Those who make it possible…

People who make our concerts possible

Dr. Sergio Espinosa, conductor and music director

Mexican conductor and violinist, Dr. Sergio Espinosa is music director of the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving and associate professor of string music education at The University of Texas at Arlington.  He also maintains an active schedule as a clinician throughout Texas and internationally and is senior examiner for the International Baccalaureate Organization in Wales, UK.  He has served as music director of the UTA Symphony as well as a permanent or guest conductor in the United States, Switzerland, France, Italy and Mexico. Dr. Espinosa studied at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico; the Conservatoire de Neuchatel, Switzerland; Ithaca College, New York; and received his DMA in orchestral conducting from the University of Iowa.  As a performing violinist, Dr. Espinosa has been a member of the String Quartet Boccherini in Spain and has played in many orchestras in Mexico, the United States and Europe.  As music director, he works with the orchestra’s artistic committee to plan each season’s concerts, commission new music, collaborate with other arts groups and extend invitations to guest soloists.

Stephen Pandolfo, associate conductor

NPOI’s associate conductor also serves as our timpanist, a post he has held for several years.  Born in California, he grew up in Dallas.  The son of an airline pilot/jazz guitar-playing father and a mother who loved music, Pandolfo began playing clarinet in elementary school but switched to percussion in high school.  Influenced by his high school directors, he developed a love for classical music, particularly the works of Beethoven and Mahler. A student of Kalman Cherry and Douglas Howard of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Pandolfo holds a music education degree from The University of North Texas.  He taught middle school band in Childress and Grand Prairie for 22 years. In addition to his musical career, he also works in information security.

Jay Terpstra, board president

Jay Terpstra has served as President of the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving (NPOI) since 2024, where he’s been a dedicated cellist since 2017. With a bachelor’s degree in organ performance and a master’s in choral conducting, Jay brings a rich musical background to both his leadership and artistry. By day, he serves as Director of Music at a local church in Dallas, where he continues to inspire through sacred music and community engagement.

Marvin Garduno, general manager

Marvin Garduno serves as an orchestra director in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and is an accomplished bassist. He holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Music Education from Texas Tech University. In his role as general manager of the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving, Mr. Garduno is responsible for overseeing all email and marketing initiatives, including program management, public announcements, and social media strategy. Additionally, Marvin coordinates the annual “First Tickets” performance, a signature event aimed at introducing local 6th-grade students to the orchestra program. His leadership lays a pivotal role in promoting and expanding the organization’s outreach.

Rebecca Cotton, librarian and principal horn

Rebecca Cotton joined the NPOI in 2007 as Principal Horn and was appointed Librarian in 2025. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Arkansas, where she studied with Timothy Thompson, and currently serves as Third Horn with the Richardson Symphony Orchestra. Her performance experience includes positions with the North Arkansas Symphony, the Fort Smith (AR) Symphony, and the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra, as well as a long tenure as Principal Horn of the Northeast Orchestra (Hurst, TX) from 1999 to 2023.

In addition to her musical career, Ms. Cotton earned a Master of Library Science degree from the University of North Texas. She has served as Music Librarian for the University of Arkansas orchestras, the North Arkansas Symphony, and the Northeast Orchestra.