The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra opened its season Friday with two new musicians. Violinist Sunmi Chang and cellist David Huckaby are the newest members of the SPCO. Chang fills one of the two violin positions that have been open since 2006. Huckaby takes the seat vacated by the retirement of Daryl Skobba in 2007.

Dale Barltrop was on stage for the season opener Friday and plans to continue with the SPCO this season, despite his appointment as the new concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Barltrop has been principal second violin of the SPCO since 2003. He is scheduled to assume his post in Vancouver this month. Barltrop was associate concertmaster at Akron before joining the SPCO. He toured Canada last May with the Vancouver Symphony.

Skip James, principal keyboardist since 1969, has announced his intention to retire at the end of the season. James became legendary when, unhappy with the instrument he was asked to play in his first season, he built three harpsichords that he used. He also is the only SPCO musician whose compositions were commissioned and performed by the group.

GRAYDON ROYCE