Principal Players

Christine Saari

Christine is currently Principal flutist with the Santa Fe Symphony and Associate Principal flutist with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. She previously filled positions with the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Civic Orchestra, and the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra working with conductors Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Boulez, David Robertson and Michael Tilson Thomas. Christine is a graduate of Northwestern University.

James Shields

A graduate of The Juilliard School James is Principal clarinet of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with the Aspen Festival and Chamber Orchestras and the Austin Chamber Music Center. James is currently working toward a graduate degree in Composition at the University of New Mexico. An avid hiker he likes to spend his summers backpacking in western North America.

Melissa Peña

Melissa is Associate Principal Oboe and English horn with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, having previously served as Principal Oboe of the Southwest Florida Symphony. She has also performed at the Music from Angel Fire. Melissa holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and a master’s from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.