Violist Stephen Goist has been named principal viola, alongside Katherine Spencer as principal clarinet
Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society (H+H) and its artistic director Jonathan Cohen have announced the appointments of Stephen Goist as principal viola and Katherine Spencer as principal clarinet beginning in the 2025-26 season.
Goist will occupy the Estah & Robert Yens chair. He has enjoyed a varied career as an orchestral player, chamber musician, and historical performance specialist based in New York City and San Francisco.
Goist is a member of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, principal violist of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, principal violist of Teatro Nuovo, and an active performer in New York’s early music community.
He has performed worldwide with ensembles including Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, The English Concert, Bach Collegium Japan, the Charleston Symphony, and the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra.
A native of Cincinnati, OH, Goist holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music and The Juilliard School.
Spencer takes up the principal clarinet role alongside her posts as principal clarinet of The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Academy of Ancient Music, Gabrieli Consort and Players, The Irish Chamber Orchestra, and the City of London Sinfonia.
H+H artistic director Jonathan Cohen said, ’I am thrilled to welcome Stephen Goist as principal viola and Katherine Spencer as principal clarinet. Both are exceptional musicians who share their passion for early music and period performance each time they play.
’I look forward to the talent, leadership, and energy they will bring to H+H.’
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