Dallas Symphony Orchestra musicians call East Dallas home

By Abby Boroski

In the tranquil neighborhood of Lake Highlands, amid the winding streets and serene surroundings, reside not just ordinary neighbors, but extraordinary talents who grace the stage of the renowned Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO). It’s a testament to the vibrant cultural tapestry of the community that such exceptional musicians call Lake Highlands home. With their presence, neighbors are reminded of the richness and diversity of artistic talent flourishing right in their own backyard. 

Meet Stuart Stephenson, Mary Reynolds and Ted Soluri, DSO musicians who call Lake Highlands home and bring extraordinary talent to the buzzing Dallas arts and culture scene. 

Stuart Stephenson (pictured below with his trumpet), the DSO’s principal trumpet since the 2022/23 season, previously held the same position at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. 

He has played with esteemed orchestras from coast to coast but now that he’s in Dallas, you can find him strolling around White Rock Lake with his wife and dog or enjoying a gin and tonic at a local restaurant. When Scott isn’t on stage playing one of the world’s oldest instruments, he is dreaming up craft cocktails, baking and cooking at home in Merriman Park.

What does Stuart want you to know about the Dallas Symphony Orchestra? “We can and do play everything, take a chance on a concert that you don’t think you’ll enjoy and be surprised!”

Mary Reynolds, seasoned violinist and Lake Highlands resident (pictured below), would have been a teacher had she not pursued classical music for her career. A SUNY Binghamton graduate, she served as first violinist of the Griffes Quartet while in residence at Elmira College, N.Y. 

She excelled as principal second violinist with the Houston Grand Opera and contributed to the San Antonio Symphony. When she isn’t reading and spending time with family in her Lake Highlands home, Mary frequently performs at Music in the Mountains in Colorado, or enjoys dinner at Jeng Chi. 

With a passion for mountain hiking, classic films, literature, travel and, of course, being a mother to her three grown daughters, Mary says, “As musicians, we lead normal lives, just not normal work schedules!”

Ted Soluri (pictured above with his bassoon) has called Dallas home since he joined the Dallas Symphony Orchestra as principal bassoon in 2015. Before moving to Lake Highlands near White Rock Coffee, his favorite coffee shop in town, Ted served as principal bassoon of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for 11 years and for the Santa Fe Opera for nine years. As a Florida native, he spent much of his formative years around the ocean, developing an interest in marine biology. An educator, he shares expertise at prestigious institutions, drawing inspiration from soprano Maria Callas. 

When Ted is not studying operas or performing in festivals around the globe, you can find him enjoying a glass of red wine, preferably a Shiraz, on a local patio or near White Rock Lake.