A Note from the School of Music

Mitchell Atencio completed his Honors Bachelor of Music degrees in Flute Performance and Instrumental Music Education at the University of Utah in 2019. His primary flute teachers include Lisa Byrnes, Caitlyn Valovick-Moore, and Tiffany Sedgley. He works in the Utah Symphony Music Library during the USUO summer season, previously winning the audition for the library fellowship at the Sarasota Music Festival and working for Utah Festival Opera preparing their materials. He also completed a degree in mathematics through Utah State University during 2021. Mitchell currently plays with the Utah Wind Symphony. He also freelances and plays with orchestras in the Salt Lake City area. Presently, Mitchell teaches instrumental music and music theory at Corner Canyon High School in Draper, Utah, additionally conducting the pit orchestra for the school’s musical. He serves on the boards for the Canyons Education Association (UEA/NEA); on the Utah Flute Association, coordinating a nationwide competition for Adult Amateur flute players; and is a member of the Utah Music Educators Association (UMEA). He loves working as an educator, performer, librarian, and advocate.

Olivia Custodio has built her career in development in the arts sector, holding positions of leadership at Salt Lake Acting Company, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and currently serves as the Director of Major Gifts at the Sphinx Organization. She is deeply committed to social justice work within the arts and the advancement of equity, inclusion, diversity, and accessibility. Olivia holds a BFA in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University and a MM in Vocal Performance from the University of Utah. On top of her life as a development professional, Olivia is an opera singer, actor, and playwright. She has appeared in numerous productions in the Salt Lake Valley, and most recently was the playwright for Salt Lake Acting Company's 2023 Summer Show: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. www.oliviacustodio.com

Amanda Moreton Hales holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Bassoon Performance from the University of Utah. She is currently an active freelancer having worked with various orchestras including Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, Ballet West, Orchestra at Temple Square, Sinfonia Salt Lake, and Chicago Civic Orchestra among others. She enjoys teaching privately as well as on faculty at the Gifted Music School. She has participated in multiple music festivals including Aspen Music Festival, Le Domaine Forget, and Boston University Tanglewood Institute. Amanda holds a Master’s of Music and Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music as well as a Bachelor’s of Music from Brigham Young University in Bassoon Performance.

In addition to working in the U's Real Estate Administration office, Justin Morgan is the Grants Manager for Gifted Music School and the Principal Bassist for the Bozeman Symphony. After graduating from the University of Utah with a BM in Double Bass Performance, he furthered his graduate studies at Bard College and The Orchestra Now (TŌN). Prior to his current position at the U, Justin held the roles of Dean and Interim Executive Director at the Gifted Music School. In addition to his administrative experience, Justin also volunteers on the Board of Directors for the Chamber Music Society of Salt Lake City. A true artist-administrator, Justin balances a career as a performing musician in addition to his work in nonprofit leadership. His varied experiences span performing at world-renowned stages such as Carnegie Hall and Jazz at Lincoln Center; participating in tours across North America, Europe, and Asia; and collaborating with a diverse array of acclaimed artists, composers, and conductors like Tan Dun, Joan Tower, Valery Gergiev, Hans Graf, and many more. Beyond his engagements with the Bozeman Symphony, he freelances with Ballet West Orchestra, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, Utah Chamber Artists, among other prestigious Utah-based ensembles.

Librarian Claudia Restrepo joined the Utah Symphony in 2021. She came to Salt Lake City after working two seasons at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Library. Prior to joining the DSO, she was the Library Fellow for the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, where she was mentored by the librarians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Claudia has served as the Head Librarian for the Aspen Music Festival. She also worked for the National Symphony Orchestra assisting with music preparation for performances at Wolf Trap and the nationally televised concert “A Capitol Fourth.” In 2017 Claudia was a Library Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center where she worked with the Boston Symphony Orchestra librarians. Claudia holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Utah.