Missouri’s St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Announces New Members 

Yoojin Lee and Charlie Lin have joined the first violin section and George Goad has been appointed second trumpet

As it begins its 145th season, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) and its Music Director Stéphane Denève have welcomed three new full-time musicians and the promotion of one current musician.

Brendan Fitzgerald was appointed to the SLSO double bass section in 2019 by Denève. Previously, he performed with the Seattle Symphony and Civic Orchestra of Chicago. As the new assistant principal bass, he will succeed Christopher Carson, who retired in 2023 after 49 years with the orchestra.

“Congratulations to Brendan Fitzgerald on being promoted to Assistant Principal Double Bass!” SLSO posted on Instagram. 

Additionally, SLSO has welcomed Yoojin Lee and Charlie Lin as new first violinists, and George Goad to the position of second trumpet.

Yoojin Lee was previously a section violinist with the Syracuse Orchestra. A semi-finalist in the 2022 Indianapolis Violin Competition and the youngest semi-finalist in the 2019 Queen Elisabeth Competition, she is a prizewinner at both the Seoul International Music Competition and the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians. 

Lee is a graduate of the Korea National University of Arts and received her Professional Performance Diploma in Classical Violin from the Manhattan School of Music, where she is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma in Classical Violin.

Charlie Lin won his SLSO position as a section violinist in the Long Beach Symphony. He has also performed with Japan’s Pacific Music Festival orchestra as Principal Second Violin, and with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. 

Lin attended Northwestern University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Violin Performance, plus received his Master of Music and Graduate Certificate from the University of Southern California.

George Goad most recently held the Acting Associate Principal Trumpet and Third/Utility Trumpet positions in the Kansas City Symphony. He has also held positions with the Grand Rapids Symphony, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and played with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Orchestra, among others. Also a former fellow with the New World Symphony, Goad is a graduate of Curtis Institute of Music and Rice University. At SLSO, he will succeed Jeffrey Strong, who left the role in 2019.

The SLSO’s new season began on September 19 with the annual free community concert in Forest Park.

“Join us in giving a very warm welcome to three new St. Louis Symphony Orchestra musicians!” they added in a separate post. “Come say hello at an upcoming concert!”