THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA WELCOMES FIVE NEW FULL-TIME MUSICIANS
Nicholas Gallitano, Joshua Kail and Sumin Kim join the viola section,
Abraham Feder and Mike Alexander join, respectively, the cello and horn sections
The Minnesota Orchestra introduces new full-time musicians to its ranks this fall. Sumin Kim will take up a position as assistant principal viola, while Nicholas Gallitano and Joshua Kail join as section violists. Abraham Feder is the Orchestra’s newest cellist, and Mike Alexander joins the horn section.
Each of the new players will perform in the Orchestra’s Season Opening concerts featuring Stravinsky’s The Firebird on September 25-26 at Orchestra Hall, led by Music Director Thomas Søndergård, with the exception of Nicholas Gallitano, who will begin his position in November.
Born in Seoul, Sumin Kim (assistant principal viola) began music studies on the violin. While pursuing her bachelor of music degree in violin performance, she developed a deep passion for the viola, expanding her artistic repertoire to encompass both instruments. Prior to joining the Minnesota Orchestra, Kim performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic as a substitute violist and with the Philadelphia Orchestra as a substitute in both the viola and violin sections. She also served as principal viola of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra, as well as section violinist, violist and acting principal violist with the Symphony in C. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the Curtis Institute of Music and her master’s degree at the Juilliard School.
Nicholas Gallitano (viola) found his love of orchestra in high school as a member of youth orchestra in the Greater Boston area. He joins the Minnesota Orchestra after two seasons as acting section viola in the Indianapolis Symphony. He has also performed extensively with the New York Philharmonic, including tours and residencies across the United States and Asia, and has performed as guest violist of the Juilliard String Quartet. He holds degrees from the Juilliard School and Oberlin College and Conservatory.
A native of New York City, Joshua Kail (viola) began playing violin at a young age before switching to viola at 15 under the instruction of Suzanne Wagor. He received his bachelor’s degree from the Juilliard School and went on to study at the Norwegian Academy of Music with Lars Anders Tomter, where he served as an orchestral fellow with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. Since 2023 he has performed as a member of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. He has also served as guest principal viola of the Tampere Philharmonic and the Turku Philharmonic and performed chamber music in festivals such as the Fjord Classics, Creative Dialogue France and Music Academy of the West.
Abraham Feder (cello) was appointed to his new role as a full-time member of the Minnesota Orchestra cello section in May 2026. Previously he served as assistant principal cello of the Detroit Symphony (2018-24), a member of the Dallas Symphony (2016-2018) and as assistant principal cello of the Santa Fe Opera in the summer of 2018. Beginning his career as principal cellist of the Sarasota Orchestra, Feder has been a featured soloist with the Detroit Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra and Duluth Superior Symphony, among others. He earned his master’s degree at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music and his bachelor of music at the Curtis Institute of Music.
Originally from Duluth, Mike Alexander (third horn) most recently served as third horn of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and, prior to that, principal horn of the Minnesota Opera Orchestra. For a decade, Alexander was an active member of the Twin Cities' freelance music community, performing for ballet, choral and operatic productions, as well as Broadway shows and a range of notable acts from The Who to Weird Al Yankovic. He also performed regularly with The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra. Alexander earned a bachelor’s degree and performer’s certificate from the Eastman School of Music in 2011 and a master’s degree from the New England Conservatory in 2014.
Minnesota Orchestra
The Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra is known for acclaimed performances in its home state and around the world; award-winning educational programs; and a commitment to building the orchestral repertoire of tomorrow, all based on the belief that music is for everyone. Each year, Minnesota Orchestra concerts and recordings are seen and heard by more than two million people via television, radio, digital streaming and on-demand platforms. The upcoming season marks Music Director Thomas Søndergård’s fourth with the Orchestra and features large-scale orchestral works from Corigliano’s First Symphony to Mahler’s Fifth; the return of the acclaimed Nordic Soundscapes festival; theatrical performances of Stravinsky’s Firebird and Puccini’s Tosca as part of the Sound Unbound series; and the biennial Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute, which gives voice to some of the nation’s top emerging composers.
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