Ivy Allen, Conductor and Musical Director
Paul Higdon, Professor of Music and Associate Conductor
First Violin
Deborah Haferkamp
Hollis McCormick
Co-concertmasters
Mary Chickos
Debbie Meyer
Alex Robinson-Hill
Naomi Snow
Tracy Stiehr
Drake Nagle*
Second Violin
Christine Barrera
Principal
Frankie Appleby
Theresa Corley
Laura Lager
Richard Pettitt
Timmothy Watts
Sarah Couvion*
Viola
Tim Geiler
Brenda Appleby
Co-Principals
Alyssa Przygoda-Gove*
Steve Wamsley *
John Maurer *
Cello
Devin Allen
Principal
Gary Lee *
Ivy Allen
Mark Thiel
Charles Stark
Susan Allen-Warren
Bass
Jim Herr
Principal
Jason Stack
Joe Paul Jr. *
Flute
Linda Anderson,
Principal
Fausto Barrere
Piccolo
Fausto Barrera
Oboe
David Beardsley
Principal
Pat Dinen
English Horn
David Beardsley
Clarinet
Jeff Kuenzel
Principal
Carol Shain
Bassoon
Bill Velders
Principal
Robert Carter*
Horn
John Eggert
Addi Bussen
Sara Giovanelli *
Samantha McReynolds
Trumpet
Eric Hotze
Principal
Larry Gant
Mary Weber*
Trombone
Kenton McWilliams
Principal
Ray Taylor
John Hunzeker*
Tuba
Ben Duane*
Harp
Mary Grace Stamos*
Timpani-Percussion
Susan Allen-Warren
Principal
Adelinka Adewale
Anna Allen
Mitchell Supancic
* Professional Musician
Special thanks to the St. Louis Community College and the Friends of the Florissant Valley Symphony Orchestra for the funds to hire the above professional musicians.
MUSICIANS
Members of the orchestra come from many walks of life. The majority of our players are community adults with many professions including engineers, teachers, physicians, dentists, salesmen, etc. Many students, high school and college play with us. When needed fine St. Louis professional musicians are contracted to fill key roles.
We are always looking for enthusiastic musicians to join us. If interested please contact our Music Director and Conductor: Ivy Allen by phone at 314 569-0371 or by e-mail.
We have special need for low strings.
CONDUCTOR AND MUSIC DIRECTOR: Ivy Allen
Ivy Allen has been the conductor of the Florissant Valley Symphony Orchestra since 1971.
He is a retired music educator from the Ferguson-Florissant School District. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Memphis and a Master of Music degree from the St. Louis Institute of Music with a special emphasis on musicology. He is a performing cellist having studied with Vincent DeFrank, Marilyn Beabout and Ivan Lalev. He has performed with the University City Symphony Orchestra and the the Gateway Festival Orchestra of St. Louis.
Mr. Allen was President and manager of the Gateway Festival Orchestra from 1993 to 2007 and is listed in the International Who's Who of Music and Musicians.
Mr. Allen was awarded the 2019 Owen Miller Award of the Musicians’ Association of St. Louis.
Conductor: Paul Higdon
St. Louis Community College music professor and conductor Paul Higdon has been active in the St. Louis community for twenty years. He currently conducts the orchestra in a shared capacity with Ivy Allen and recently has shared in successes of post-pandemic Florissant Valley concerts that have been well-attended and well-received. In the fall of 2023 the orchestra went to the Wildwood campus to perform to their largest music crowd ever. Dr. Higdon believes in engaging, friendly music-making that serves to inspire musicians to go to the next level of success. A pianist by training, Dr. Higdon received his doctorate from UMKC where his dissertation was given honors. He has given concerts in ten states as well as Asia and Europe. Also, he has actively served on the Gateway Festival Orchestra music board for ten years. Besides music, his passions in life are travel, language and baseball in no particular order.