San Francisco Symphony’s Retiring Musicians

Five long-time orchestra musicians will be retiring at the end of the 2023/24 season

San Francisco Symphony (SFS) musicians to retire at the end of this season include violinist and former Associate Concertmaster Nadya Tichman, Associate Principal Bassoon Steven Dibner, violinist Amy Hiraga, cellist Jill Rachuy Brindel, and cellist and former Associate Principal Cello Peter Wyrick. 

“As this season comes to an end, we celebrate the retirement of long-time San Francisco Symphony orchestra musicians,” SFS’s music director Esa-Pekka Salonen posted on Facebook. “These five musicians have performed with the San Francisco Symphony for a combined 183 years.”

Violinist Nadya Tichman joined the SFS in 1980 and has performed with them for 44 years. She served as Associate Concertmaster through July 2022, and was acting concertmaster from 1998 to 2001. A graduate of The Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music, Tichman has performed with Yo-Yo Ma, Yefim Bronfman, Lang Lang, and Garrick Ohlsson, plus has performed solo with the SFS on many occasions. 

Bassoonist Steven Dibner joined the SFS in 1983, and has played alongside Frank Sinatra, Plácido Domingo, Herbert Blomstedt, and Yehudi Menuhin. He has appeared with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and recorded with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, plus created his own chamber orchestra PARLANTE, featuring SFS colleagues. Dibner has also taught, coached, and performed at festivals in Aspen and Marlboro, and often served as a coach for wind players at New World Symphony. 

With 26 years of service to the SFS, violinist Amy Hiraga joined the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in 1991 before rejoining the SFS in 1999 (she was a member in the 1988/89 season). Hiraga has performed with Orchestra of St. Luke’s, New York Chamber Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Aspen Philharmonia, and more. Her former mentors included Emanuel Zetlin and Dorothy DeLay. Additionally, she has recorded for the Stereophile, Muse, Lapis Island Records, Decca, and Nonesuch record labels. 

Cellist Jill Rachuy Brindel joined the SFS cello section in 1980, and has been a member of the Navarro Trio for over 20 years. A graduate of Indiana University and the Chicago Musical College, she was formerly assistant principal cello of the Lyric Opera of Chicago orchestra, principal cello and co-director of the Emerging Artists Program of the Mendocino Music Festival, and a member of the Houston Symphony. She also mentors the cello section of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, and will continue to do so after her retirement. 

Cellist Peter Wyrick was a member of the SFS cello section from 1986 to 1989, before rejoining the orchestra, serving as Associate Principal Cello from 1999 to 2023. A Juilliard graduate, he was previously principal cello of the Mostly Mozart Orchestra and associate principal cello of the New York City Opera. As a member of the Ridge String Quartet, Wyrick’s recordings of Dvořák’s piano quintets with pianist Rudolf Firkušný have received the Diapason d’Or and a GRAMMY Award nomination.

According to the press release, SFS auditions are ongoing and new musicians joining the orchestra in the upcoming 2024/25 season will be announced this summer.