⭐ People Who Make Our Concerts Possible

Dr. Sergio Espinosa, conductor and music director

Dr. Sergio Espinosa brings both artistry and leadership to the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving. A Mexican conductor and violinist, he serves as NPOI’s music director and as associate professor of string music education at The University of Texas at Arlington.

Today, he works closely with NPOI’s artistic committee to plan each season, commission new music, collaborate with arts organizations, and welcome guest soloists.

Stephen Pandolfo, associate conductor

Stephen Pandolfo serves as NPOI’s associate conductor and longtime timpanist. Born in California and raised in Dallas, he grew up in a home filled with music. His father was both an airline pilot and a jazz guitarist, while his mother shared a deep love for the arts.

Pandolfo began on clarinet but moved to percussion in high school. Influenced by his directors, he developed a passion for classical music, especially the works of Beethoven and Mahler. He later studied with Kalman Cherry and Douglas Howard of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and earned a music education degree from The University of North Texas.

For 22 years, he taught middle school band in Childress and Grand Prairie. Alongside his musical work, he also builds a career in information security, balancing two fields with equal dedication.

Jay Terpstra, board president

Jay Terpstra has led the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving as board president since 2024. He has also performed as a dedicated cellist with NPOI since 2017.

Jay brings a strong musical foundation to his leadership. He holds a bachelor’s degree in organ performance and a master’s degree in choral conducting. During the day, he serves as Director of Music at a Dallas church, where he inspires his community through sacred music and outreach.

Marvin Garduno, general manager

Marvin Garduno is an orchestra director in the Dallas–Fort Worth area and an accomplished bassist. He holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Music Education from Texas Tech University.

As NPOI’s general manager, Marvin oversees all email and marketing initiatives. His work includes program management, public announcements, and social media strategy. In addition, he coordinates the annual First Tickets performance, which introduces local 6th‑grade students to the orchestra. His leadership plays a key role in expanding NPOI’s outreach and community impact

Rebecca Cotton, librarian

Rebecca Cotton joined NPOI in 2007 as Principal Horn and became Librarian in 2025. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Arkansas, where she studied with Timothy Thompson.

Her performance career spans several regional orchestras. She currently serves as Third Horn with the Richardson Symphony Orchestra and has performed with the North Arkansas Symphony, the Fort Smith Symphony, and the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra. She also spent more than two decades as Principal Horn of the Northeast Orchestra in Hurst, Texas.

In addition to her musical work, Ms. Cotton holds 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.