Country Sinfonia. As a teacher Sarah has a private studio and coaches students of the Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra, of which she is also Executive Director. Now based in the Roaring Fork Valley region, Sarah grew up in Frederick, Maryland.
Shaunna Wilsky, Violin Teaching Artist
Shaunna Wilsky has been teaching violin in the Roaring Fork Valley for 18 years. Her study of violin began at the age of 3 in SIUE’s Suzuki Program, where she was instructed by many teachers including John Kendall, who was instrumental in introducing the Suzuki method in the United States. Shaunna attended the University of Evansville, Indiana where she studied under Carol Dallinger. During this time, she was chosen by the University’s music faculty to participate with the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra. Since moving to Colorado in 2001, Shaunna has been actively teaching violin to children and adults in the Roaring Fork area. She strives to share the joy of music with her students and to give them a lifelong passion for music.
Dr. Roberto Arundale, Cello Teaching Artist
From Fairbanks, Alaska, Salvadoran-American cellist, Dr. Roberto Arundale (pronounced air-RUN-dale) is a highly sought-after performer, pedagogue, and recording artist. An avid soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player, Roberto has concertized throughout the United States and Europe collaborating with musicians spanning all musical genres including Edgar Meyer, the Indigo Girls, members of the Ying Quartet, and Amos Lee. Roberto has garnered awards and top prizes in competitions across the United States, most recently as finalist and winner of the audience award at the Ekstrand Competition. Roberto joined the staff of the RFYO in 2022 coaching the Camerata cello section.