I’m Cathy Biber (pronounced to rhyme with the famous pop star Justin, who is NOT my cousin). Besides being a working mechanical engineer, mom to two grown kids, wife to Vincent and avid Nordic skier and hiker, I love to make music with and for other people. In addition to the Pops, I play the French horn in the Cascade Winds and whatever chamber music comes my way.

My husband and I moved to Bend in June 2023. We moved here from Denver, CO where we’d been for the last 9 1/2 years. I’ve lived in Northern and Southern California, Chicagoland area of Illinois, SW Florida, Eugene, OR, Tacoma, WA and Grand Junction, CO. I work for a small publishing company out of Boulder, CO, Books of Discovery, so I work from home in Deschutes River Woods. We publish textbooks for manual therapy programs. I’ve been with Books of Discovery since 2017. I used to be a massage therapist and that is how I connected with them.

In a “previous life”, I was on track to become a professional horn player. I’ve played multiple instruments in my life but I landed on the horn in Jr. High. It was truly love at first sight. I played in multiple youth orchestras in Chicago and the Bay Area of California. Life took me on a different path once it was time to go to college and I separated from music for a bit. Once I moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA in 2006, I reconnected with playing as a member of the Los Angeles Doctors Symphony Orchestra. I’m definitely not a doctor but they needed horn players. I left LA after graduating and my horn got packed away once again, until I moved to the Denver area. I became a member of the Thornton Community Band in 2017 and played with them off and on until we moved to Bend. 

My horn’s name is Peetah. We’ve been playing together since 2004. 

When I’m not working or tooting my horn, I’m likely hiking, running rivers in our raft Helen Highwater, paddle boarding, knitting, reading high fantasy novels, playing D&D with my friends, or spending time with my husband and fur babies. Fall is my favorite season. I love how friendly and welcoming everyone in Bend has been so far. I’m beyond grateful to be playing with the Bend Pops Orchestra. It’s the most “at home” I’ve felt in a musical group in some time. 

Fred is a native Californian transplant who was lucky enough to have found Sisters Orgen where he and his wife live.  His introduction to music started at a very young age because his father would lay him on his blankey next to his organ while he played.  Fred grew up to be a very tall 4th grader with long arms which meant to his parents that he had to play the trombone even though he wanted to play the saxophone.  Fred was in college playing professionally when he quit performing after 15 years to focus on raising his family and his career.  Fred was a director in IT managing hundreds of employees across the country when he retired from Verizon Communications at the age of 57 for a total of 35 years in his computing career.  It was always on Fred’s bucket list to play the trombone again when he turned 60 and when that time came he bought a beautiful hand crafted Trombone from Germany and joined the Bend Pops Orchestra.

Fred is the President of the Cascade Flyers RC flying club and enjoys ripping his planes around the sky at the club field next to the Sisters viewpoint on Hwy 20.  Fred often brags about how awesome the Bend Pops are to anyone who will listen and plans to keep his lead chair warm for many years to come.

I joined New Horizon band in Colorado Springs when they started up in 2002.  I was a member until I moved here and joined CHB.  Then when BPO fired up Shanti (who else) talked me into joining the orchestra.  I served on the CHB board for 2 years and I have been on  BPO board for about 5 or 6 years now….I can’t remember when Shanti (who else) talked me into that too.  I never played in any school band anywhere til 2002 so I had a lot of catching up to do and am still in the “catch up” mode.  It is better to start anything when you are still a kid but it is never too late.  I have really enjoyed all of the playing I have done since I joined in 2002.

Born and raised in Connecticut, I joined the Air Force in 1966. After discharge, I moved to Oregon with a friend I met in the service. I did the 7 year college plan and got a degree in natural science. In 1979 I went to Nome, Alaska to do some hiking. I wound up staying in Nome for 20 years, then moved to Juneau, for another 15 years. I am married and have three lovely daughters, and two wonderful grandsons. I went to New Orleans on a work trip and went to the Maison Bourbon. I saw a trumpet player who made it look easy. It isn’t. I bought a trumpet and have been playing, or trying to, ever since. I’m currently in the Bend Pops Orchestra, and also play in the Cascade Horizon Band.

Gerald owes his love of music to a series of music teachers in public and private schools on the island of Oahu in Hawai’i. He sang his first solo in his 4th grade music class. His 5th grade teacher taught him basic chords on the ukulele, and he joined the elementary band in grade 6 as a trumpeter. His love of music was nurtured and mentored in high school as a member of the concert band, orchestra, wind, and Hawaiian ensembles. Gerald holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education Master of Music in Conducting. An educator by profession, spending 30+ years teaching music and other subjects in Washington public schools. Since retiring he has lived in Green Valley, Arizona, Laupahoehoe, Hawai’i and is happily home in Sisters and is currently involved with the Cascade Winds, Cascade Horizons Band, Bend Pops Orchestra and The Notables Swing Band. Gerald still sings and plays the acoustic guitar whenever he has the opportunity.

Mikal hails from Ekalaka, Montana where she grew up on a ranch. Her mom was a music teacher and taught her children piano, guitar, and violin from an early age, which were put to use in the family country-western band. Mikal picked up the trumpet in 5th grade, but left it behind when she went to college. After studying to become a wildlife biologist, Mikal eventually settled in Bend where she works as the state Upland Game Bird Coordinator for ODFW. Mikal is the proud parent of Sadie, William, and Finn and spends time hunting, fishing, and gardening. The last two years of Pops have been a wonderful, welcoming return to music. 

Once an aspiring player with a music school degree in his future, Chris decided instead to sober up, reform into a recovering trumpet player, and become a respectable member of society as an engineer, program manager and executive manager in automotive and aerospace industries.

However, after 36 years of trumpet sobriety, he was lured into falling off the wagon (which means daily practice!) and has been playing with the Bend Pops since 2017, currently serving as section leader. He has been a member of the Pops Board for the past year.

When not practicing, Chris manages a consumer-packaged foods business in Bend with his wife, Cheri.

Cheri’s first encounter with percussion was pulling all the pots and pans out of the cupboards and banging them with a wooden spoon. She was four. From there she was always in every instrumental ensemble that was available. She took 2nd place at the Oregon State Solo competition, then studied percussion at the University of Oregon. After graduation she moved to Los Angeles to find her fame and fortune. Unfortunately, she found neither. However, she continued her studies at USC receiving a Master’s degree in Percussion Performance, and studied with Mitchel Peters (principal percussion Los Angeles Philharmonic) and Kenny Watson (1st call studio musician). 

Two highlights were performing at the 1984 Olympic Games, and then as papal timpanist for Pope John Paul 2 during his visit to Los Angeles. Growing tired of all the people and congestion, she came back to Oregon. Moving first to Molalla in 1991 and then Bend in 2007, she continued to search out performing ensembles. She met her recovering trumpet player husband Chris on eHarmony, and they have been harmonious ever since.

Currently she performs with the Cascade Winds and the Central Oregon Symphony. She subs on drum set with the Notables, and enjoys performing in the pit for various musical and opera productions. She joined the Bend Pops Orchestra so that she could share the experience with her husband.

Olivia is an artist with a hands-on philosophy that she applies to photography, woodworking, teaching, and life. After graduating from UCLA where she studied Fine Arts, Olivia embarked on a journey to deepen her understanding of the arts she is passionate about. She spends her free time learning new skills in the wood shop and tinkering with little projects. Such a project may be investigating the mechanics of her film camera so she can use it in a new way or researching a river’s ecosystem so she can tie a fly that the fish will bite. Olivia currently works as a full time Luthier at Preston Thompson Guitars. She also owns a side business building bamboo fly fishing rods. She’s been playing upright bass since she was 9 years old and always enjoys a slappin’ bluegrass jam.

My name is Becky Duncan.  I have been playing the cello since 2007.  In addition to playing in the Desert Sage Orchestra, Community Orchestra of Central Oregon, and Bend Pops, I was the piano accompanist for “A Scottish Heart,” a local Scottish fiddle band that played in central Oregon and around the state for over 20 years.

I taught elementary school here in Bend (and LaPine) for 31+ years.

I love to read, walk, go on easy hikes, travel, cook, bake, and work in my yard (despite extreme brown thumb).  I am currently addicted to Charles Wysocki jigsaw puzzles.

Deep in my heart, I am one of those horse-crazy girls who never grew out of it.  See photo for proof.

Born and raised in the PNW of Washington State, I recently moved to Bend in search of new opportunities and experiences. I was first introduced to the cello freshman year of high school, and I played with the PTHS orchestra for 3 years. After a many-year, post-high school hiatus, I was ready to pick it up again. One of the first things I did upon moving was to search for a musical group to join, and I could not be happier to have found Bend Pops! Thank you all for being so wonderful and welcoming ~ I am looking forward to another fantastic season of fun and music!

Stacey was born and raised in Michigan and finally found her home in Bend after living many other places. Along the way, she took a year off of her Emergency Medicine career to stay home with the kids. One year quickly became 12 and she’s still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up. In the meantime, she’s having a blast playing cello, which she picked up when her oldest son decided to quit and left his beautiful instrument gathering dust. Before that she dabbled in piano and also has fond memories of playing saxophone in high school band. In addition to music, she also enjoys all of the outdoor activities Bend has to offer, with a keen interest in rock climbing, trail running, mountain biking, stand up paddle boarding and skiing.

No music in my past, I spent my youth skiing, hiking, biking throughout Europe, kayaking, and canoeing, practicing physical therapy both in the US and Canada.  Life was busy with five children.

I moved to Bend in 1996.  I was part of a team heading up a ski program for the disabled. I worked for the school district as a physical therapist, and finally had my second retirement.

With my fourth rotator cuff repair I needed something a little less strenuous.  My new adventure was cello lessons with the ever-patient Michael Scott.

I joined string groups, quartets, and finally the Pops Orchestra and Eddy Robinson, the answer to my neglected past. I have a lot to learn, and playing with Eddy and the orchestra is a gift.

Several years after moving to Bend to indulge her passion for outdoor sports, Louise learned about Pops from Cathy Biber. Cathy knew that Louise had played violin with the Portland Youth Philharmonic’s Preparatory Orchestra when she was younger. With Pops in need of violinists, she was a perfect fit. A little hesitant to start, Louise grew into a big fan of the organization. She now plays both viola and piano with the orchestra, as well as serves on the board.

Louise retired recently from a career as an environmental engineer, specializing in air quality and hazardous waste permitting and compliance. She loves big wacky adventures, whether bicycling across the United States or hiking the Lebanon Mountain Trail. When not practicing her instruments, she can be found at the rock gym, cross-country skiing, maintaining trails, or kicking back with her French-speaking friends at the Midtown Yacht Club.

I started violin in 4th grade and never stopped, until switching to viola several years ago. Happily married and retired with a background in transit and paratransit, driving and management. Raised in Washington State, I made it to Bend in 2000, where I live in Bend’s only Cohousing community. Previous musical groups include fiddling for square dances, a folk dance band playing instruments/music from Eastern Europe, and a folk group playing “anarcoustic” music, Central Oregon Symphony, and various chamber music ensembles. If I can’t be playing music please let me be on my bicycle.

Kate Lajtha joined the viola section in winter 2024 and will never leave!  This is way too much fun!  She moved to Sisters in spring of 2023 from Corvallis but is a native New Yorker.  She is still a professor of Biogeochemistry in the Soils Department at OSU and studies carbon cycling and climate change, but she is trying very hard to retire and not have to commute weekly in the fall.  When not playing viola, she and her dog (and whatever friend she can talk into it) climb and hike in the Cascades in nice weather and backcountry ski in winter.  I know where the good trails are, if anyone wants to join me.

Hi, this is Maggie McHugh. I’ve been playing viola since 5 th grade. I wanted to play violin, but
they needed violas and decided I had long fingers. My fingers did not grow much more, but I’ve
never regretted being given a viola. I’ve been lucky to have found an orchestra wherever I’ve
moved (and it’s been a lot of moves and a lot of orchestras and symphonies!) but am now
happily settled with my husband in Central Oregon. I’m a semi-retired geologist and if you don’t
see me with my viola in my hand, I will most likely be holding a rock.

John began his musical journey at age four. His sisters played violin and cello, so he was given a viola, which he played until fifth grade, when his school dropped their orchestra program. They kept the band program, so he switched to playing baritone, and eventually learned all the low brass instruments. He continued playing brass instruments through college.

John returned to music in his early forties playing ukulele. In his fifties, he has taken up bass guitar.  He currently sings and plays bass guitar for Ian and the Oopsies, which plays children’s songs.

After a fourty year absence, John picked up the viola again and joined the Bend Pops Orchestra for its spring 2024 season.  He has transitioned to bass guitar for the current Pops season.

Chris started violin lessons in middle school through high school. She played in the Honolulu Youth Symphony and Columbus Ohio Youth Symphony, then stopped playing for 32 years. Chris started back playing violin and joined some old time music jams while living in California.

When Chris relocated to Bend, she and a friend saw the need for a non-audition community based orchestra and started COCO (Central Oregon Community Orchestra), which is now Bend Pops Orchestra. She enjoys playing in string quartets, duets and trios and flute/violin duos. Chris frequently plays in the Trinity Lutheran Church musicals and holiday services.

Non-musical activities include quilting and spending time with her poodle, Milo.

Kim moved to Bend in March 2025 and joined Bend Pops Orchestra two weeks later. Growing up in the Chicagoland area, she started on clarinet in 5th grade and switched to bassoon in 6th to avoid the stress of competition – when do orchestras have too many bassoons? She played through her undergraduate degree at Carroll University (in Wisconsin) in a symphonic wind ensemble, full orchestra, and dabbled in bass drum for marching band and saxophone for pep band.

Kim earned a Bachelor of Science degree in animal behavior and her work in zookeeping and informal environmental education led to several cross-country moves: spending 1.5 years in Vermont, 3.5 years in Louisiana, and now Oregon. She is an advocate for growing knowledge and completed an Associate of Arts in American Sign Language, became a credentialed dog trainer (IAABC-ADT), joined the Pops Board in August 2025, and volunteers for ODFW’s porcupine research project. Being a part of an ensemble and vibrant community has helped make Bend quickly feel like home.

When not revamping her musical skills or searching for those prickly porcupines, Kim enjoys farmer’s markets and art shows, hiking, kayaking, nordic skiing, and rock climbing.

I grew up in Alaska and started playing violin in 3rd grade, but switched to clarinet  since there were no orchestra opportunities. I have played and enjoyed music in small symphonies, community groups, pit orchestras and college musical programs for over 65 years. My parents were not musicians, but encouraged me to make the most of every chance we could. They sat through some pretty painful performances, but their enthusiasm never wavered. The musical groups I have been a part of have become family, and together we make magic.

Long ago in a galaxy far far away, Rich played tenor saxophone in his middle school band and jazz band.  Sadly, he gave that up to pursue more mundane things such as playing basketball in high school, attending college, and working as a software engineer for 35+ years.  Rich retired in 2017 and enjoys hiking in the beautiful local mountains and on trips across the pacific northwest. 

In 2020 he decided to take up music again and spent a couple of years practicing saxophone at home until he eventually joined the Cascade Horizon Band as a bari sax player.  He also spent some time as a volunteer percussion player in the Bend Pops Orchestra.

In spring of 2024 Rich decided to see if his bari sax skills would transfer to the bass clarinet and his now playing bass clarinet in the Bend Pops Orchestra.  His brain is now quite full trying to make sure he doesn’t use saxophone fingering when playing the bass clarinet!

First instrument was a banged up metal clarinet. I played through high school and then did not pick up a clarinet until the last couple of years. Two school band memories – marching in Chicago’s St. Patrick parade and so frozen I could not move my fingers (and yes they do dye the river green), and marching band for a 4 year losing football team (snowy, cold and wet). Enjoying my time now with the Bend Pops!

I grew up in upstate NY and my family and I moved to San Jose, CA when I was 7. I lived there until I graduated from SJSU with a degree in technical writing. 

I played clarinet from 4th to 8th grade and quit because our high school only had a marching band and I wanted to play in an orchestra. I regret not auditioning for the San Jose Youth Symphony because I was too chicken! 

My husband and I moved to Bend in 1993 after I graduated college, where I’ve worked in the printing industry ever since. I have 1 daughter who played cello since she was 11 and is now 20 (she played with Eddy in the youth orchestra for several years and then with Pops for the last several years until she went off to college). After listening to her play favorite pieces like Sleigh Ride and Jurassic Park I decided I’d one day like to play in an orchestra with her. So I took up the clarinet 35 years after I had quit.

Besides playing music, I love to read, watch all kinds of movies (especially horror and classics), listen to movie soundtracks, play trivia (and many other games), travel (love the Caribbean and Disneyland), celebrate Halloween and Christmas, root for the 49ers and to laugh as much as possible! I have 1 dog (a Cavalier King Charles spaniel) and one black cat (who crosses my path everyday!).

I joined what is now Bend Pops Orchestra about 11 years ago when they first started up. I took a year hiatus for health reasons, and am so glad to be back with this awesome group. I have been playing instruments since I was 5, starting of course with the piano. I have played flute for over 50 years. I played mouth organ, bango, and guitar with my grandfather; all 53 verses of Amazing Grace, then 47 verses of Lily of the Valley, and 30 some odd verses of Church on the Hill. Just whenever he decided to move to the next song. Played oboe and english horn in high school and dabbled with oboe since. I switched it ‘down’ to bass clarinet a few years ago to allow more flutes to join our BPO, and just wanted to learn another instrument.  I will try my hand at almost anything except brass instruments, so trumpets and trombones – you are safe!  I just can’t do that mouth buzzy thing.  

Linda moved to Redmond after retiring from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. She joined the Bend Pops Orchestra in 2022 and has loved it ever since. Music is a big part of Linda’s life earning a master’s degree in Music Therapy, from California State University Long Beach. She is also a member of the Redmond Community Choir, providing accompaniment on her flute and plays in a flute trio. When not playing her flute, Linda can be found playing her guitar or piano, and provides music support to churches in the community.

Linda’s other hobbies include quilting, sewing garments, hiking, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, camping, biking, knitting, needlepoint and reading. Linda enjoys going to concerts with her husband Tony and playing with her two dogs Sancus and Josie.

Lisa moved to Bend in 2016 after a career in technology.  She got involved with the Pops (then COCO — The Community Orchestra of Central Oregon) in 2017, picking up her flute after a 35 year break.  Things quickly snowballed and she is now a member of the Cascade Winds and Bend Pops, subs for the Central Oregon Symphony, and helps out occasionally with the Cascade Horizon Band.  She is a founding member of the West Winds Chamber Ensemble, the Lumina Flute Trio, and the Central Oregon Flute Ensemble.  Lisa has recently expanded her family of flutes to include a piccolo and alto.

When not practicing or wasting time on the computer, Lisa enjoys hiking, trail running, crochet, quilting, reading, and attending music events with her husband and fellow musician, Rich.

Hi, I’m Tracie! I work as a project manager and enjoy all of the outdoorsy things in my spare time – mountain biking, rock climbing, skiing, and adventuring with my pup, Rambo. After 20+ years away from playing the flute, I am thrilled to be back making music with the Bend Pops.

I signed up for band class in the 5th grade and chose to play the flute because my best friend chose it. She quit after one year, but I played through high school and college. My favorite activities were marching band and playing in the orchestra pit for musicals.

I have lived in multiple states and moved to Oregon from Kentucky in 2012, landing in Central Oregon in 2016. I am a retired educator, have four grown children and two granddaughters. I enjoy being part of a musical group again and hope to improve my playing as time passes.

I love the Spanish language and Mexico, I enjoy hiking, bicycling, being out in nature and all things furry.

I picked up the Oboe as a mid-life crisis and have been in crisis with that confounding instrument ever since. I cringe to recall walking into OCC junior college beginning band with a cheap oboe and reed. I would follow along until I saw a note which I knew the fingering and waited until it was the “right” time then took a big breath and let out a most awful sound. I could see the poor instructor flinch. Especially embarrassing since most in the class could have been my kids!

It was obvious to me that there was something wrong, so I found a kindly instructor and began the tedious process of learning oboe. Of course, as in most mid-life crises it required money. After paying an outrageous amount for a new oboe, good reeds, and weekly lessons, practice and progress started. The family showed me extreme tolerance of my early practice with sounds wailing from upstairs which would wake the dead. Neighbors asked what instrument MY KIDS were playing. It was embarrassing.

Well progression was made to the woodwind ensemble of OCC. There the next battle was overcoming stage fright. I spent 4 years performing twice a year with no improvement in my anxiety. But my playing was improving. I joined Golden West Pops Woodwind ensemble to force myself to improve and get over my stage fright since they played up to 12 concerts a year. Played there about 10 yrs. No more stage fright.

Moved to LA pine in 2020 and started with BPO and in 2021 started studying with Ryan Zwahlen. I thank this group for all the fun times since then…

I majored in Math and Music in high school and the first three years of college, both vocal and instrumental.  I played low brass and the oboe, a strange combination that suited me.  I was better at Math, but more dedicated to music.  I married after my junior year and dropped out of college, leaving my schooling behind as I saw no prospect of employment.  Eventually I went back to school and got a PhD in Accounting.  I taught for 35 years, mostly MBA and 5 year accounting students.

I quit teaching and started to think about music again.  My best instruments had been oboe and baritone horn.  I spent a month buying a few CDs and listening a lot to YouTube.  I found both oboe parts and oboe solos to be my preferred choice.  I forgot the difficulty of dealing with the instrument and with reeds, a gap of 45 years making the memory of difficulties vague.  Ah, well.  I was lucky to find two good teachers, Amy Kolb and Ryan Zwahlen, and have thoroughly enjoyed playing with Bend Pops since 2015.