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New appointments include cellists Evan Nicholson and Xi Yang; Principal Trombone Hiram Sebastian Rodriguez, Bass Trombone Griffin Cutaiar; Principal Tuba Benjamin Vargas; and Principal Timpani Will Howald

Pacific Symphony welcomes six new musicians to its roster for the 2026-27 season, bringing to Orange County accomplished performers with experience performing with leading orchestras and in concert halls and music festivals around the world.

Joining the orchestra are Evan Nicholson and Xi Yang, cello; Hiram Sebastian Rodriguez, principal trombone; Griffin Cutaiar, bass trombone; Benjamin Vargas, principal tuba; and Will Howald, principal timpani. The appointments come as Pacific Symphony begins its 2026-27 season under Artistic & Music Director Alexander Shelley, marking a new chapter in the orchestra’s artistic evolution.

“We are thrilled to welcome these six exceptional musicians to Pacific Symphony,” said Alexander Shelley, Artistic & Music Director of Pacific Symphony. “Each brings tremendous artistry, experience and musical excellence to the orchestra. As we begin this exciting new chapter, their talent will further strengthen an already extraordinary ensemble. We look forward to the contributions they will make both on stage and within our community.”

Evan Nicholson, Cello

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Nicholson began studying cello at age 4 after a brief start on violin. As the result of young artist competitions, he performed the first movement of the Dvořák Cello Concerto with the Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra and Columbus State Symphony Orchestra and the Shostakovich Concerto with the Northwest Florida Symphony. 

An avid chamber musician, Nicholson was a finalist at the Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition with the Brompton Quartet and has participated in masterclasses with Brooklyn Rider, Dover Quartet, Jerusalem Quartet and the Escher Quartet. He has studied at the Chautauqua Institute and served as a fellow at the Madeline Island Chamber Music Festival and Tanglewood. Nicholson received his Bachelor of Music degree from The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. 

Xi Yang, Cello

Born in Guangdong, China, Yang began her musical studies at age 7 and received her early training in Shanghai before attending the Bard Conservatory of Music, where she completed its five-year double-degree program. She later earned her Master of Music degree from the USC Thornton School of Music and was awarded full scholarships at both institutions.

A prizewinner in several international competitions, Yang has appeared as a soloist with the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra and The Orchestra Now and performed at venues including David Geffen Hall in New York and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, as well as concert halls in Berlin, Vienna and Moscow. She was a member of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra's cello section from 2018 to 2026. 

Hiram Sebastian Rodriguez, Principal Trombone

Trombonist, composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist Hiram Sebastian Rodriguez brings a wide-ranging musical background to his role as principal trombone. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music in 2020 and his master’s degree from UCLA in 2022. 

Rodriguez also holds positions as principal trombonist of the New West Symphony, second trombonist of the Modesto Symphony and principal trombonist of the Bakersfield Symphony, and performs regularly with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Nashville Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony and Fresno Philharmonic. In addition to his orchestral career, Rodriguez is a composer and songwriter whose works span string quartets, wind quintets, mixed ensembles and orchestra.

Griffin Cutaiar, Bass TromboneGriffin Cutaiar is originally from Ellicott City, Maryland. Prior to his appointment as bass trombone of Pacific Symphony, he served as acting bass trombone of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Cutaiar earned his bachelor’s degree from The Juilliard School, where he studied with Blair Bollinger, and later completed a Graduate Diploma at Juilliard under John Rojak. He has also served as a fellow at the Colorado College Summer Music Festival and National Repertory Orchestra and can be heard on the Juilliard Trombone Choir’s Holiday Classics album, directed by Joseph Alessi.

Benjamin Vargas, Principal Tuba

Vargas joins Pacific Symphony as principal tuba after performances with the Toronto Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony and Hamilton Philharmonic. In winter 2025, he toured internationally with film composer Hans Zimmer, performing in the United States and Saudi Arabia. He was also the sole American semifinalist in the 2025 International Tuba Euphonium Competition and a semifinalist in the 2024 Leonard Falcone International Tuba Competition. 

Originally from New York’s Hudson Valley, Vargas completed his master’s degree at the University of Michigan, where he studied with David Zerkel, following undergraduate studies at The Glenn Gould School with Sasha Johnson. 

Will Howald, Principal Timpani

Howald joins Pacific Symphony as principal timpani after previously serving as principal timpani with the Erie Philharmonic and section percussion with the Spokane Symphony. He has also appeared with the San Francisco Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Las Vegas Philharmonic, The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. 

Howald holds degrees from Florida State University and San Francisco Conservatory of Music and has served as a fellow at Brevard Music Center and Aspen Music Festival. An active educator, he most recently taught at Whitworth University and with the Spokane Symphony’s youth programs.

About Pacific Symphony

Founded in 1978, Pacific Symphony welcomes Alexander Shelley for his inaugural season as Artistic & Music Director in 2026-27, building on nearly five decades of artistic growth, innovation, and community impact. His inaugural season reflects an ambitious artistic vision that blends core symphonic masterworks, contemporary voices, multidisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to expanding access to orchestral music. Today, Pacific Symphony is recognized as a major cultural force in Southern California and performs as a resident company of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa.

Pacific Symphony features an expansive range of programming through the Classical Series, the beloved Pops Series led by Principal Pops Conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez, SummerFest at the Great Park Live Amphitheater in Irvine, and engaging Family Musical Mornings concerts for young children and their families. Signature cultural concerts for Lunar New Year and Nowruz are joyful musical celebrations that promote understanding and appreciation of the arts from around the world—a priority for Pacific Symphony, which is dedicated to the power of music to unite and inspire. The Symphony in the Cities program brings free outdoor concerts and interactive musical activities to cities across Orange County, making live symphonic music accessible to all.

Through artistic excellence and a deep commitment to community engagement, Pacific Symphony continues to shape the cultural life of Southern California while expanding the reach and relevance of symphonic music for future generations.