Del Lago Trio Named for Mission Viejo Street

Mission Viejo resident Susan Sellers founded the Del Lago Trio in 2003.  

Susan, along with master musicians Rena Urso-Trapani (originally from Detroit) and Peggy Baldwin (formerly of Washington State) have a deep love for the sound of unamplified, acoustic instruments. Each woman boasts a strong classical background.

Their trio is made up of two woodwind instruments (flute and clarinet), as well as cello. Together they closely resemble a mini chamber orchestra. Their sound is warm, rich, soothing and popular. Individually these ladies  have worked with a host of icons including Stevie Wonder, Henry Mancini, Yanni, Dionne Warwick, Ellen Degeneres and Jay Leno’s  ‘Tonight Show.'

PATCH:  What made you choose that name for your trio?  

SUSAN SELLERS:  “The year I put the group together was the first year my family had moved back to California. We were renting a house off of La Barca and Marguerite. Someone told me to name the group by looking around at our street names since they were so interesting. So, Del Lago Trio sounded good; better than La Barca Trio.

“I was the one that had the idea to form a group.  Originally the trio was all woodwinds, with bassoon instead of cello.  I switched to cello about six years ago because it worked better to have a string instrument as part of the group. Also, it was very hard explaining what a bassoon was to clients.”

Formerly an instrumental music teacher at Tustin's Curie Middle School and in Arizona as part of the Phoenix Paradise Valley School District, Sellers plays several instruments including clarinet, cello, bassoon, piano, and various saxophones.  

She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Instrumental Music Education from the University of Maryland in College Park and proudly boasts playing alto saxophone as part of the All-American College Band during the 1984 Olympics. As an educator, Sellers has acted as band and string director for both elementary and junior high schools.

In 2010, The Del Lago Trio won first place for Best Music in the "Best of the OC Hotlist" Contest. They also received the Wedding Wire Bride’s Choice Award in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

The trio embraces not only classical favorites, but they explore pop music, classic R&B like the Etta James hit, “At Last”-- and even Ragtime. Their repertoire includes music from Bach to The Beatles. In fact, if it’s not in their repertoire, they will have it specially arranged for your event. They have become particularly popular playing weddings.

The Del Lago Trio enjoys giving back to their community. During just such an occasion they performed both the prelude and the ceremony for a KOST radio station event called, “Love Songs Wedding.” This unique celebration benefited a couple that had overcome several difficult life challenges. The radio station sponsored both the couple's wedding and their honeymoon.

Another time in Los Angeles, the trio was called upon to perform at the “Blissful Wishes Ball” that benefited “Wish Upon a Wedding.” This event provides weddings and vow renewals for couples facing serious life-altering circumstances and is funded by a number of wedding community vendors. (See them perform on YouTube).

In her spare time, Susan Sellers has one more community project that she is passionate about. For the past couple of years, this educator/musician and married mother of two has been trying to get a dog park established in Mission Viejo. In March of this year several people and their dogs joined Mayor Dave Leckness . The only thing missing was the soothing strains of The Del Lago Trio serenading the supporters and their canine friends.