Jorge Mester, music director

Visiting conductors, 2007-08 season

• Jack Everly
• Vladimir Verbitsky
• Michael Berkowitz
• Jeff Tyzik
• Michael Krajewski

Core Orchestra Musicians

• Violin
• Viola
• Cello
• Bass
• Flute
• Oboe
• Clarinet
• Bassoon
• Horn
• Trumpet
• Trombone
• Tuba
• Timpani
• Percussion
• Harp

Paul Votapek, Principal Clarinet
votapek@comcast.net

Paul Votapek has been a member of the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra since 1988 and was chosen by former Music Director Christopher Seaman as principal clarinetist in 1996. He has appeared as a soloist with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra on four occasions, performing the Mozart Clarinet Concerto twice, the Copland Clarinet Concerto and Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante.  At the request of Music Director Keith Lockhart, he spent the 1998-1999 season as the acting principal clarinetist of the Utah Symphony. Votapek was also the substitute principal clarinetist for the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra for a tour of Asia in June of 1997 and played concerts in Boston’s Symphony Hall with Keith Lockhart conducting.  He performed at the Pine Mountain Music Festival in Michigan with his father Ralph Votapek and concertmaster Glenn Basham in 2004 and for the past two summers at the Marrowstone Music Festival in Bellingham, Wash. Votapek received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Northwestern University. He has completed doctoral classes and recitals at Florida State University, where he studied with Frank Kowalsky.

Paul Votapek is generously underwritten by Louise & Henry Leander for the 2007-08 season.

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Ashley Ragle, Assistant Principal/Second Clarinet
a_ragle@hotmail.com

Ashley Ragle, a Texas native, joined the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra as assistant principal second clarinet in 2005.  Prior to her Naples appointment, Ragle served as a member of the Dallas Wind Symphony under Jerry Junkin.  She has performed with the National Orchestral Institute, the International Festival-Institute at Round Top, Musica Riva Festival (Italy) and the Tanglewood Festival. 

Ragle has soloed with the Irving Symphony, SMU Meadows Orchestra and Wind Ensemble and has appeared in numerous solo and chamber recitals.  Ragle holds a B.M. degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and has completed additional graduate studies at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music.  Her teachers include Paul Garner, Alessandro Carbonare and Richard Hawley.

Ashley Ragle is generously underwritten by Marcia & Thomas McCormick for the 2007-08 season.