Toledo Symphony Orchestra: Featured Musicians

Featured Musicians

Valentin Ragusitu, viola
part of Classics VI - The Organ Symphony
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Artist Bio

Principal violist Valentin Ragusitu joined the Toledo Symphony in 1999. Mr. Ragusitu has a long and distinguished career as principal violist, soloist and chamber musician.

Mr. Ragusitu began studying viola at age of 10 in his home country Romania. He received several first prize awards at the prestigious national string competitions in Romania including the well known "Darclee" Competition. Known for his contribution on the Romanian musical scene, in 1993, immediately following his studies at the Bucharest Music Academy he was appointed principal violist of the National Radio Orchestra and Assistant Professor at the Bucharest Music Academy.

In 1995 Mr. Ragusitu came to the United States as a violist of the ÙLipattiˆ String Quartet. He studied at the Leonard Sorkin Chamber Music Institute with Jerry Horner from Fine Arts Quartet, and earned his master of music from Northern Illinois University studying with Richard Young and Vermeer Quartet. During these years Mr. Ragusitu sustained an extensive educational outreach activity.

Mr. Ragusitu's international honors include second prize at the 1996 Shostakovich International String Quartet Competition, second prize at Fischoff Chamber Music Competition in 1997 and fourth prize at the 1997 London String Quartet Competition.

He has recorded on London Olympia label with Romanian Radio Orchestra as a principal violist the complete orchestral works of George Enescu.

Mr. Ragusitu resides in Toledo where he teaches violin and viola privately.

Garth Simmons, trombone
part of Mozart I - Mozart Symphony No. 25, Plus...Respighi
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Artist Bio

Garth Simmons is the principal trombonist with the Toledo Symphony and an adjunct instructor of trombone at Bowling Green State University. He began playing trombone at age nine in his hometown of Billings, Montana. After leaving the West at age 17, he earned his Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, studying with Frank Crisafulli. Garth continued his studies at Aspen Festival with Per Brevig, and at the Eastman School of Music with John Marcellus, earning a Masters degree and Performer’s Certificate. In the middle of his graduate study at Eastman, Mr. Simmons won a one-year position as principal trombone in the Florida Symphony Orchestra.

Following his graduation from Eastman, Garth spent several years in Chicago, where he enjoyed a highly successful career as a freelance musician. During this time he held the position of second trombone with both the Chicago Sinfonietta and Elgin Symphony Orchestra, while continuing his studies in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Other notable performing credits from this time include Sir Georg Solti’s Carnegie Hall Project, the Schlossfestspiele Heidelberg, Germany, and soloist with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra.

In 1997, Mr. Simmons left Chicago to become the principal trombonist with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, a position he held until 2000. While in Birmingham, Garth was on the faculty of Birmingham-Southern College and the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Currently, in addition to his duties with the TSO, Garth maintains an active schedule as a soloist and chamber musician. He is often featured as a soloist with the TSO and at several area universities. Garth has also performed as a substitute and extra with the Detroit, Milwaukee and Jacksonville Symphony Orchestras.

Mr. Simmons resides in Toledo with his wife and daughter.

David was the winner of the Colonial Euphonium Tuba Quartet's first Tuba Solo Competition in Albany, New York in 1996. He has performed as a featured soloist at the British Tuba Euphonium Convention in Birmingham, England as well as the International Women's Brass Conference held in 1997 in St. Louis, Missouri.

David and his wife Barbara are the proud parents of their daughter, Eve Birdie, who was born on July 18th, 2004 and their son, Isaac Henry, who was born on April 7, 2007. They also have two “fur-children” Stucci and Lady, toy and miniature poodles, born in 1998. David and his family enjoy spending time together, reading and exploring the many metro-parks and trails near their home.

Kirk Toth, first violin
part of Classics VI - The Organ Symphony
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Artist Bio

Concertmaster Kirk Toth earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the University of Michigan and was the recipient of the School of Music’s highest award, the Stanley Medal.

Prior to joining The Toledo Symphony in 1983, Mr. Toth was a member of the Rochester Philharmonic in New York and served as a faculty member at Stetson University in Florida.

He has recorded (on the Musical Heritage label with the Toledo Trio) works of Charles Ives, Beach and Parkers. Mr. Toth appears frequently as a soloist on several of The Toledo Symphony concert series. Mr. Toth resides in Sylvania, OH, with his family and enjoys fishing and tennis.

Lauraine Carpenter, trumpet
part of Mozart III - Haydn Symphony No. 99, Plus...Hummel
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Artist Bio

Lauraine Carpenter is originally from upstate New York and received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Ithaca College. She was a regular member of the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra and upon receiving her degree taught as a substitute teacher in the Ithaca public schools.

She moved to New York City and completed her Master of Arts degree at New York University. During graduate school she perfromed a wide variety of music including a Meringue band, a Swing band, concerts with the New York City Ballet Orchestra, and touring with Robert Palmer. After graduate school she taught Music Education, private lessons and Remedial Reading at East Rockaway High School in Long Island for one year.

Lauraine relocated to San Francisco and won the Second Trumpet position with San Jose Symphony and Principal Trumpet with the Oakland Symphony. She also freelanced in the Bay area, and performed regularly with the San Francisco Symphony, and the San Francisco Opera and Ballet Orchestras.

She taught music part time at McAllister Junior High School where she started a Jazz Band and also taught brass at the Capp Street Music School.

In 1996 Lauraine won a one year positon with the San Antonio Symphony as Assistant Principal Trumpet and returned to the Bay area in 1997. In 1998 she accepted the position of Principal Trumpet with the Toledo Symphony.

Lauraine was an active Board Member for the International Women's Bras Conference and actively participated in fund raising. She commissioned and performed a solo work by Alice Gomez for Trumpet and Congas and performed with the Monarch Brass. For many years Lauraine was a part time faculty member at the University of Toledo and now enjoys teaching privately from her studio.

Lauraine enjoys, teaching, cooking, traveling and speaking French to her Cornish Rex cat Oscar

Damon Coleman, cello
part of Mozart IV - Mozart Symphony No. 40, Plus...Tchaikovsky
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