Your Symphony

Bruce Knowles

Artistic Director & Conductor


BHSO Board of Directors

2026-2027


Officers:

Eric Clayborn,

 President

Scott Marzluff, President-Elect

Kandi' Cornford Vice-President

Amber Gonzales, Treasurer

Tim Becker, Secretary


Board:

Haley Armstrong

Tim Becker

Ruth Brennan, BH Symphony League Ex Officio

Caitlin Bunge

Olya Bunger

Eric Clayborn

Kandi Cornford

Gene Eiring

Amber Gonzales

Heather Hoeye

Calvin Hofer

Scott Marzluf

Jennifer Terentino

Erin Wentz


Staff:

Bruce Knowles, Artistic Director

Kirsten Hollenbeck,

Executive Director

Nancy Olney,

Personnel Manager/Librarian


Black Hills Symphony Orchestra Mission

We connect our community through music performance and education.
Core Values
Excellence    Belonging    Sustainability   Collaboration

History

The Black Hills Symphony Orchestra is a community orchestra located in Rapid City, South Dakota. 

In the 1933, a small group of string players formed the Rapid City Symphony Orchestra Society, since then, the (renamed) Black Hills Symphony Orchestra has grown substantially, now employing approximately 90 musicians. Each year, the BHSO presents a series of symphony concerts for the Black Hills area, including a very popular New Year’s Eve pops concert and the Symphony Safari (a free concert presented for all Rapid City area fourth grade students.) The Black Hills Symphony and its musicians are in high demand for performances with other Black Hills area arts organizations, providing pit orchestras for Black Hills Community Theatre, the Black Hills Playhouse, and Black Hills Dance Theater. We have also combined with the Dakota Choral Union, Black Hills State University Choruses, and South Dakota School of Mines Choruses for larger orchestral and choral works.

The Black Hills Symphony Orchestra provides many educational outreach programs and musical opportunities for kids and young people, including the BHSO Student Apprentice Player Program, the Symphony Safari/ 4th Grade Concert, Music Memory, and the Young Artist Competition. 

The BHSO has had five conductors over its 80 plus year history. Alex Schneider, high school band and orchestra director, served from 1937 until 1942. Vernon Malone conducted for a time during the 40's. In 1952, violinist and businessman Arnold Rudd took the baton, until the early 70’s, at which time it was handed off to Jack Knowles. Jack Knowles served as Conductor from 1972 until 2008, when Bruce Knowles became the Symphony’s Conductor. Bruce Knowles has worked as orchestra director at Central High School for over thirty years, developing a reputation for excellent, award-winning orchestras.

Musicians

All musicians (other than principals ) in all sections are listed alphabetically.

Sections will be listed in playing order in the program for each concert.


Click each instrument to view the roster.

  • Violins

    Violin

    1st Violins            


    Amanda Swartz, Concertmaster

    Kolton Arthur

    Joe Berendse

    Allen Cornford

    Kayla Giesey

    Ashley Julius

    Carol Knowles

    Elizabeth Knowles

    Meghan Knowles

    Patrick Knowles

    Jamie Linde

    Andrew Spiess


    2nd Violins


    Marilyn Maxvold, Principal 

    Rachael Bunger

    Nicole Free

    Charlotte Grey

    Rick Hamilton

    Lesa Koscielski

    Dori O'Connor

    Katie Redinius

    Audrey Simpson

    Katie Sprague

    Poppy Stevens

    Elsa Stephenson

    Alexander Trujillo 


  • Violas

    Viola

    Cullen Knowles, Principal

    Chris Budd

    Brendan Christensen

    Dominick Davis

    Susan Guthrie

    Jennifer May

    Avery Massey

    Sam Nelson

    Emily Pflaum

    Charlie Savot

    Markus Walter

  • Cellos

    Cello

    Elizabeth Benusis, Principal

    Caitlin Bunge

    Kili Cole

    Bill Evans

    Lindy Hinckley

    Marta Koscak

    Janette Leno-Thomas

    Karina Riggert

    Carlynn Savot

    Abby Stevens

    Logan Stone


  • Double Basses

    Double Bass

    Kraig Long, Principal

    Sue Griffith

    Landon Harrod

    Christopher Johnson

    John Knowles

    Kate Mathews

    Carrie Orr

    Manuelito Trujillo

    Ben Wheeler


  • Flutes

    Flute

    Julie Anderson, Principal

    Olya Bunger

    Helen Van Dam


  • Oboes

    Oboe

    Nancy Olney, Principal

    Anna Hughes

    Karen Ly

    Christine Mathews



  • English Horns

    English Horn

    Nancy Olney

    Christine Mathews

  • Clarinets

    Clarinet

    Deb Knowles, Principal

    Jackie Ott


  • Bass Clarinet

    bass clarinet

    Christine Leichtnam

  • Bassoons

    bassoon

    Heidi Perret, Principal

    Cindy Beaver

    Solomon Erlandson

    Mala Stagg

  • Contra Bassoon

    bassoon

    Steve Dalton

  • Horns

    bassoon

    Skye van Duuren, Principal

    Sarah Decker

    Victoria Palmreuter

    Jennifer Stelzig



  • Trumpets

    bassoon

    Rick Hamil, Co-Principal

    Nick Ries, Co-Principal

    Haley Armstrong

    Chris Hahn



  • Trombones

    bassoon

    David Blauer, Principal

    William Holst

    John Mathews





  • Tuba

    bassoon

    Joel Adams

    Mike Mathews


  • Timpani

    bassoon

    Andrew Simco

  • Percussion

    bassoon

    Carol Gulbransen, Principal

    Dillon Dahlke

    Spencer Gerdes

    Meredith Meersman

    Alan Temple


  • Harp

    bassoon

    Jane A. Hamman

    Anna Vorhees


  • Keyboard

    bassoon

    Diane Ketel