Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera
GIULIANO KORNBERG
Chief Executive Officer
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RENA HARMS SIMPSON
Managing Director, Opera & Community Partnerships
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Rena Harms Simpson is the Managing Director of Opera & Community Partnerships, bringing a unique blend of artistic excellence and fundraising leadership to the role. After serving as Major Gifts Officer for eight months and Director of Development for one year, Rena helped lead the SP&O to a historic milestone, surpassing $2 million in funds raised in FY26 for the first time in the company’s history.
An internationally acclaimed, GRAMMY nominated soprano, Rena has appeared in leading roles throughout Europe, the UK and the USA. For the SP&O, Rena has performed Nedda in Pagliacci (performed on just one day’s notice!), Countess Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro, and Bea in Three Decembers. Her passion for connecting audiences with music and opera extends far beyond the stage. She founded the company’s popular Soirée events, creating intimate performances and meaningful opportunities for donor engagement as well as the company’s first ever Chamber Opera performed at The B Street Theater.
In her current role, Rena combines her experience as both a performer and development professional to strengthen community partnerships, expand access to opera in Sacramento, and advance the organization’s artistic and philanthropic mission.
ANGELA ZULLINGER
Director of Finance
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Following a lifetime of musical performance, Angela Zullinger, CPA has been thrilled to bring her passion and professional expertise to SP&O. Raised in Napa by music educators who dedicated 40 years to their community, arts collaboration is deeply rooted in her identity. She spent two decades singing with the San Francisco Opera Chorus, was an Adams Fellow with the Carmel Bach Festival, and sang as a freelance solo artist across the SF Bay Area, Los Angeles, New York, and Europe.
Transitioning her career into nonprofit financial management, Angela previously worked in the accounting department at the San Francisco Symphony. In 2023, Angela’s family relocated to Roseville when her husband, Chad, joined the Music Education faculty as an assistant professor at CSUS. Together with their two daughters and yellow lab, they love exploring their new community.
Outside of work, Angela is endlessly immersed in unfinished creative projects, and she especially enjoys tinkering in her garden that she doesn’t understand.
WESLEY APFEL
Director of Orchestral Operations
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Wesley Apfel is the Director of Orchestral Operations at Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, where he coordinates musician personnel, auditions, scheduling, production planning, and communications to help keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes.
Before joining SP&O, Wesley held positions with American Conservatory Theater, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, UC Davis Mondavi Center, Capital Stage, and Sacramento Theatre Company, building a career that combines stage management, project management, and performing arts administration.
Outside of work, Wesley enjoys attending live performances, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with friends and family. He remains an enthusiastic supporter of the performing arts both on and off the clock.
SARAH ELLSWORTH
Box Office Manager
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Sarah Ellsworth is the Box Office Manager for the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, providing her dedication to exceptional patron services, meaningful and helpful communication, and the belief that every audience interaction matters. As the sole operator of the SP&O Box Office, Sarah oversees the full range of ticketing and Box Office Operations, ensuring that every patron’s experience is seamless, welcoming, and positive.
With a warm and approachable style, Sarah has built strong relationships with SP&O’s patrons and takes pride in being a trusted point of contact for the organization. She manages subscribers, individual ticket sales, seating and inventory, patron communications, reporting, and performance-day operations- while balancing the many details required to keep the Box Office running efficiently.
Dependable, creative, and always up for the challenge, Sarah brings an upbeat and solution-focused spirit to her work. She enjoys finding thoughtful solutions for tackling unexpected challenges, thinking outside of the box, and finding ways to make each patron feel uniquely supported, catering to their personal needs.
Sarah is proud to play an integral role in the success of Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera and to help connect the Sacramento community with extraordinary music, opera, and the artists that bring it to life.
BIANCA TIJERINO
Manager, Opera Productions
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Bianca Tijerino is Manager, Opera Productions at Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, where she guides productions from idea to opening night. Since July 2024, she has coordinated the moving parts of opera, keeping artists, production teams, and management aligned and excited about opera in Sacramento.
Bianca holds a Bachelor of Science in Theatre from Northeastern University. Though costume design is her first love, her studies prepared her to do a little of everything, from lighting and props to scenic, wardrobe, and stage management. She interned in production management at SpeakEasy Stage Company and, at Boston Midsummer Opera, learned opera production alongside Maestra Susan Davenny-Wyner, rising from Production Assistant to Assistant Stage Manager. As a senior, she was Prop Master for the virtual production of David Valdes’s Downtown Crossing, co-produced with Company One Theatre.
After COVID-19, Bianca spent two years as a Specialty Team Supervisor at Whole Foods Market, training staff in quality and health protocols and advising customers on cheese, beer, and wine (ask her for recommendations!). The role strengthened her leadership and fast decision-making skills.
At SP&O, Bianca pairs technical and artistic experience with a collaborative and thoughtful approach to supporting artists and crews. Her goal is simple: let’s make opera happen!
ALLY VIGIL
Development & Marketing Coordinator
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Ally Vigil joined the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera in 2025 as the Development & Marketing Coordinator, working to support both marketing and fundraising efforts for the organization. From administrative work, designing graphics and flyers, and assisting at events, Ally is involved in a wide range of projects with the SP&O. With an extensive background in classical ballet and several years of experience working with local nonprofits, Ally has enjoyed “returning home” to the performing arts in a new way. When not working, Ally can be found teaching ballet classes throughout the region, trying out new creative projects, and hanging with her beloved cat, Junie.
DANBE LEE
Orchestra Librarian
Danbe Lee joins the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera team as Librarian starting in the 2026–27 season. An accomplished cellist, scholar, and pedagogue, she brings a deep breadth of performance and academic expertise to her work in the performance library.
As a versatile cellist, Lee has appeared in concert halls throughout the United States and abroad. Her recent performance highlights include engagements with the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera as Assistant Principal Cellist, the Houston Symphony, Kinetic Ensemble, and Sarasota Orchestra. On the international stage, she has participated in world-renowned music festivals, most notably the Verbier Festival Orchestra and the Britten-Pears Orchestra, performing under the baton of illustrious conductors such as Marin Alsop, Charles Dutoit, Valery Gergiev, Zubin Mehta, Gianandrea Noseda, Antonio Pappano, and Esa-Pekka Salonen.
Beyond the stage, Lee is a dedicated educator and researcher. She holds Master of Music degrees in Cello Performance from both the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University and the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she also earned her Bachelor of Music degree and completed Suzuki pedagogy training under Dr. Melissa Kraut. Her primary musical mentorship has been guided by Desmond Hoebig and Stephen Geber.