September 24, 2025
The Bellingham Symphony Orchestra is proud to welcome two new members this season: Andrew Wheeler, who plays trombone, and David Bissell, who plays clarinet.
Read on to learn a bit about each of them.
Andrew Wheeler
Andy has played trombone since elementary school. He moved to Bellingham from Morocco in 1991 where he was teaching. He retired two years ago from a career in the public schools, finishing as special services director for La Conner.
Over the years, Andy has played with many groups around town, including the Swing Connection, Glacier Bay Brass, Pacific Northwest Opera, and substitute opportunities with the BSO and other groups. Most Sundays, he hosts an all-trombones group, Spinnaker Trombones, at his house. He’s expecting his first grandchild in September.
David Bissell
David Bissell is a Panamanian-American clarinetist and woodwind specialist whose interests span the avant-garde, orchestral, chamber, pop, theater, and jazz styles. A native of Kirkland, Washington, he’s been playing and teaching in the Pacific Northwest for nearly 10 years, settling in Bellingham. He is currently completing his K-12 teaching certificate to fulfill his lifelong dream of teaching band and orchestra.
David has appeared with the Bellevue City Opera and Ballet, Seattle Symphony’s Tiny Tots Concert Series, Philharmonia Northwest, Theater Arts Guild, the Northwest Mahler Festival, and as soloist with the Western Washington University Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his orchestral engagements, he’s an avid chamber musician, has performed alongside local and international artists in the premieres of new works in collaboration with Seattle Art Museum, New Works for Percussion, Ballet Bellevue, and more. His first mentors among others include Jennifer Nelson, principal clarinet with the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra, and Jeff Kashiwa, of The Rippingtons and founder of The Sax Pack.
Beyond music, David enjoys a variety of interests. In his free time, you can find him honing his baking skills, collecting Pokémon, and indulging in Star Trek marathons.
