Four New String Appointments at the Dallas Symphony

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) has recently announced six new player appointments, including four string players, a new Principal Trumpet, and a new Assistant Principal Flute — in addition to renewing the contract of assistant conductor.

The orchestra's new Associate Principal Viola is Matthew Sinno, a Massachusetts native who joins the DSO from the Kansas City Symphony. Sinno earned a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music from The Juilliard School, where he won the school's concerto competition with a performance of Hindemith's Der Schwanendreher.

Korean violinist Hyorim Han joins the DSO's Second Violin section. Prior to her appointment, she was freelancing regularly with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the St. Louis Symphony, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. She made her solo debut with the Daegu Philharmonic and studied with Sylvia Rosenberg, Ida Kavafian, and David Halen. She holds a doctorate from the University of Michigan.

The DSO has also appointed two new cellists. Minji Kim has held the position of Principal Cellist with the Colburn Orchestra, the Music Academy Festival Orchestra, and the Seoul National University Orchestra. She is joined by Zexun (Jason) Shen, who has served as principal cellist of the Mannes Orchestra and has played in the cello section of the Rochester Philharmonic.

In addition to the string appointments, the orchestra has also named Hayley Grainger as its Associate Principal Flute and Stuart Stephenson as its new Principal Trumpet.

Lastly, the DSO has renewed the contract of Assistant Conductor Maurice Cohn through to the 2022/23 season. He assumed the role in September 2021, and has since conducted family concerts, youth programs, and special events as well as acts as cover conductor for Music Director Fabio Luisi. A 2020 recipient of the Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award, Cohn was previously Assistant Conductor of the Eastman Philharmonia and is a regular guest conductor with the Chicago-based contemporary ensemble Zafa Collective.