2015-2017 Quintet
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Fred Fox Graduate Wind Quintet

2021-2023 Performers

The Fred Fox Graduate Wind Quintet of 2023-2025 is comprised of musicians from California, Colorado, Georgia, Nevada, and Texas. All five members share a passion for chamber music and strive to cultivate their own unique chamber sound. Along with competing in national chamber group competitions, the group engages in community outreach throughout Arizona. In their spare time, the group enjoys hiking and exploring the beautiful Sonoran Desert that surrounds the University of Arizona. Their close friendships mirror their collaboration as musicians.


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Clarissa Tracy, BM, MM


Clarissa Tracy recently graduated with her Masters degree in Music Performance and a FilmCertificate at Arizona State University studying flute under Dr. Elizabeth Buck and is currentlypursuing a Doctorate degree at The University of Arizona studying under Dr. Brian Luce. Clarissaalso graduated with a Bachelor in Music Performance at Brigham Young University- Idahostudying under Dr. Nadine Watson Luke in which she has enjoyed many musical opportunities.Continuing her professional development, in 2023, Clarissa has been an adjudicator for theAMEA Regional Honor band and was also involved in Arizona’s featured flute choir DEF Projectperforming at Arizona Flute fest and gave a performance at NFA’s 2023 flute convention inPhoenix. In recent years, Clarissa has subbed for the Idaho Falls Symphony and enjoysorchestral repertoire as well as other contemporary genres such as flute beatboxing. Clarissa isconsidered an interdisciplinary artist as she combines film with electronic composition, flute,beatboxing and other forms to create new art. She was awarded in the Flutacious DigitalContent Contest for her arrangement of Karg Elert’s 6th etude for flute beatboxing entitled“DAUNTLESS” which highlighted both her compositional and videography skills. Orchestrally,she was also chosen as the Concerto competition winner for the BYU-I Department of Musicperforming with the BYU-I Symphony Orchestra. As the winner of the 2018 MusicfestNorthwest Young Artist competition, she has soloed with the Spokane Symphony. Clarissa hasalso participated in many organizations and masterclasses nationwide as first chair in theHonors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall in New York City in the Young Adult Honors WindEnsemble, a performer at The Consummate Flutist with guest artist Marianne Gedigian inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a performer at Jim Walker’s Beyond the Masterclass in LosAngeles with guest artist Denis Bouriakov. Clarissa has also enjoyed study abroad opportunitiesduring her undergraduate degree as she traveled to Germany, Italy, Austria, and Francestudying music history. She had the privilege of attending high school in the Atlanta, Georgiaarea studying under Candace Keach from the Macon Symphony and finished her high schoolcareer in Spokane, Washington studying under Alaina Bercilla from the Spokane Symphony.During Clarissa’s senior year of high school, she had the opportunity to travel with the PacificHonors Ensemble Program to the Queensland Conservatory in Australia. Clarissa looks forwardto helping others through the art of flute playing. When not practicing her instrument, sheenjoys hobbies such as singing, yoga, skiing, and ballroom dancing.


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Eric Heatherley, BME


Eric Heatherley is a Masters in Oboe Performance student at The University ofArizona. Eric is a Texas native and has a Bachelors in Music Education from TexasA&M University- Corpus Christi. Eric has a passion in the arts and teaching music. Hewants to continue to expand his musical knowledge and performance ability in thefuture.



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Cameron Galvin


Cameron Galvin is a clarinetist from Grand Junction, Colorado. He is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from The University of Arizona School of Music. He got his Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance from Colorado Mesa University. Cameron is currently the clarinetist for the Fred Fox Graduate Wind Quintet and the principal clarinet of  the Arizona Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed as the second clarinet for the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, the bass clarinet for the University of Arizona Wind Ensemble and many other ensembles.

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Jason Frogget, BM


Jason Frogget grew up in the Northern Nevada area. He has played horn on in the Reno area for over a decade, performing regularly with the Reno Pops Orchestra and Toccata Tahoe Symphony and Chorus as well as making appearances with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, Reno Municipal Band, Reno Wind Symphony, Carson City Symphony, and Carson Valley Pops Orchestra. Jason has also performed for Good Luck Macbeth’s performance of Young Frankenstein as well as Pinkerton Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker Ballet. Jason recently received his Bachelor in Music Education from the University of Nevada, Reno under the guidance of Dr. Natalie Higgins and is currently pursuing his Masters in Horn Performance with Johanna Lundy. When Jason is not busy performing, he can be seen backstage as a sound technician and stagehand or spending time with his wife, Melina.


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Christopher Werner, BA, MM


Christopher Werner (he/they), is a DMA Bassoon Performance student at the University ofArizona, Tucson. A native of the East Bay Area in California, they have performed as a freelanceartist in wind ensembles, orchestras, and chamber groups all over California, Colorado, Oregon,Idaho, Washington, Missouri, Kansas, and now Arizona. Chris has a BA in Music Education fromCal Poly Humboldt University and a Master of Music in Bassoon Performance from theUniversity of Idaho, Moscow. They have a passion for music education and champion equity,diversity, and access in music spaces and classrooms. In the future, Chris wants to continuetheir pedagogy practice as well as perform, championing and recording new works featuringthe bassoon by queer artists.

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2019-2021 Performers

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Flutist Anna Murphy is from Belgium and holds a bachelor's degree from the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, UK. She is now engaged in doctoral studies at UA and performs in southern Arizona.


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Oboist, Sydney Streightiff is from San Diego, California and holds a BM- Oboe performance from the University of California, Irvine.


Clarinetist Jessica Garner


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Horn player Brianna Reed is from Hudson Valley, New York and received a Bachelor of Music from the Converse College, Spartanburg, South Carolina.


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Bassoonist Carlos Garcia Beltran is from Guaymas, México and was awarded the Mexico Young Conductor for 2011 - 2014.


2017-2019 Quintet


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Flutist Ivo Dae-Seong Shin de Souza began his studies with his Aunt Regina Lima at 13. Soon after, he entered the pre-college program at Rio Grande do Norte Federal University (UFRN) to study with Rodrigo Gouveia. He then began his undergraduate studies with Alexandre Johnson at UFRN where he performed extensively in the university’s Orchestra. Throughout his studies, he performed in master classes with Philippe Bernold, Sergio Barrenechea, Julie Koidin, José Ananias, and Jorge Salgado Correia.

Ivo has performed in the Orfeo concert series at UFRN and was invited to play with and mentor flutists in the university's orchestra since he finished his studies. In addition to his performing schedule, Ivo also teaches numerous students. After finishing his undergraduate studies, Ivo was a substitute flute teacher at the UFRN and taught for the government project,
PRONATEC.


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Mexican oboist, Monserrat García Campos, was Principal Oboe of the Michoacán Symphony Orchestra(OSIDEM), professor of the Conservatorio de las Rosas (CR), and teacher of oboe and solfége at Orquesta Comunitaria Sistema Michoacano de Fomento Musical. She has also performed in the Nuevo Leon Symphony Orchestra, the Zacatecas Philharmonic, the Chamber Orchestra of Michoacán, and the National Symphony in Mexico City.

She began her musical studies at 14 in Zacatecas, and later joined the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), in Mexico City where she studied with Roberto Kolb. In 2009, she joined the Youth Orchestra Carlos Chavez performing under the batons of renowned conductors from the United States and Latin America. In 2013, she was selected for the National University's exchange program with the 
Landen Konservatorium and traveled to Klagenfurt, Austria to finish her music studies.

She performed in master classes given by oboists Hansjörg Schelenberger, Thomas Indermülle, and Michael Turnovsky. As a chamber musician, she has performed in a variety of ensembles for concerts in Michoacán, Guanajuato, and Mexico City with fellow musicians from both the OSIDEM and CR in the last year.


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Chinese clarinetist Baiyu Li, studied at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music Affiliate Middle School and the Sichuan Conservatory of Music. During his studies, he was awarded prizes in the first Hong Kong International Clarinet Competition and the Uebel Clarinet Competition. He was invited to perform in a quartet at Sangmyung University (Korea), and has performed with the Xichang Philharmonic Orchestra, and Sichuan Conservatory of Music Teachers' Philharmonic Orchestra.

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Horn player Anne Cotin graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in horn as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. While at UCSB, she performed in the University Chamber Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Maurice Falkner Brass Quintet, and Suzanne Falkner Horn ensemble. Anne has assisted the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony horn section since 2013. She also competed in the 2013 International Horn Competition of America held in Louisville, KY. Anne attended the Summer Brass Institute at Menlo in 2015, where she took lessons and performed in masterclasses with members of the San Francisco Symphony. She has studied with Steven Gross and has performed in master classes with Lazlo Seeman, Erika Wilsen, Bob Ward, and Sara Bach. Before coming to Arizona to pursue graduate studies in horn, she taught young horn students in her home town of Murrieta, CA.

FFGWQSpring2018ByMindiAcosta-Frenandez
Jacob Fernandez received degrees in music education aJnd performance from Lawrence University in the Spring of 2017. While at Lawrence he studied classical and contemporary music with professor Carl Rath. He has recently performed during the 2016 season of the College Light Opera Company in Falmouth, Massachusetts and played on the world premiere of Ataraxis 2.3, for bassoon and electronics by Isaac Mayhew at the 2017 International Double Reed Society Convention.


2015-2017 Quintet


MirandaDeBretto

Raised in Negaunee, Michigan, Miranda DeBretto began playing the flute at the age of eleven. Miranda graduated summa cum laude from Illinois State University where she studied with Kimberly Risinger. Her degrees were in Music Education and Flute Performance. Currently the principal flutist of the University of Arizona Wind Ensemble, Miranda also served as principal flutist in multiple ensembles throughout her tenure at Illinois State University. One of the recordings she played on with the Illinois State Wind Symphony won the 2015 American Prize in Wind Ensemble Performance. Miranda is pursuing a Master of Music degree at the University of Arizona, where she studies with Brian Luce. Awarded the flutist position in the Fred Fox Graduate Wind Quintet, the University of Arizona’s premier student chamber ensemble, she is also the graduate teaching assistant for the flute studio and teaches privately.





SheaAmy

Amy Shea is a first-year Masters’ student at the University of Arizona. She received her Bachelors’ degree in oboe performance from the University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois, her hometown. Amy has been recognized as a strong solo performer throughout her career. She won the Woodwind Division of the University of Illinois’ Concerto Competition performing the Strauss oboe concerto, and performed the Marcello oboe concerto with the Eastern Illinois Youth Orchestra. During her undergraduate years, Amy was the second oboist for the Sinfonia da Camera Orchestra, and substitute second oboist for the Peoria Symphony Orchestra. Amy performed the Martinu oboe concerto among others at the Music Teacher’s National Association State Competition in Phoenix in November and received third place and honorable mention. She is preparing for several orchestral auditions this semester and is enjoying her time playing with the Fred Fox Graduate Wind Quintet this year.




chasemillerChase Miller earned his Bachelor’s in Clarinet Performance at the University of Kentucky under the instruction of Scott Wright. He's been awarded the school of music's McCracken award for exceptional achievement in music performance and was the winner of the school of music concerto competition. While attending the University of Kentucky, Miller served as principle Clarinetist and E-flat clarinetist in numerous ensembles such as the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Opera Orchestra, and The Kentucky Intercollegiate Band. He has been a dedicated chamber musician and a private clarinet instructor since high school. With a strong passion for music outreach and teaching, he organized and maintained a private clarinet studio of twenty-eight students during his time in Kentucky. Miller has participated in summer chamber music festivals such as Fresh Inc. and BayView. In addition, he has had the privilege of being a participant of the 2014 National Woodwind competition of Arts and Letters. He's performed for renowned clarinetist such as Alan Kay, Jeremy Reynolds, Cecilia Kang, Robert Turizziani, and Alexander Fiterstein. Miller is now pursuing his Master’s in Clarinet Performance at the Fred Fox School of Music at the University of Arizona and is a current member of the Fred Fox Graduate Wind Quintet, as well as the University of Arizona Wind Symphony.

jasonpfiesterJason Pfiester is currently pursuing his Master’s of Music degree in Horn Performance under the instruction of Daniel Katzen at the University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music. Raised in Indiana, he graduated from the University of New Hampshire cum laude with degrees in Music Performance and Philosophy. While at UNH, Pfiester studied under Kendall Betts, former principal hornist of the Minnesota Orchestra. He has performed with the Reading Symphony Orchestra, Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra, the Indianapolis Brass Choir, and the Indiana Wind Symphony. He has many years of chamber music training, including 6 years at the Chamber Music Institute at the University of Indianapolis, 4 years in an undergraduate woodwind quintet, and numerous small ensemble configurations. Other notable teachers he studied under include Kent Leslie, Darin Sorley, and Jerry Montgomery. Pfiester is a current member of the Fred Fox Graduate Wind Quintet as well as the University of Arizona Symphony Orchestra.


HillPhilipPhilip Hill is in his first year of study for a master’s degree in Music Performance at the University of Arizona. He earned a bachelor of music in Music Education at East Carolina University and studied bassoon with Chris Ulffers. During his time at ECU he served as principal bassoon of the ECU Symphony Orchestra. He also performed at times as principal bassoon of the ECU Wind Ensemble and ECU Opera, the latter known for performing a wide variety of works – from Mozart to 21st century premieres. As part of the North Carolina New Music Initiative, formerly known as New Music @ ECU, Hill participated in many premieres, recordings, and new music projects. Most notable is his performance in the world premiere and recording of Travis Alford’s Loose Strands for chamber wind ensemble. In addition to teaching beginning bassoon in his hometown of Chesapeake, Virginia, and touring with the ECU Symphony Orchestra, he has also made an appearance with select members of the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra. Currently, Hill also plays with the Arizona Symphony Orchestra and the Saguaro Bassoon Quartet. He aspires to earn a position in a professional orchestra after finishing his degree at the Fred Fox School of Music. members of the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra for a winter holiday concert. Hill is currently a member of the Fred Fox Graduate Wind Quintet, as well as a member of the Arizona Symphony Orchestra and the Saguaro Bassoon Quartet. After finishing his Master’s in Music at the Fred Fox School of Music at the University of Arizona, he aspires to earn a position in a professional orchestra.


2013-2015 Quintet

katenichols
Central Floridian Elsa Kate Nichols is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Arizona, under the direction of Brian Luce. Now a graduate assistant for the Fred Fox School of Music, she previously served as a graduate teaching assistant and member of the Fred Fox Graduate Wind Quintet, the university’s premier student chamber ensemble. During their time together, the quintet competed as national finalists for the Music Teachers National Association Chamber Music Competition, and they took a 3-week, 12-concert tour of China in December 2014. Kate has been recognized as an award-winning flutist by organizations such as the Texas Flute Society, where she was a semi-finalist in the Myrna Brown Flute Competition, and the Florida Flute Association, where she placed third in the college young artist competition and had been named finalist in previous years. She has also participated in several summer music institutes including the Round Top Festival Institute.

Kate holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from the University of Central Florida, graduating cum laude and with University Honors after studying with Nora Lee Garcia. She has had the privilege of working with both national and international flutists, performing in masterclasses for artists including Bonita Boyd, Jeffrey Khaner, Susan Milan, Ransom Wilson, and Carol Wincenc. She has served as principal flutist in the Sierra Vista Symphony Orchestra, Texas Festival Orchestra, the Arizona Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Central Florida Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, she had the privilege of serving as substitute flutist for the Bach Festival Orchestra of Orlando in 2011. Kate also enjoys performing in pit orchestras, performing for shows such as Arizona Onstage’s summer 2014 production of Les Misérables. Outside of her time spent in larger ensembles, Kate has also performed as a freelance musician in the Central Florida and Tucson area.

rachelkamradt
Rachel Kamradt is a freelance oboist and private oboe instructor in the greater Tucson area. She most recently held the position of acting assistant principal oboe and english horn for the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, and has also played with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Arizona Symphony Orchestra, and the Fred Fox Graduate Wind Quintet.

Ms. Kamradt's students have played in numerous ensembles in the region, including the UA Outreach Band, Tucson Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, AZMEA South Central All-Regional Band, AZMEA South Central All-Regional Orchestra, and AZMEA All-State Orchestra.

She is an advocate of El Sistema, a Venezuelan music education program that uses free classical music instruction to transform the lives of at-risk youth, and aspires to start an El Sistema-inspired music program in the future.

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Natalie Groom earned her bachelor’s degree in Clarinet Performance and a double minor in Jazz Studies and Entrepreneurship from Kent State University, graduating summa cum laude and with University Honors. While there, she studied with Dennis Nygren, Amitai Vardi, and Joseph Minocchi on clarinet and Jeffery Heisler on saxophone. She participated in Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and chamber groups, served as clarinet soloist on Bernstein’s Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs with the KSU Wind Ensemble, and was awarded the Roy D. Metcalf Musicianship Award. An Entrepreneurship minor, she placed second in the 2012 Business Concept Competition for a music-related business called Woodwinds Galore. Also a member of the Honors College, she published a thesis titled Invocation and Spirit Dance: a Piece for Solo Clarinet by Frank Wiley which explored this work written by the composition professor at KSU for her former professor of clarinet, Dennis Nygren.

Ms. Groom just graduated with her Masters in Clarinet Performance from the University of Arizona with Jerry Kirkbride. At UA she served as a graduate teaching assistant for American Rock and Popular Music and clarinetist of the Fred Fox Graduate Wind Quintet, an audition-only endowed chamber group; their accomplishments include placing in the MTNA Chamber Winds Division National Finals and Plowman Chamber Music Competition Semi-finals. Due to the group's outstanding success, they were invited to perform a three-week tour in China in December of 2014. They performed a series of twelve concerts around the country and engaged in three interviews with the Chinese press. Ms. Groom is currently an MBA Candidate at the Eller College of Management at UA and continues to work as a freelance musician and private lesson instructor of clarinet and saxophone.
mikemesner
Michael Mesner began studying the horn at age fifteen in his hometown of Farmington Hills, Michigan. Michael graduated magna cum laude from Eastern Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in instrumental music education, where he studied with University of Arizona alumna Denise Root-Pierce. While at EMU, Michael performed with the symphony orchestra, wind symphony, symphonic band, jazz band, marching band, and numerous jazz combos. He recently completed a Master of Music degree in horn performance at the University of Arizona under the instruction of Daniel Katzen

mattkowalczyk
Matthew Kowalczyk is a recent graduate, holding a Master’s of Music Degree in Bassoon Performance from the University of Arizona, having studied under Dr. William Dietz. Matthew was a member of the University of Arizona’s Fred Fox Graduate Wind Quintet, an endowed chamber ensemble that serves as a prominent ambassador for the University’s Fred Fox School of Music. The group has travelled throughout the country and internationally, most prominantly in a three week, 12 concert tour of China in December of 2014. The quintet has won the MTNA Southwest Region Chamber Winds Ensemble Division in 2014, and has played throughout their home base of Tucson, AZ, serving the enthusiastic community of music lovers of Southern Arizona.

Matthew’s additional performing experiences include principal bassoon of the Classical Symphony Orchestra, the Palatine Concert Band, and as a freelance performer in Illinois and the Southern Arizona area.

 A native of Illinois, Matthew received his Bachelors of Music Education with a double major in Bassoon Performance from Illinois State University, where he studied under Michael Dicker. During his time there, he performed and recorded multiple albums and world premieres as a member of the Wind Symphony, including the albums “Unending Stream of Life”, “O Earth, O Stars”, and most recently, "A Child's Garden of Dreams" (Albany Records). As an educator, Matt has taught at multiple camps and given masterclasses to middle and high school students during his undergraduate and graduate studies including the Music for All Summer Symposium, ISU’s Junior High Band Camp, and the UA Double Reed Day. During Matthew’s student teaching experience in the spring of 2013, he was under the tutelage of ILMEA District 7 Junior Band Representative Kristina Melville at Richard Bernotas MS, who’s Symphonic Band was awarded Honors Status at the IGSMA State Competition in that spring. 

In continuation of his passion for teaching, Matthew also maintains a private studio of young bassoonists and has had the honor of serving as the Graduate Assistant to the UA Outreach Honor Band, a weekend ensemble for junior high and early high school young wind and percussion musicians from all over Southern Arizona, overseeing all operations in the fall of 2014. Matthew also assisted Dr. Dietz as coach and librarian with the UA High School Honor Wind Quintet, in its first two seasons, made up of some of the most talented high school musicians in the Southern Arizona region.


2011-2013 Quintet


dianaschaibleOriginally from Idaho Falls, Idaho, Diana Schaible, MM 2013, received a Bachelor's degree in Music Performance from the University of Idaho in Moscow, where she studied flute with Leonard Garrison and classical guitar with James Reid. During her time at the UI, Diana played principal flute in the university orchestra and wind ensemble, and  performed with the UI flute choir, jazz choir, guitar ensemble, and Vandal Marching Band. She is also a member of Sigma Alpha Iota Women's Music Fraternity.  She earned her Master's degree in Flute Performance at the University of Arizona with Brian Luce. Diana is currently teaching guitar lessons at the Tucson Music and Dance Academy.

grayferrisHornist Gray Ferris, MM 2013, hails from the great commonwealth of Virginia and is a 2011 graduate of the University of New Hampshire, where he received his Bachelor's degree in music education and studied horn with Kendall Betts. While attending UNH, he served as principal horn of the Orchestra and Wind Ensemble and participated in brass and woodwind quintets, horn quartets, jazz combos, and new music ensembles. He earned a Master's degree in horn performance under the instruction of Daniel Katzen, as well as a Certificate in Entrepreneurship at the University of Arizona. Gray is currently second horn of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

ashleyknechtClarinetist Ashley Knecht, MM 2013, originally from Pelican Rapids, MN, received her undergraduate degree in instrumental music education from Minnesota State University Moorhead where she studied with Catherine Tesch.  In addition to playing as principal clarinetist with the MSUM Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, she was a featured soloist with the Wind Ensemble and Lake Agassiz Concert Band for the Trollwood Performing Arts Classical Music Festival.  Ashley studied clarinet with Jerry Kirkbride while pursuing her Master’s degree in Clarinet Performance at the University of Arizona. Ashley now holds a position as teacher of music for Kidder County High School and Steele High School in North Dakota.

rebeccadixonRebecca Dixon, MM 2013, began studying the oboe at age ten in her hometown of Vancouver, WA. She received a Bachelor of Music in Oboe Performance, summa cum laude from James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA), where she studied with Michele Kirkdorffer. She has also studied Russian at the University of Washington and Historical Musicology at the University of Pittsburgh. She earned a Master of Music in Oboe Performance at the University of Arizona as a student of Neil Tatman. Dixon has been a finalist in the JMU Concerto/Aria Competition and has competed internationally at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales. She has performed in Masterclasses for such renowned oboists as Robert Atherholt, Carol Stephenson, and Ray Still.  She is also an avid choral musician. Outside the music world she may be recognized from her winning appearances on the television show Jeopardy!. Rebecca is now serving as interim oboist for the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Woodwind Quintet.

travisjonesTravis Jones, MM 2013, received his undergraduate degree in Bassoon Performance from the University of Tennessee, where he studied with Keith McClelland. While at UT, Travis performed as a member of the UT Symphony and Opera Orchestras and the Wind Ensemble in addition to various chamber music ensembles. In 2011, Travis was named a winner of UT's Concerto Competition and appeared as a soloist with the University of Tennessee'Symphony Orchestra. Travis has performed in masterclasses taught by Kristin Wolfe Jensen and Christopher Weait, and he also studied with Saxton Rose at the Quartz Mountain Music Festival. He earned a Master's degree in Bassoon Performance at the University of Arizona studying under William Dietz.


2009-2011 Quintet


starladoyalOriginally from Lubbock, Texas, Starla Doyal, who holds a BA in English Literature, was part of the 2009-2011 quintet. She received her initial training in flute performance and music theory from Texas Tech University. Ms. Doyal appeared as a soloist with Texas Music Teacher’s Association festival orchestra and performed with the Texas Tech University Chamber Winds Ensemble. She participated in master classes with Carol Wincenc, Trevor Wye, Paul Edmund Davies, and Jill Felber. Her previous teachers include Lisa Garner Santa and Margaret Redcay.

lizknoffOboist Liz Knoff (now Liz Knoff Floodeen), MM 2011, is a native of Seattle, Washington and received her undergraudate training at Pacific Lutheran University, where she studied with Shannon Spicciati. In addition to playing principal oboe with the PLU symphony orchestra and wind ensemble, Ms. Knoff has played regularly with groups such as Tacoma Symphony Orchestra and Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra. Internationally, she has performed in Scandinavia, Bulgaria, Romania, and China.

edwinserranoEdwin Quimpo Serrano, MM 2011, was trained at the University of California, Irvine prior to coming to UA. While at UCI, he served as principal clarinet in the orchestra, wind ensemble, and multiple chamber ensembles. Edwin has performed in master classes for Patricia Cloud, Jonathan Davis, Margaret Parkins and accompanied renowned musicians such as Cho-Liang Lin and the Kei Akagi Trio. Before studying at the U of A, he studied with Amanda Walker and Fred Cadiente. Edwin’s passions for music, photography, and recording, coupled with an entrepreneurial spirit have led him to run a musicians consulting service in Arizona and California. A versatile doubler, Serrano also performs on the various saxophones and the drum set.
lisagollenbergLisa Gollenberg, MM 2009 in horn performance, who hails from Southington, Connecticut, received her undergraduate degree in music education from Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. While pursuing her degree, Lisa participated in a variety of performing ensembles, both on campus and in the community. During her final year at Gordon, Lisa was a featured soloist with the Gordon College Symphony Orchestra and the Nashua Chamber Orchestra of Nashua, New Hampshire. Before studying at The University of Arizona, her teachers included Peter Iltis and Eli Epstein. Lisa is now a music teacher at BASIS Tucson North School.

danielhurseyBassoonist Daniel Hursey, MM 2011, received his undergraduate training at the Florida State University College of Music where he served as principal bassoon of the University Philharmonia Orchestra, University Symphony Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble. He also performed with the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra, the Northwest Florida Orchestra, Tallahassee Symphony, Sinfonia Gulf Coast Orchestra, Orlando Philharmonic, and the Orquestra Sinfónica de Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico. He has performed in master classes conducted by Monica Ellis of the Imani Winds and Whitney Crockett, principal bassoonist of the Metropolitan Opera. Prior to studying at the U of A, he studied bassoon with Ryan Simmons and Jeff Keesecker.



2007-2009 Inaugural Quintet


ericaschillerFlutist Erica Schiller, MM 2009, received her undergraduate degree in flute performance from Michigan State University, where she studied with Richard Sherman. While at MSU she performed on live broadcasts as a member of the Wind Symphony and traveled throughout Austria performing with the Symphony Orchestra. She performed with the Jackson (Michigan) Symphony orchestra as an undergraduate. Ms. Schiller performed chamber music in Vienna, Austria, where she studied with Barbara Giesler-Haas, at the Univesität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien. She has also performed during the International Double Reed Society conference in Ithaca, New York, where she participated in the debut of The Avatar for bassoon and chamber ensemble by Dana Wilson. Before studying at The University of Arizona, her previous teachers included Ervin Monroe and Johanna Beth Sennett. Erica is now stationed in Boston MA, holding positions as Research and Marketing Associate at the Boston Chamber Music Society and as Director of Operations at Flutistry.

devingardnierDevin Gardner, MM 2009 in oboe performance was a member of the 2007-2009 quintet and received his undergraduate training at George Mason University. Mr. Gardner has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, George Mason Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Philharmonia, and was a substitute oboist for the Maryland Symphony. Mr. Gardner has participated in numerous master classes, most recently with John Ferrillo of the Boston Symphony, Michael Britton of Haworth Oboes in London, and Rudolph Vrbsky of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington DC. An active pianist as well, Mr. Gardner maintained private pianio and oboe studios in the Washington DC, in addition to teaching at the Potomac Music Festival with conductor Judith Lapple. Mr. Gardner was also a piano accompanist with the Fairfax Christian Church in Virginia. Devin is currently maintaining a private studio consisting of piano and oboe students in Tucson. He is also serving as oboist in the Arizona Opera Orchestra.


lisakachoueeClarinetist Lisa Kachouee, MM 2009, graduated from George Mason University and served as a substitute for the Tucson Chamber Orchestra. While at GMU, she served as principal clarinetist of the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Winds, and Modern Music Ensemble. As principal of the Levine School of Music Wind Ensemble and co-principal of the Chamber Orchestra, she performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C and also performed with the 257th Army Band of Washington, D.C. Ms. Kachouee recorded Gina Biver’s “Skating Still” for her 2006 album, From Where I Sit. Ms. Kachouee performed in master classes conducted by Eugene Mondie, Gervase de Peyer, Sidney Forrest, and Karen Dannessa. Before coming to The University of Arizona, she was a student of Michael Rusinek, Brian Jones, and Lorianne Haddad. Lisa is continuing her graduate studies as a teaching assistant at Florida State University.

jasonsouliereBassoonist Jason Soulière, MM 2009, is a native of Maine and received his undergraduate training at the Eastman School of Music. He appeared as soloist with the Eastman Philharmonia, performed for the Waterloo (Ontario) Chamber Music Society, the Operensemble Salzburg (Austria), and with the Eastman Wind Ensemble. In recital, Mr. Soulière has performed at The Kharov Academy for the Arts (Ukraine), Ponce Music Festival (Puerto Rico), the Rockport Opera House, and on a live broadcast of NPR’s "From the Top.” He published an article on Camille Saint-Saens sonata for bassoon in the music appreciation text, Spotlight on Musicians. Prior to his studies at UA, he studied with Kerry Camden and K. David Van Hoesen. Jason is now the Associate Principal Bassoonist of the Orquesta Sinfónica Sinaloa de las Artes in Mexico.

jgregmillerJ. Gregory Miller, MM 2009, a Colorado native and honors graduate from the Eastman School of Music, performed with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra during his studies at The University of Arizona. He performed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Rochester Chamber Orchestra, Cornell Chamber Music Society, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, and the Skaneateles Music Festival Orchestra. He recorded Jorge Liderman’s Barcelonazo on the Musica Nova label. He performed in the premier of Remembering 9/11 by Steven Morrell at the 36th International Horn Symposium in Valencia, Spain. A winner of the Eastman Concerto Competition, he performed Schumann’s Konzerstuck, Op. 86 with the ensemble Quattro’Hornis. An active composer and arranger, Miller’s compositions and arrangements have been performed by Hermann Baumann, Kerry Turner, David Johnson, and Radovan Vlatkovic. Prior to coming to UA, his teachers included W. Peter Kurau, Kendall Betts, and Erwin Chandler. He teaches high school and college students at Kendall Betts’ Horn Camp each summer. JG is now an active freelancer and teacher in the Baltimore/DC area. He is currently a member of the United States Army Field Band.

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