The Scottsdale Philharmonic Symphony Staff
The staff of the Scottsdale Philharmonic volunteer their time to work collaboratively to manage the responsibilities and provide the services necessary for the seamless operation of a high quality orchestra comprised of volunteer, professionally trained musicians.
Joy Partridge, CPA
Executive Director and Trustee
As co-founder of the Scottsdale Philharmonic, Joy has realized her dream of creating a symphony orchestra in Scottsdale comprised of professional musicians who provide the highest quality of classical symphony music. Ms. Partridge’s expertise owning a Certified Public Accounting firm and serving over 25 years actively on Valley symphony boards provides her with a solid foundation for the establishment, organization and operation of the Scottsdale Philharmonic. Joy is the primary publicity contact, fundraiser, community liaison, and donor connection for the Philharmonic. She works with many civic organizations promoting the mission and vision of the orchestra. She oversees and coordinates the activities of key staff members to ensure all aspects of orchestra operations are well managed. For over 30 years Joy has performed as a violist in various Valley orchestras and continues her performing tradition with the Scottsdale Philharmonic.
Read a Message From the Executive Director
It is with great pride and pleasure that I welcome you to the Scottsdale Philharmonic and I am pleased to say that our orchestra has some of the finest musicians in the Valley. I want to give a special “thank you” to all of our orchestra members. They volunteer their time with the orchestra because of their dedication and love of classical music. They have committed their valuable time and talent so that we can enjoy this exceptional musical experience.
Our Executive Director, Carl Reiter, has worked untold hours planning and organizing our concert programs and deserves a great deal of praise for all that he has contributes.
Finally, I wish to thank all of you, our dedicated sponsors, friends and patrons, for being part of this amazing musical adventure. It is with great appreciation and gratitude that I wish to express to everyone, “Thank you for making all of this possible.” I look forward to the Scottsdale Philharmonic providing beautiful music for generations to come!
Joy Partridge
Carl R. Reiter
Music Director and Trustee
Carl Reiter is co-founder of the Scottsdale Philharmonic and brings his broad experience and expertise to the organization both as a musician and an entrepreneur. His doctoral studies were done at Northern Arizona University. As our Director of Music, Carl is responsible for all the behind-the-scenes musical preparations for the concert seasons. This includes musician auditions, establishing the program of music for each season, identifying and negotiating with concert soloists, obtaining music and managing all licensing commitments.
Carl also performs in the first violin section of our symphony. His experience as a violinist and violist began with his first professional engagement at the age of 11. While Carl is currently playing 1st violin with the Scottsdale Philharmonic, he has been a performing member of the Phoenix Symphony, Tempe Symphony, Phoenix String Quartet, Tucson Symphony, Flagstaff Symphony, Mesa Symphony, Scottsdale Symphony, and is the concert master for Phoenix First Assembly.
For four summers Carl worked with Hidden Valley Music Seminars in Carmel Valley under the Assistant Director of the New York Philharmonic. His business experience includes handling public relations and doing instrument repair at the Reiter String Shop, a family owned business for over 30 years in Phoenix. He has also served as the Executive Director for the Arizona School of Fine Arts and Science, and has taught music on the faculty of Grand Canyon University.
Read a Message From the Music Director
Welcome to the Scottsdale Philharmonic and thank you for joining us in support and enjoyment of classical music. I am excited and gratified to see the tremendous audience support this orchestra has received. This is a unique orchestra. We are a group of professional musicians who see no limit and are eager to present the finest quality concerts to the public. We also proudly showcase soloists and local concert artists who thrill our audiences and are both internationally and locally recognized.
Come join us for our concerts as we present the world’s greatest classical music that is both familiar and loved by everyone. Your attendance and support allows our symphony to continue providing wonderful concerts to everyone!
Carl Reiter
Vanja Gjumar Nikolovski
Principal Resident Conductor
Vanja Gjumar Nikolovski graduated with majors in conducting and composition from the Saints Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje Faculty of Music, Macedonia. He gained a specialization in opera and orchestral conducting at the Rimski-Korsakov State Conservatory in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1995-96. In 2018, he graduated in Doctor of Arts program, major in conducting at Arizona State University.
Maestro Nikolovski was principal conductor of the Macedonian Opera and Ballet, recent guest conductor with the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra; guest conductor of the Scottsdale Philharmonic; former conductor of the Macedonian Radio Choir; and also conducted in cities as diverse as St. Petersburg, Belgrade, Zadar, Split, Skopje, Ohrid, Porto, and in the USA – Washington DC, San Diego, Los Angeles and his hometown of Phoenix, AZ.
His compositions have won Macedonian national awards, with his symphonic “Kartchner Caverns Magic” winning first prize in the national contest in the Republic of Macedonia in 2014, also chamber “The Dance of the Gallstones” winning third prize, 2015 first prize for “Kliment” for choir and orchestra and his “Zigurati” which won the Panche Peshev Prize in 2000 for the most successful composition of the year.
His works have been performed in many European countries including Switzerland, Austria, Russia, Turkey, Poland, Great Britain, Italy, Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine, Germany, and the United States of America. They have been featured annually on Days of Macedonian Music, Skopje Summer Music Festival, Ohrid Summer Music Festival and Annual Meetings of the Yugoslavian Music Academies.
Vanja and his family currently live in Chandler, Arizona. This season is his fourth as conductor and music director of the Chandler Symphony Orchestra. Currently, he is also an Adjunct Faculty at Mesa Community College.
Vickie Thai
Concertmaster, Scottsdale Philharmonic
Vickie Thai holds degrees in church music from the Moody Bible Institute, violin performance from the American Conservatory of Music, and music education from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. For five seasons, as a member, principal second, and assistant concertmaster of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the training program of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Vickie had the honor of performing under the direction of Sir Georg Solti, Sir Neville Marriner, Leonard Slatkin, Claudio Abbado, Margaret Hillis and Gordon Peters. Here in the Valley, Vickie played with the Mesa Symphony for 20 years, serving as concertmaster for the 2004-2005 season. She was the assistant concertmaster of the Scottsdale Musical Arts Symphony and also played in the West Valley Symphony, the Phoenix Praise Orchestra, and the Palmcroft Church orchestra.
Since she was 18-years-old, Vickie has had the privilege of teaching music in public schools and home school groups. Currently, Vickie maintains a private studio at Harmony House Music Academy. For 8 years Vickie was a member of String Sounds, an organization providing inter-disciplinary arts programs in public schools. As a partner of the Allegro Quartet, Vickie helps brides plan the perfect music for their wedding, and leads the quartet performing for their special day. Currently serving as the orchestra’s Concertmaster, Vicki has performed with the Scottsdale Philharmonic since its inception.
Kat Bussey
Administrative Director
Kat grew up in New Mexico and attended Western Governor’s University focusing on a Bachelor’s in Accounting. She is currently pursuing her EA licensing. With over 20 years’ experience, she has an extensive background in administrative and office support, with an expertise in accounting and bookkeeping. She has been working with the Symphony for several years and is currently in charge of the administrative procedures and policies as Administrative Director. Kat is a self-proclaimed geek/nerd and is married with two sons and enjoys curling up with her family to watch, or read, anything sci-fi related.
Terese Pagliarini
Community Relations & Ticketing Director
After graduating from Westfield State College in New Jersey, Terese has worked as a published writer, in business management, and as a special education and elementary teacher. She is proud to have been honored with the Glendale “Everyday Hero” award! Terese is passionate about music and loves working for the Scottsdale Philharmonic for its vision, mission and community service.