Three new musicians join Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera  

Seventeen Singers Join the Chorus 

SACRAMENTO, CA – September 4, 2025 – The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera (SP&O) received a fresh injection of artistic talent with the appointment of three new musicians to the orchestra: Hui-Chuan Chen, Principal Piano; Rachel Allen, Second Trumpet; and Daniel Norris, Third Trumpet. The new SP&O musicians will begin playing this fall. 

“The level of musicianship in this orchestra continues to inspire me,” said SP&O Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor Ari Pelto. “With Hui-Chuan, Rachel and Daniel stepping into these new roles, we’ll be even stronger artistically and more consistent in our performances. I’m thrilled to welcome them, and I look forward to collaborating as we bring the very best in orchestral music and opera to our community.” 

In addition, the SP&O Chorus held auditions with 17 new singers added to the chorus’s ranks. The chorus will perform with the SP&O for Harry Potter, Final Fantasy, La traviata, Faure’s Requiem, and Beethoven No. 9. The following are new members of the chorus. 

The new musicians join the orchestra at a time when the SP&O is on a trajectory of artistic growth and overall achievement. Concerts are often sold-out, the subscription base has fully returned to pre-COVID levels, and record numbers of donors are giving. The 2025-26 season opens October 11 at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center. 

About the new musicians 

Hui-Chuan Chen, Principal Piano 

Pianist Hui-Chuan Chen leads a diverse career as a concert pianist, chamber musician, and educator. She has performed widely throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia, and has appeared in major performance venues, including Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall), The Kennedy Center Concert Hall, and The Supreme Court of the United States of America. She has featured at the Aspen Music Festival (Aspen, CO), The National Gallery of Art and The Phillips Collection in Washington DC, the Barge Music Festival in New York City, The Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy, the Walters Arts Museum and An Die Musik in Baltimore, MD, and the Heifetz International Music Festival in Staunton, VA.  

Since completing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at The Peabody Institute, Hui-Chuan is devoted to teaching and academia.  She previously served as faculty and collaborative position for the Peabody Preparatory of the Johns Hopkins University, Washington Conservatory of Music, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the Heifetz International Music Institute. She currently accompanies recitals with faculty and students at Peabody institute of the Johns Hopkins University and teaches at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.  

Rachel Allen, Second Trumpet 

Rachel Allen is a trumpet performer and music educator from San Diego, California. She collaborates frequently with local composers and improvisers and has performed with the San Diego Symphony, Orquesta de Baja California, San Diego Winds, and the San Diego New Music ensemble. She previously served as third trumpet with the Flagstaff Symphony and second trumpet with the Quad City Symphony before joining the Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera as second trumpet. She can be heard regularly as a member of Pacific Sound Brass Quintet as well as on Decca Records’ Hysteresis with the San Diego New Music Ensemble. Rachel holds a Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory, Master or Music from McGill University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of California San Diego. She teaches music theory, brass methods, and co-directs the experimental ensemble at San Diego State University and teaches trumpet at MiraCosta College. 

Daniel Norris, Third Trumpet 

Daniel Norris is a familiar sight to audiences throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, active as an orchestral musician, soloist, and recording artist. In addition to his position as third trumpet of the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, he performs regularly with ensembles such as Santa Rosa Symphony, San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, Oakland Symphony, Marin Symphony, California Symphony, and others. An accomplished multi-instrumentalist, Daniel has played professionally on a broad assortment of instruments including trumpet, French horn, flute, hurdy-gurdy, didgeridoo, and ukulele.  He can be heard playing several of these instruments on the soundtracks to the video games Sam and Max and Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Adventures. He is a graduate of California State University, East Bay and the Peabody Conservatory of Music, and is a certified Suzuki Method brass instructor. An enthusiastic and dedicated educator, Daniel has taught at Santa Rosa Junior College and has been on the faculty of Sonoma State University’s music department since 2017, serving as trumpet instructor and director of the SSU Brass Ensemble. 

The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera 2025-2026 Season and Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor Ari Pelto, for the 2025-2026 season, are generously underwritten by the Nancy and Hank Fisher Family Fund. 

Recognition marks the 10^th Anniversary Celebration of the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera

The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera is proud that at its season finale concert on May 31, 2025, Congresswoman Doris Matsui formally recognized the organization’s artistic excellence and cultural leadership with an entry into the U.S. Congressional Record — the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. 

The Congressional tribute celebrates the SP&O’s vital role in enriching the Sacramento region through transformative symphonic and operatic performances, deep community engagement, and innovative educational programming. 

“The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera stands as a beacon of creativity, resilience, and artistic excellence,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Their work not only elevates Sacramento’s cultural landscape, but also ensures that the arts remain accessible and meaningful for all members of our community.” 

The recognition comes as the SP&O concludes a milestone season marked by growing audiences, bold artistic collaborations, and expanded community engagement initiatives across schools, neighborhoods, and underserved communities. The organization has emerged as a national model for civic reinvention of a classical arts institution, blending artistic ambition with community impact. 

“We are deeply honored by Congresswoman Matsui’s recognition,” said Giuliano Kornberg, Chief Executive Officer of the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera. “To be entered into the Congressional Record is not only a tribute to our musicians, staff, and board — it’s a reflection of the extraordinary support we receive from our city and region.” 

The full text of Congresswoman Matsui’s remarks will be permanently preserved in the Congressional Record and is available upon request.