The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) and its conductor Fabio Luisi have warmly welcomed five new musicians. Some of them have already begun their roles, while others will commence in September 2023.

Luisi expressed his excitement about the new additions, stating, "I am delighted to embrace these new musicians into the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and our musical community. I eagerly anticipate getting to know them and collaborating to develop our distinctive DSO musical identity."

The new members are as follows:

1. Daniel Hawkins has been designated as the principal horn. He previously served as the Utility Horn player with the San Francisco Symphony since 2017, where he ascended to the position of associate principal horn in 2019. He has garnered several accolades, including winning the top prize at the 2022 International Horn Competition of America and earning awards at the 2014 Music Teacher’s National Association Young Artist Competition and the Meadows School of the Arts Concerto Competition.
2. Sarah Sung will serve as the associate principal viola (third chair). An Australian-Korean violist, Sung clinched first place in Chicago’s 2023 Musicians Club of Women Competition. She has a rich history of performances with renowned artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Marcy Rosen, Roger Tapping, and Vivian Weilerstein. She has also been a guest violist with esteemed ensembles like the Jupiter Chamber Players, Minnesota Orchestra, and Delirium Chamber Orchestra, in addition to her role as principal viola of the Juilliard Orchestra. Recently graduating with a doctorate, she is also a co-founder of VISION Collective.
3. Robert O’Brien has taken up the position of assistant principal timpani/section percussion starting in January 2023. He previously served as the principal percussion of the Omaha Symphony for four seasons and had a stint as a member of the Houston Ballet Orchestra for one season. He was also a Global Academy Fellow with the New York Philharmonic and performed with various orchestras, including the Fort Worth Symphony, Oregon Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, and Hawaii Symphony. Additionally, he held fellowships at the National Repertory Orchestra and the Tanglewood Music Center.
4. Jimin Lim has joined the second violins this season. She was a member of the Nashville Symphony since 2017, where she held the position of acting associate principal second violin in the past season. Lim boasts a solo performance history with orchestras like the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra, Busan Symphony Orchestra, Moldova National Symphony Orchestra, and the Conductors Orchestra at Indiana University. Her achievements include winning top prizes at competitions such as the Kloster Schontal International Violin Competition, Hankook-Ilbo Competition, Korea Germany Brahms Competition, and the Korean Chamber Orchestra competition.
5. Caleb Quillen will become a part of the DSO bass section in the upcoming fall season. He previously served with the Kansas City Symphony for seven seasons and has also performed with renowned orchestras like the Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Houston Symphony, and the New York Philharmonic. He gained valuable experience as a Tanglewood Fellow in both 2015 and 2016.