Karen Moratz
Principal Flute
The Sidney and Kathy Taurel Chair
Karen Moratz was born in Pasadena, California, grew up in Ithaca, New York, and received her advanced education at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and the Musikhochschule Freiburg in Germany. Her major teachers have included Britton Johnson and Timothy Day in Baltimore and William Bennett of the United Kingdom. Before joining the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1989, she played in the Annapolis and Harrisburg orchestras as well as the New World Symphony in Florida.
Ms. Moratz has appeared as soloist with the ISO on many occasions in addition to concertos with several other area orchestras. She also serves the ISO as a Side by Side section coach and a member of several committees.
She is on the faculty of Butler University and is invited periodically to area colleges as a visiting professor, including Indiana University and the University of Illinois, to teach both modern and Baroque flute performance techniques. She also performs with the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra and has been featured on a recording of works by Judith Lang Zaimont. When not involved in music, she enjoys riding her motorcycle, rock climbing and knitting.
Robin Peller
Flute
Robin Peller became a member of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in June 1995 after 16 years as principal flute with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. Born in Chicago, she earned a B.M. degree at the University of Illinois and an M.M. at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, after which she performed in various New York City chamber music ensembles. Her major teachers have been Samuel Baron and former ISO flutist Thomas Nyfenger.
She has been heard as soloist with the ISO and has served as a section coach in the Side by Side program. In addition to her orchestral career, Ms. Peller has performed in the Fontana Concert Society programs in Kalamazoo, MI, and the Des Moines Metro Opera. Ms. Peller is married to a minister, and together they enjoy gardening, fishing and caring for the family dogs.
Rebecca Price Arrensen
Assistant Principal Flute
The Janet F. and Dr. Richard E. Barb Chair
Rebecca Price Arrensen, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, joined the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in February 1983 after performing as an extra musician with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and regularly at the Spoleto USA Festival. She studied at Indiana University and Northwestern University with major teachers including Walfrid Kujala, James Pellerite, Paula Robison and Warren Little.
In Indianapolis she has appeared frequently as an ISO soloist and with local chamber music ensembles. She is on the faculty of Butler University and has served in a similar capacity at DePauw and Indiana universities. Ms. Arrensen has also served as a section coach for the ISO’s Side by Side program. She and her husband, an attorney, are the parents of one son and one daughter. To relax, she spends as much time as possible quilting and knitting.
