Symphony welcomes new members

You’re going to be hearing a lot from Erica Peel. One of six new members of the San Diego Symphony, which opens its season Friday, she sits third chair in the flute section. But most importantly, she’s the ensemble’s piccolo player.

And when you are playing piccolo, an instrument that can easily soar over the orchestra playing at full throttle, there’s no place to hide.

“You are out there,” said Peel, who attended the University of Miami and was most recently a member of the Omaha Symphony Orchestra in Nebraska.

“In my opinion, the most challenging part of playing the instrument is to not play with a shrieking or ear-splitting sound, but instead a full, beautiful one. I enjoy blending in. But since we’re almost always heard and required to be soloists, it’s definitely pushed me to become sort of an actress on the instrument, to (act) super confident and self-assured.”

That’s a requirement not just for Peel. Given the highly competitive, arduous audition process involved in becoming a member of the orchestra, only the strong survive. But as far as the symphony musicians are concerned, once you are a member, you’re part of the family.

“I have to say I’ve never been more outwardly and genuinely welcomed as a person and a musician to a new orchestra,” said Peel, who started playing with the orchestra in July. “It’s really a rare feeling I’ve gotten here.

“Also, in the small amount of time I’ve spent with the other musicians, I’ve noticed a real palpable and almost infectious excitement for what’s to come for this organization, which is also something I’ve never felt before in an orchestra.

“So I am just beyond thrilled to be part of the community here.”

Here are the other new members:

Logan Chopyk, second trombone: The only San Diegan in the group, Chopyk recently completed his doctorate at Indiana University, after earning degrees at UCLA and Northwestern, where he was a member of the 2009 national trombone quartet champions, NU Bones.

P.J. Cinque, double bass: A native of Long Island, Cinque earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Juilliard School. He taught at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, was a member of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, and often performed with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Andrew Hayhurst, cello: A graduate of the University of Michigan and Yale, he grew up in Los Angeles and has performed with the Los Angeles Opera and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, including the Philharmonic’s 2015 Asia tour with Gustavo Dudamel.

Caterina Longhi, viola: While at Juilliard, where she also earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Longhi was principal viola of the Juilliard Orchestra. She’s played at the Verbier Festival, the Spoleto Festival USA and the Schleswig Holstein Music Festival and was a member of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra.

Ethan Pernela, viola: With multiple degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music, Pernela was a member of the New World Symphony and the Honolulu Symphony. In Hawaii, he also performed with Chamber Music Hawaii’s Galliard String Quartet and the Ebb and Flow Arts modern ensemble.