MEET OUR MUSICIANS

Cecilia Archuleta, violinist, has performed internationally as a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician. She has toured in North and South America with the Orquestra de la Juventud and  Toluca Symphony Orchestra. By special request of the First Lady of Mexico, Cecilia has performed before the President of Mexico, José López Portillo. Cecilia's career in Los Angeles, her birthplace, brought numerous engagements, including a concert for Princess Grace of Monaco, with American harpsichordist, Igor Kipnis, plus a performance of the Bach Double Concerto with Jack Benny. She has also performed with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Pacific Symphony Orchestra, and Pasadena Symphony Orchestra. In the Pacific Northwest, Cecilia is one of the most sought-after violinist for chamber music. She has performed with the Philadelphia String Quartet for 12 seasons at the Olympic Music Festival. Was the founding member of the Onyx Chamber players. Cecilia is Concertmaster with Philharmonia Northwest Orchestra. She has performed with ‘Opal Quartet, Northwest Sinfonietta, Seattle Symphony, Auburn Symphony, Symphony Tacoma, and the Pacific Northwest Ballet. On period violin, Cecilia performs with the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, Musique du Jour, and The Intimate Baroque Series. She has also recorded with Seattle Symphony and Seattle Music for soundtracks and commercials. She has a loving, supportive husband, and two talented and successful sons. She enjoys tennis, knitting and gardening.

Janet Utterback, violinist, is a member of Symphony Tacoma, Auburn Symphony Orchestra, Tacoma Opera Orchestra, and Scrape, (a modern group in Seattle),  Heritage Symphony Orchestra, Tacoma Ballet Orchestra, Lake Washington Symphony Orchestra. She has played with Northwest Sinfonietta, Yakima Symphony, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, Northwest Symphony, Federal Way Symphony, Bellevue Philharmonic, and Spokane Symphony. Janet is also the founding member of ‘Opal String Quartet. She enjoys 2 days of teaching at the University of Puget Sound. She is also coaching elementary strings for Seattle Public Schools, particularly in her own neighborhood of South Park, where she gets to work with her son, Ari Peck, an aspiring musician himself, and many of their friends. When Janet is not performing or teaching, her favorite pastime is socializing with good, music, food, and friends.

Dorothy Shapiro, violist, is the former assistant principal violist of the Seattle Symphony and Seattle Opera. Since her retirement in 2007 she has been exploring other forms of music and dividing her time between Seattle and Oaxaca, Mexico. While in Seattle she keeps one foot in the realm of classical music as the violist of the ‘Opal String Quartet and the other foot in the tango world as a member of  the tango band, Tangoheart, which performs concerts as well as for Milongas throughout the Pacific Northwest.  

While in Mexico she performs with the Burgess Ensemble which specializes in free improvisation and jazz.  Dorothy is also an avid scuba diver and traveler.

James Smith, cellist, is principal cellist of the Saratoga Symphony Orchestra, and Thalia Orchestra. He has played with Federal Way Orchestra, Philharmonia Northwest, Symphony Tacoma, and Orchestra Seattle. He also loves chamber music, and is cellist with the ‘Opal String Quartet. James records and freelances throughout the Seattle area. James enjoys carpentry, and loves his cat, Kitty Witty.