Ann Yanagi, Founder and Librarian
Ann is the founder of the Health and Wellness Orchestra and has been playing, managing the orchestra and serving as the librarian since the first rehearsal in 2008. She also plays with other chamber groups in the Northern Colorado area.
Vicki Cotton, Personnel Manager
Vicki earned a Bachelors in Music, Cello Performance from Colorado State University. She has served as the principal cellist with the Health and Wellness Orchestra since 2008. In addition served as principal cellist of the CSU Chamber and Symphony Orchestras and principal of the Loveland Holiday Orchestra. She has played as a section cellist with the Fort Collins Symphony, Wyoming Symphony, Greeley Philharmonic, Cheyenne Orchestra and Longmont Orchestra as well as in numerous local chamber groups along the front range.
Ann is the founder of the Health and Wellness Orchestra and has been playing, managing the orchestra and serving as the librarian since the first rehearsal in 2008. She also plays with other chamber groups in the Northern Colorado area.
Vicki Cotton, Personnel Manager
Vicki earned a Bachelors in Music, Cello Performance from Colorado State University. She has served as the principal cellist with the Health and Wellness Orchestra since 2008. In addition served as principal cellist of the CSU Chamber and Symphony Orchestras and principal of the Loveland Holiday Orchestra. She has played as a section cellist with the Fort Collins Symphony, Wyoming Symphony, Greeley Philharmonic, Cheyenne Orchestra and Longmont Orchestra as well as in numerous local chamber groups along the front range.
Jean Denney, Concertmaster
Jean Denney serves as Personnel Manager for the Fort Collins Symphony where she has played violin over 30 years, and enjoys the diverse aspects of being an orchestral musician, freelance violinist, studio teacher, instrumental contractor, and newly published method book author.
She has been fortunate to play on stages and in orchestra pits with orchestras, ballets, operas, dinner theaters, and choruses in Texas, Indiana, New Mexico, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Colorado.
Although she has pioneered, directed, and taught music curricula for public school districts in Colorado, Texas, and Indiana, was a charter member of the Indianapolis Symphony's Educator's Advisory Committee, Executive Director of the String Quartet Program of Northern Colorado, and Administrator of Rocky Ridge Music Center, her true passion in education lies with adults. Recognizing a severe need for materials appropriate to adult students of violin, she authored the book Mastering the Violin: A Comprehensive Study for the Adult Learner, published by Mel Bay in 2022. It presents an innovative and bold approach which differs from traditional methods in an effort to meet the physical and mental needs of adult beginners.
Jean Denney studied with Will Schwartz while earning her Bachelor of Music Education and
Master of Music Performance at Colorado State University. She and her husband, choral
conductor Alan Denney, live in Estes Park where they raised their three daughters.
Sarah Hickman, Graphic Artist
Sarah is a graphic designer serving entrepreneurs and businesses at the local level and beyond. She has been providing posters and programs for the orchestra for many years. You can view her work at her website.
Rebecca Hunget, Grant Writer
Annie Smith, LEAP intern
Annie Smith is a Masters student, studying under Dr. Ronald Francois at Colorado State
University. She is working towards a degree in Violin Performance and Arts Leadership and
Cultural Management. Arts Leadership and Cultural Management is a relatively new degree that
is committed to helping students thrive in the global field of Arts Management and stay on the
cutting edge of the study of creative industries, cultural policy, arts advocacy, and arts
management. She received a Bachelor's degree in Violin Performance from Brigham Young
University Idaho in 2021. Upon starting her Masters program, she has had the opportunity to
manage the orchestral ensembles on campus at CSU. This included being the music librarian for
the University Symphony, Concert Orchestra and Sinfonia. Over the summer she was hired by
the Santa Fe Opera as the community engagement associate and volunteer liaison. Whether it be
through arts administration or performing, music has brought a lot of joy into her life, and she
wants to share that with others.
Jean Denney serves as Personnel Manager for the Fort Collins Symphony where she has played violin over 30 years, and enjoys the diverse aspects of being an orchestral musician, freelance violinist, studio teacher, instrumental contractor, and newly published method book author.
She has been fortunate to play on stages and in orchestra pits with orchestras, ballets, operas, dinner theaters, and choruses in Texas, Indiana, New Mexico, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Colorado.
Although she has pioneered, directed, and taught music curricula for public school districts in Colorado, Texas, and Indiana, was a charter member of the Indianapolis Symphony's Educator's Advisory Committee, Executive Director of the String Quartet Program of Northern Colorado, and Administrator of Rocky Ridge Music Center, her true passion in education lies with adults. Recognizing a severe need for materials appropriate to adult students of violin, she authored the book Mastering the Violin: A Comprehensive Study for the Adult Learner, published by Mel Bay in 2022. It presents an innovative and bold approach which differs from traditional methods in an effort to meet the physical and mental needs of adult beginners.
Jean Denney studied with Will Schwartz while earning her Bachelor of Music Education and
Master of Music Performance at Colorado State University. She and her husband, choral
conductor Alan Denney, live in Estes Park where they raised their three daughters.
Sarah Hickman, Graphic Artist
Sarah is a graphic designer serving entrepreneurs and businesses at the local level and beyond. She has been providing posters and programs for the orchestra for many years. You can view her work at her website.
Rebecca Hunget, Grant Writer
Annie Smith, LEAP intern
Annie Smith is a Masters student, studying under Dr. Ronald Francois at Colorado State
University. She is working towards a degree in Violin Performance and Arts Leadership and
Cultural Management. Arts Leadership and Cultural Management is a relatively new degree that
is committed to helping students thrive in the global field of Arts Management and stay on the
cutting edge of the study of creative industries, cultural policy, arts advocacy, and arts
management. She received a Bachelor's degree in Violin Performance from Brigham Young
University Idaho in 2021. Upon starting her Masters program, she has had the opportunity to
manage the orchestral ensembles on campus at CSU. This included being the music librarian for
the University Symphony, Concert Orchestra and Sinfonia. Over the summer she was hired by
the Santa Fe Opera as the community engagement associate and volunteer liaison. Whether it be
through arts administration or performing, music has brought a lot of joy into her life, and she
wants to share that with others.
