Welcome, New Musicians!
This summer we had the opportunity to get to know the six new musicians who will be joining the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for the 2026/27 season. Read more about them below!
Yong Ha Jung, Viola
Hometown
Flower Mound, Texas
Education
The Juilliard School
What are you looking forward to most about Dallas? (Or if you’re already local, what are some of your favorite things about Dallas?)
I really appreciate the overall friendliness and hospitality of the people here and look forward to meeting new people!
What’s your favorite TV show and/or movie?
The Fantastic Mr. Fox
What are you currently listening to?
Mahler’s 5th Symphony
Favorite place you’ve performed?
Symphony Hall
If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go?
Seoul, South Korea
What’s one item that’s always in your instrument case?
Nail clippers
What’s a fun fact you’d like DSO audiences to know about you?
I enjoy playing/watching basketball!
Pedro Mendez, Viola
Hometown
Barquisimeto, Venezuela
Previous ensemble/school/job
B.M. in Viola Performance from Roosevelt University
What are you looking forward to most about Dallas? (Or if you’re already local, what are some of your favorite things about Dallas?)
I’m looking forward to reconnecting with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra community and continuing the journey that began when I was a Viola Fellow. I am excited to reconnect with old friends, make new memories, and enjoy all the amazing food Dallas has to offer.
What’s your favorite TV show and/or movie?
I love action movies in general. I enjoy the excitement, storytelling, and energy that comes with the genre and I love when the good guy wins.
What are you currently listening to?
I’m always a nerd when it comes to classical music, and I also love Latin music, especially salsa. Recently, I’ve been listening a lot to country music — very appropriate for Texas!
Favorite place you’ve performed?
The Meyerson Symphony Center is honestly one of my favorite places I’ve ever performed. For chamber music, one of my favorite venues is the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Massachusetts, which has an incredible atmosphere and view.
If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go?
I would love to visit Venezuela and spend time with my family and my people. I have also always wanted to explore Europe.
What’s one item that’s always in your instrument case?
A picture with my mom, a picture with my wife, mints, and pencils
What’s a fun fact you’d like DSO audiences to know about you?
I started my musical journey as a violinist, and I used to be the person making viola jokes. Funny enough, I ended up switching to viola — and now it’s my best friend. I guess the viola chose me, and I couldn’t be happier!
Kelly Arila, Interim Section Viola
Hometown
Norton Shores, Michigan
Previous ensemble/school/job
Colburn School, Rice University
What are you looking forward to most about Dallas? (Or if you’re already local, what are some of your favorite things about Dallas?)
I’ve been in Houston for the past two years, so I am looking forward to trying some new Texas BBQ and Tex-Mex spots in Dallas.
What’s your favorite TV show and/or movie?
The 1995 version of Sense and Sensibility
What are you currently listening to?
Most recently it was a jazz guitar playlist.
Favorite place you’ve performed?
Carnegie Hall
If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go?
Maybe a Northeast Coast Road trip.
What’s one item that’s always in your instrument case?
Extra mutes
What’s a fun fact you’d like DSO audiences to know about you?
I love to bake and have been getting into cake decorating recently — it’s not easy!
Reese Farnell, Assistant Principal/Utility Horn
Hometown
Fort Worth, Texas
Education
Bachelor of Music Studies – The University of Texas at Austin
Master of Music and Master of Musical Arts – Yale University
What are you looking forward to most about Dallas? (Or if you’re already local, what are some of your favorite things about Dallas?)
I’m looking forward to being back in DFW with my family and friends. And I’m excited to be able to follow and attend my favorite sports events, especially Texas Rangers and Texas Longhorns games.
What’s your favorite TV show and/or movie?
Favorites are hard for me, but I’m a fan of Lord of the Rings, and I do a rewatch of The Office annually. Recently, I’ve enjoyed Widow’s Bay, Severance, Silo, and Pluribus.
What are you currently listening to?
I listen to all sorts of music, but currently some examples that have been on repeat are the performance of Fred Again… and Daft Punk at Alexandra Palace, the artist Djo, and Dallas Symphony’s recording of Wagner’s Ring Cycle.
Favorite place you’ve performed?
My favorite place I’ve performed in is Hong Kong, but my favorite hall I’ve performed in is the Meyerson.
If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go?
New Zealand, or the Alps
What’s one item that’s always in your instrument case?
A snack
What’s a fun fact you’d like DSO audiences to know about you?
I grew up going to DSO concerts, and I had student season tickets as a senior in high school. It was a career goal to perform with the group, which I got to do for the first time 6 or 7 years ago. Since then, I have had the privilege to perform many times with DSO, and I am very excited to have won an official spot in the group!
Forrest Albano, Interim Utility Trumpet
Hometown
Arlington, Texas
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Music Education – University of Texas at Arlington
Master of Music in Trumpet Performance – Southern Methodist University
What are you looking forward to most about Dallas? (Or if you’re already local, what are some of your favorite things about Dallas?)
The music, arts, and food scene!
What’s your favorite TV show and/or movie?
Currently, The Phoenician Scheme by Wes Anderson and Severance by Ben Stiller
What are you currently listening to?
The music for next week’s concert.
Favorite place you’ve performed?
On a sunset stage in Hawaii, right beside the ocean where you can hear the waves.
If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go?
The Lofoten archipelago in Norway.
What’s one item that’s always in your instrument case?
A lead mouthpiece-for good luck.
What’s a fun fact you’d like DSO audiences to know about you?
When I’m not playing my trumpet, my favorite way to recharge is to backpack in the remote wilderness whenever I get the chance.
Melissa Robason, Principal Librarian, Jessie D. & E. B. Godsey Chair
Hometown
Arlington, Texas
Previous ensemble/school/job
Bachelor of Arts in Music and English
What are you looking forward to most about Dallas? (Or if you’re already local, what are some of your favorite things about Dallas?)
I grew up in the DFW metroplex and have already worked at the Dallas Symphony in my role as Orchestra Librarian. I would definitely recommend Sammy’s BBQ, the Tex-Mex in Dallas is amazing, and Klyde Warren park is such a fun spot to take a quick break or grab a lunch from the food trucks. I remember when it was built, and the Dallas Symphony performed at the park’s opening (Owen Wilson was a guest speaker!).
What’s your favorite TV show and/or movie?
Favorite movie would probably be Pride & Prejudice (with Keira Knightley)
What are you currently listening to?
Taylor Swift
Favorite place you’ve performed?
Carnegie Hall (I feel like you have to include it if you’ve been there – there’s a sense of gravitas to the hall, and all that have come before you). But my favorite is the Metropolitan Opera House.
If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go?
A beach in the Caribbean!
What’s one item that’s always in your instrument case?
I carry a library go-bag, and there is ALWAYS a pencil in it!
What’s a fun fact you’d like DSO audiences to know about you?
I love to scuba dive! While working towards my scuba certification here in Texas lakes, I once carved an entire pumpkin UNDERWATER! A fish took a bite out of my ear during the same dive, so perhaps in hindsight it wasn’t the best idea. But it still makes for a great story!
Lydia Umlauf rejoins the DSO this season after a leave of absence, during which she served as Associate Principal Second Violin in the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic.
Lydia Umlauf, Second Violin
Hometown
Rensselaer, Indiana
Education
Bachelors in violin performance from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
What are you looking forward to most about Dallas? (Or if you’re already local, what are some of your favorite things about Dallas?)
Eating tacos!
What’s your favorite TV show and/or movie?
The Lord of the Rings
What are you currently listening to?
I listen to a lot of different music…right now it’s Sierra Ferrell and Billy Strings (bluegrass), Kendrick Lamar (specifically To Pimp a Butterfly), Hamza Namira (a singer from Egypt), a metal band called Ghost, and dark wave bands like Cocteau Twins and The Cure. For classical music, I’m listening to the late Beethoven string quartets and Ligeti piano etudes.
Favorite place you’ve performed?
Mardin, Turkey as part of a circus and arts festival called the Flying Carpet Festival.
If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go?
French Polynesia
What’s one item that’s always in your instrument case?
A fake cockroach
What’s a fun fact you’d like DSO audiences to know about you?
I grew up riding horses.