| Cristina Thomas | Violin |
Cristina Thomas, 1st violin
# OF YEARS PLAYING WITH EPSO: 14
SPOUSES NAME: Robert Thomas
NAMES OF CHILDREN AND THEIR AGES: Dylan James (8) and Diego Luis (4)
OTHER ARTS GROUPS YOU PERFORM WITH: El Paso Opera and Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra
HOBBIES: Running, rollerblading, kickboxing. Jigsaw puzzles- --- if I had more time!!
PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT: I completed 1st El Paso Half Marathon . Exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was born in Juarez. Started playing violin at the age of 10 with Ida Weaver at St. Joseph's School. Private teacher was Guillermo Quezada. Won El Paso Young Artist Competition and won scholarship to attend Interlochen in 1986. Graduated from Burges High School; orchestra teachers were Mr. Hradek and Ms. Gloria Mendoza. Graduated from NMSU with BA in Music Education (Joseph Sylvan was private instructor). Played in Germany and Turkey with EPSO.
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| Joseph Sylvan | Violin |
Joseph Sylvan, 1st Violin
# OF YEARS PLAYING WITH EPSO: 15 years
EMPLOYMENT OUTSIDE OF EPSO: Professor of Music NMSU
NAME OF BUSINESSES/STUDIOS OWNED: n/a
OTHER ARTS GROUPS YOU PERFORM WITH: Co-Founder, Las Cruces Friends of Chamber Music; El Paso Opera; Juarez Symphony Orchestra
HOBBIES: oil painting, astronomy, collecting antique violins, bows, and artworks
PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT: Over twenty years ago, I received my Doctor of Musical Arts and began my Professorship at NMSU, but I dropped out and never graduated from high school.
Born in Chicago, Studied at Univ. of Michigan, Juilliard, Dartmouth College, Univ. of Miami, Univ. of Southern California, Univ. of Massachusetts, and Univ. of Arizona. Have performed in Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Turkey, Mexico, and Guatemala.
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| Sylvia Blair | Violin |
Sylvia Blair, 1st Violin
# OF YEARS PLAYING WITH EPSO: 31 years
SPOUSES NAME: Dr. T. Bruce Blair
EMPLOYMENT OUTSIDE OF EPSO: Teacher with EPISD, free lance string quartet
OTHER ARTS GROUPS YOU PERFORM WITH: 1st violin with Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra, El Paso Opera, Juarez Symphony
HOBBIES: scuba diving, travel, reading
PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT: I most enjoy scuba diving in the ocean at night and have spent a great deal of time swimming amongst giant whale sharks.
Born and Raised in El Paso into a musical family. Studied 10 years with Abraham Chavez Jr and graduated from UTEP BM with honors 1980 and MM 1986. Have performed in Germany twice, Austria, Switzerland and Turkey.
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