San Francisco Symphony Celebrates Three Longtime Orchestra Musicians Retiring in 2026

SAN FRANCISCO, CA—The San Francisco Symphony congratulates three musicians retiring in 2026, including Associate Principal Viola Yun Jie Liu, Associate Principal Bassoon Stephen Paulson, and horn player Jonathan Ring. These musicians have performed with the San Francisco Symphony for a combined 117 years.

Associate Principal Viola Yun Jie Liu (33 years of service) was born in Shanghai and began his violin studies with his father. He entered the middle school of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and was named assistant professor of viola upon graduation. In 1990, he was invited by Mstislav Rostropovich to join the National Symphony in Washington, DC. Liu regularly gives chamber music concerts and solo recitals in venues in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Washington DC, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Liu joined the San Francisco Symphony in 1993. He currently serves on the faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory. He retires in July 2026. 

Associate Principal Bassoon Stephen Paulson (49 years of service) joined the San Francisco Symphony as Principal Bassoon in 1977 and stepped into the Associate Principal position in 2024. Also a conductor, he has served as music director of Symphony Parnassus since 1998. He is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, where he studied bassoon with K. David Van Hoesen and Mordechai Rechtman, and composition with Samuel Alder. He has served as principal bassoon with the Rochester Philharmonic and co-principal bassoon of the Pittsburgh Symphony. Paulson has given masterclasses at colleges worldwide, including the Juilliard School, the Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, and the Shanghai Conservatory. He is a longtime professor of bassoon at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. His last performance will take place on August 1.

Horn player Jonathan Ring (35 years of service) joined the San Francisco Symphony horn section in 1991 after previously holding positions in the Columbus Symphony and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. He is an active chamber musician and has appeared on numerous recordings and television, video game, and motion picture soundtracks. Ring served on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and he frequently gives masterclasses and presentations on the history of the horn using instruments from his collection. He is also an accomplished keyboard player, composer, and arranger, with an avid interest in pop, rock, new age, and jazz. He served as producer of two recordings by Bay Brass, including Sound the Bells!, which was nominated for a Grammy Award. Ring retires following the conclusion of the 2025–26 Orchestral Series season on June 27.

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