Featured Musicians


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.

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.

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.

Programs and artists are subject to change without notice. The El Paso Symphony is made possible with the support of the City of El Paso Museums and Cultural Affairs Department and the Texas Commission on the Arts.