Bassoonist Texas Exes!

Alumni of the University of Texas at Austin bassoon studio hold positions in major symphony orchestras, university faculties, and public school music programs and have excelled in the International Gillet-Fox Bassoon Competition, the Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition and the UT Concerto Competition. 

Below is sampling of some of our alumni and their dynamic careers as professional bassoonists.  

Anthony Adario

Anthony Adario, M.M. 2019, was appointed as Principal Bassoon of the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Arlington, and the Garland Symphony Orchestra, in 2019. He also substitutes with numerous other groups throughout Texas and maintains a private teaching studio of middle and high school students throughout the Dallas area. Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Anthony recently received his Master of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin in the studio of Kristin Wolfe Jensen, where he spent a year as the bassoon studio’s teaching assistant.  Anthony received his Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University, where he studied with David McGill and Christopher Millard. While in the Chicago area, he held the contrabassoon position with the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra, and spent two years as an associate bassoonist with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.
 

JP Altizer

JP Altizer, B.M. 2014, is Senior Director of Development with the Philadelphia Ballet, where he facilitates philanthropic relationships and deepens the Ballet’s connection to the Philadelphia community. Previously, JP served as the Director of Patron Relations at the Curtis Institute of Music, where his efforts played a pivotal part in achieving the highest level of annual giving in the school’s nearly century-long history. Before embarking on a career in philanthropy, JP led a successful career as a classical musician playing the bassoon. He has performed with renowned orchestras such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Austin Symphony, Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra and the Abilene Philharmonic. He received an Artist Diploma in 2016 from the Curtis Institute of Music under the guidance of Daniel Matsukawa, and a Bachelor of Music degree in 2014 from The University of Texas at Austin, studying under the tutelage of Kristin Wolfe Jensen.
 

Alex Amsel

Alex Amsel, B.M. in Bassoon Performance, 2014, was appointed Associate Conductor of the Phoenix Symphony in 2023. He joined the Houston Grand Opera as Resident Conductor for the 2022-23 season and was Conducting Fellow for the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra for the 2019-2022 seasons, where he led the orchestra in a variety of concerts and worked closely with Miguel Harth-Bedoya and Robert Spano. For the summer of 2019, Amsel was selected as the Assistant Conductor for the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado, where he performed with the orchestra in multiple subscription concerts. Argentinian-born, Amsel is quickly establishing himself as a conductor equally at home with orchestral and operatic repertoire, as well as in music education for students of all ages. Amsel’s hope is to integrate music into the fabric of every community he works with to reshape how we think about society and our place in it. Other recent engagements include Assistant Conductor and Choir Master for the Peabody Conservatory Symphonies and Opera, and Faculty Conductor for the Philadelphia International Music Festival. Amsel was chosen as the winner of the Miami Music Festival Conducting Competition and led the Miami Music Festival Orchestra in concert at the New World Center. Amsel holds a Masters of Music in Orchestral Conducting studying under the tutelage of Marin Alsop at the Peabody Conservatory and a Bachelors in Bassoon Performance from the University of Texas at Austin where he studied with Kristin Wolfe Jensen.

Douglas Bakenhus

Dr. Douglas Bakenhus is the music director and conductor of the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony at Northwestern State University in Louisiana where he also teaches bassoon, music theory, aural skills, and conducting. His music degrees are from the University of Texas at Austin (D.M.A. 2006, B.Music Ed.1983), Texas A&M University-Commerce (M.M. conducting 1985) and he has completed additional graduate courses in conducting at the University of Michigan. In addition, Dr. Bakenhus has been the music director of the Northeast Texas Symphony since 2002, and he served as the music director of the Austin Philharmonic from 2001-2004. Other teaching positions include Texas Lutheran University, the University of Mississippi, and public school teaching experiences at Crockett High School in Austin and at Langham Creek High School in Houston. Throughout his teaching career, Dr. Bakenhus has remained active as a guest conductor, clinician, and bassoonist. He recently conducted the San Pedro Sula Chamber Orchestra in Honduras and has toured Canada, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic with the NSU Faculty Woodwind Trio. His CD of flute, bassoon, and piano trios with his wife flautist, Dennette McDermott and Russian pianist, Katerina Zaitseva, was released in May of 2009 by Classical Records (www.classicalrecords.ru) Other recent ensemble performances include on the baroque bassoon with the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute in Toronto, Canada, and with baroque ensembles in Houston, Ars Lyrica, The Houston Bach Society, and Mercury Baroque. Recent modern bassoon performances include: the Shreveport Symphony, the Longview Symphony, the Austin Symphony, and the San Antonio Symphony. Dr. Bakenhus is frequently called upon to adjudicate and clinic orchestra festivals, band festivals and solo/ensemble festivals throughout the United States and abroad.

Jonathan Castillo

Jonathan Castillo is the Principal Bassoonist of the Mid-Texas Symphony, Second Bassoonist of the Shreveport Symphony, and Minister of Music and Outreach at University Baptist Church in Austin. He has appeared with the Victoria, Corpus Christi, Waco, Austin, and San Antonio symphonies, as well as the Hot Springs Music Festival. In addition to performing, Jonathan is passionate about education and teaches in north Austin area. When he is not playing bassoon, he coaches indoor cycling classes and is a certified personal trainer. Jonathan holds degrees from Baylor University (B.M., 2014) where he studied with Dr. Ann Shoemaker, and The University of Texas (M.M., 2017) where he studied with Kristin Wolfe Jensen and served as the teaching assistant for one year.

Beth Ann Clare

Elizabeth “Beth Ann” Clare, is Adjunct Assistant Professor of Bassoon at Gettysburg College and an active freelance performer in Washington D.C. She received her Bachelor of Music in Performance form UT in 2004, and competed a Master of Music degree at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

Kathryn Clark

Katie Clark is a bassoonist in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa / U.S. 6th Fleet Band and a member of the touring quintet. Katie holds a bachelors of music from The University of Texas at Austin, 2013, where she studied under Kristin Wolfe Jensen. She has attended multiple summer festivals and has made finalist and semi-finalist in several auditions and international competitions such as Meg Quigley. She has a growing Skype studio of bassoon students and is a candidate for an instructor position at the Naval School of Music. She aspires to be the first female in her family to attain a masters degree and is excited to see where her career takes her during and after her term with the Navy.

Rian Craypo

Rian Craypo joined the Houston Symphony as Principal Bassoonist in late 2007, one year after completing her masters degree at Rice University with former Houston Symphony principal Benjamin Kamins. In 2004 she graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied with Kristin Wolfe Jensen. She published “The Banana of Life: Peeling Away the Mysteries of Reed Making for the Bassoon” in 2017, offering excellent insights and strategies into the bassoonist’s plight with reeds. Rian has been awarded several top prizes in competition, including first prize in the University of Texas Concerto Competition, second prize in the Rice University Concerto Competition (wind division) and in 2004 and 2006, honorable mention in the Gillet-Fox International Bassoon Competition in Melbourne, Australia and Muncie, Indiana respectively. She has also attended the Festival Institute at Round-Top and the Tanglewood Music Institute summer festivals. During her junior year at The University, Rian was awarded a full scholarship to study abroad at the Hochschule fuer Musik in Wuerzburg, Germany under the instruction of Albrecht Holder, former principal bassoonist of the Stuttgart Philharmonic and Ulrich Hermann, member of the Staatsoper Stuttgart. Rian and Sean (former bassoonist and  firefighter) have three children.

Amy Cupitt

Amy Cupitt received her Music Studies degree in 1999 from the University of Texas at Austin where she was a member in the Symphony Band, Wind Ensemble, Longhorn band (pit percussion, section leader), and Tau Beta Sigma, for which she served as President. She has served as a band director in Hamilton MS in Cy-Fair ISD; Brookside Intermediate and League City Intermediate in Clear Creek ISD; and Lutheran South Academy (which won the TAPPS 5A state championship twice). She has taught private lessons to many bassoon students, and served a stint as director of children’s ministries at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Mrs. Cupitt says, “I have had the opportunity to watch amazing things happen in children’s lives because of music education.” Currently, she is working as a mortgage loan assistant, and continues to support band programs by teaching bassoon lessons, teaching masterclasses, judging music competitions, and helping organize fundraisers. She had the honor of marching with the Band Directors Marching Band at the 2022 Rose Bowl Parade with band directors from all 50 states.  Of her time at UT, she says, “The opportunities I had while at the University of Texas provided a strong foundation for me and provided open doors throughout the different stages of my life. Ms. Jensen, Ms. Crider, Dr. Duke, Mr. Junkin and many others filled my head with many great lessons. I am also thankful for the epic music performance opportunities I had through Symphony Band/Wind Ensemble and the Longhorn Band. I am also grateful for the leadership experiences I had through the Longhorn Band.”

Megan Darlington

Megan Darlington is the K-5 music teacher at Windermere Elementary in Pflugerville ISD. She received her Bachelors of Music in Music Studies from the University of Texas at Austin with a concentration in Bassoon under the instruction of Kristin Wolfe Jensen. Continuing her studies, she has completed the Level 1 Kodály Certification through Hays CISD under the instruction of Philip Tacka. She is most passionate about teaching students music literacy and developing a lifelong love of music through play and community.

TK DeWitt

Thomas DeWitt is the Associate Principal Bassoonist and Contrabassoonist with the Kansas City Symphony, a thriving full time orchestra under Music Director Michael Stern. Prior to his appointment in Kansas City, he served several years as Second Bassoonist with the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra. He earned his  Bachelors of Music degree at the University of Texas at Austin, studying with Kristin Wolfe Jensen. At the Butler School, he won the Winds Concerto Competition, and performed the Mozart Bassoon Concerto, K.191 with The University of Texas Symphony. He continued his studies at Rice University, earning a Master of Music studying with Benjamin Kamins. During his time in Houston, Mr. DeWitt was a regular substitute with the Houston Symphony and Houston Ballet. He has participated in the Tanglewood, National Repertory Orchestra, Round Top, and Eastern music festivals, as well as playing Principal Bassoon with The University of Texas Wind Ensemble during their 2008 European Tour. He enjoys snowboarding and scuba diving, as well as spending time with his family in his hometown, Austin, TX.

Adam Drake

Bassoonist Adam Drake is an active musician across the central Texas region. Based in Austin, Adam teaches a large studio of middle and high school bassoon students, and most recently, was awarded the positions of Second Bassoon with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra and Second Bassoon with the Symphony of South Texas. Along with his teaching and orchestral pursuits, Adam is also a dynamic chamber musician. As bassoonist and executive director for prismatx ensemble, he enjoys creating multi-sensory concerts and art experiences. A promoter of classical music of all kinds, he collaborates with the Austin Center for Music Therapy’s “Movement Tracks Project,” and is also a board member for the community-based Austin Civic Orchestra. His past summer experiences include the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, the National Music Festival, Taneycomo Festival Orchestra, Brevard Music Center’s Institute and Festival, and the American Wind Symphony Orchestra’s 55th season. A native Floridian, Adam was awarded a Master of Music degree from The University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music in May 2017. His primary teachers and other musical inspirations include Kristin Wolfe Jensen, Jeff Keesecker, and Amanda Swain.

Brigit Fitzgerald

Brigit Fitzgerald, D.M.A. 2023 and M.M. 2021, is the Instructor of Bassoon at Lawrence University and Conservatory in Appleton, WI. She has been the principal bassoonist with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra (TX) since 2021, and she advocates for new music as a collective member of Density512 and the SoundMap Ensemble. She has won the opportunity to be featured as a soloist with the Phoenix Symphony, National Repertory Orchestra, University of Texas Symphony Orchestra, and Vanderbilt University Orchestra. As well as being a semifinalist in the Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition (2023), she placed first in the National Bassoon Meetup Artistry Competition (2021) and the Young Texas Artist Music Competition (2022). Using her undergraduate mathematics degree from Vanderbilt University, Brigit Fitzgerald is working with two engineers and a chemist to develop a partially synthetic reed that is both affordable and long-lasting. This interdisciplinary team co-founded Fermata Reeds Inc., a company focused on increasing accessibility to music by minimizing economic barriers to learning reed instruments. She is an advocate for bringing technology into the music industry and for the benefits of collaborative innovation.
 

Andrea Gonzales

Andrea Gonzalez is the Director of Bands at Danielson Middle School in Leander ISD, Leander, Texas. Prior to her time at Danielson, she was a band director at Anderson High School in Austin for nine years, five of them as the Director of Bands. At Anderson, she led the Wind Ensemble as well as managing all program aspects of the Trojan Band. During her tenure, Mrs. Gonzalez’s bands were consistent UIL Sweepstakes award winners, BOA contestants and UIL Area marching finalists, advanced to Area in 6A Honor Band, and the Wind Ensemble was named Commended Winners in 2019 by the Foundation for Music Education. Before her time at Anderson, Mrs. Gonzalez taught middle school for three years in Round Rock ISD at CD Fulkes Middle School. A native of Kansas, Mrs. Gonzalez attended the University of Texas at Austin as a Music Studies major with an emphasis in Bassoon. While at The University of Texas at Austin, she performed with the Longhorn Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Chamber Winds. With the Wind Ensemble, she toured both Napa Valley and Europe to premiere John Corigliano’s first symphony for a concert band, Symphony No. 3, Circus Maximus. Professionally, Mrs. Gonzalez maintains affiliations with the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association (serving as the Region 18 Representative), and Women Band Directors International, for which she was the High School Contributing Editor. Mrs. Gonzalez continues to perform privately as a bassoonist in the Hill Country Winds Chamber Octet. She loves being outdoors and hanging out with her husband Emede (a trombonist), daughter Alondra, and pets Sam (horse) and Maddie (cat).

Daris Word Hale

Daris Word Hale teaches bassoon at Texas State University, is second Bassoonist with the Austin Symphony Orchestra and the Austin Opera, and is a founding member of Wild Basin Winds. One bassoon, 11 orchestras, 7 countries, 47 world premieres, TV, film, commercials, DVD’s, CD’s; life long learner with one heart, one soul, one loving husband, two sweet kids, hundreds of brilliant students, or rather teachers; 7 billion friends; always manifesting music and art. Daris is a Fulbright Ambassador, having served in Tanzania on a Fulbright Grant 2010-11.

Kelly Collette Hancock

Dr. Kelly Hancock, D.M.A. 2010, is the instructor of bassoon at The University of Central Arkansas and Principal Bassoonist of the Conway Symphony Orchestra. Prior to this appointment, she was Instructor of Bassoon at Oklahoma State University and second Bassoonist of the Norman Philharmonic. Previously, she was a member of the United States Army Europe Band and Chorus, stationed in Heidelberg, Germany. In this engagement she performed extensively throughout Europe as a member of the band, as a featured soloist, and as a member of the woodwind quintet. Dr. Hancock has also performed with the Cleveland Opera, Cleveland Pops, Miami Symphony, South Florida Symphony, Ashland Symphony, Canton Symphony Orchestra, and was second bassoonist of the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed with summer festivals including the National Repertory Orchestra and Opera in the Ozarks. An active and passionate chamber musician, Dr. Hancock was a founding member and bassoonist of the Heidelberg Arts Ensemble, a professional chamber group featuring artistic programming consisting of varied instrumentation. Comprised of musicians from the United States and Germany, this ensemble served the broader purpose of fostering a sense of community between the diverse cultures living in the state of Baden-Württemberg. Dr. Hancock’s commitment to music education has been a constant throughout her career. During her time in Europe, she was actively involved in outreach programs as a member of the Army, and also served as a double reed coach for the World Youth Wind Orchestra Project in Schladming, Austria.   She has taught master classes involving students from across Europe, the United Kingdom, Asia, and Australia where she coached students in solo, chamber, and large ensemble musical environments. Dr. Hancock holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Baldwin-Wallace University. Her principal teachers include Kristen Wolfe Jensen, Barrick Stees, Jonathan Sherwin, and Mark Popkin.

Nicole Haywood

Nicole Haywood, B.M. 2014, is Assistant Principal and Second Bassoon with the renowned Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra. She has held positions with the Oregon Symphony Orchestra, the Florida Orchestra, the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra and Lewis and Clark College. A native of San Antonio, Texas, Nicole has studied with Mark Rogers and Sharon Kuster. She received her Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance at The University of Texas at Austin under the tutelage of Kristin Wolfe Jensen and Master of Music degree with Benjamin Kamins at Rice University. Nicole is the Second Bassoonist of Round Rock Symphony in Round Rock, Texas and the Acting Second Bassoonist of Mid-Texas Symphony in Seguin, Texas. She has also performed with Austin Opera, Chorus Austin, The Victoria Symphony, and The Abilene Philharmonic. She was a semifinalist in the 2014 Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition and has had great success in regional orchestra auditions Nicole’s summer music festival appearances include the Round Top Festival, Texas Music Festival, Brevard Music Center, and Le Domaine Forget.
 

Rebekah Heller

Rebekah Heller,  M.M. 2004, is the Executive Director and bassoonist of the renowned International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), and faculty at the Mannes School of Music. She has soloed with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and played at some of the world’s most prestigious music festivals, including the Mostly Mozart Festival, the Lincoln Center Festival, the Darmstadt International Summer Courses. In the summer of 2013, she released her first solo album, 100 Names, featuring 6 cutting edge, new pieces with never before heard extended techniques for bassoon. Before moving to New York, Rebekah completed a one-year appointment as Principal Bassoonist of the Jacksonville Symphony and has served as Principal Bassoonist with the Atlanta Opera Orchestra, and the Utah Festival Opera. She has also worked with the Spoleto Festival Orchestra, The National Repertory Orchestra and the Conductor’s Institute at Bard College. From 2005-2008, Rebekah was a member of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida. During her time there, she worked with some of today’s most innovative and electrifying musical minds, including Michael Tilson Thomas, Robert Spano, Marin Alsop, Oliver Knussen, Yo-Yo Ma and Christian Tetzlaff. Equally comfortable playing established classical works and the newest of new music, Rebekah is a fiercely passionate advocate for the bassoon. Called an “impressive solo bassoonist” by The New Yorker, she is tirelessly committed to collaborating with composers to expand the modern repertoire for the instrument. Rebekah received her Master of Music degree from The University of Texas at Austin where she studied with Kristin Wolfe Jensen. She attended the Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music for her undergraduate studies, where she earned degrees in both Music, studying bassoon with George Sakakeeny, and English Literature. or New Music, and The Helsinki Musica Nova Festival. She has worked closely with world-renowned composers and conductors such as John Adams, Matthias Pintscher, Dai Fujikura, Ludovic Morlot, Kaija Saariaho and many more. Besides being a passionate performer, Rebekah is also a dedicated teacher, and has served on the faculties of the University of North Florida, Florida International University, and the Vermont Youth Orchestra’s Reveille camp.
 

Shawn Karson

Shawn Karson, M.M. 2022, is the Second Bassoonist with the Northwest Florida Symphony and Gulf Coast Symphony, as well as Contrabassoonist with the Punta Gorda Symphony, Central Texas Philharmonic, and Brazos Valley Symphony orchestras. He has performed around the United States with groups such as Austin Symphony Orchestra, Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra, and The Florida Orchestra. Other organizations include Miami Ballet, National Music Festival, Taneycomo Music Festival, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and Miami Music Festival as well as serving as Guest Principal Bassoonist with the Trinity Laban Symphony Orchestra in London, United Kingdom. A devoted teacher, Shawn manages a private studio of fifty plus students in and around the Central Texas independent school districts. He also teaches a handful of students virtually who span across the globe. A native of Fort Myers, Florida, Shawn holds a Master of Music in Bassoon Performance from The University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance from Florida State University College of Music. His primary teachers include Kristin Wolfe Jensen and Jeff Keesecker.
Nathan Koch

Nathan Koch

Dr. Nathan J. Koch is a Faculty Support Specialist with Pearson Education. Previously, he served as Assistant Professor of Bassoon at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and Sam Houston State University. He has served a one-year position as Second Bassoonist of the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, and performed with the Austin Symphony and Austin Lyric Opera, the Tulsa, Victoria, and Brazos Valley Symphonies, and the Wichita Grand Opera Orchestra. He has appeared as a featured soloist at the 2008 Kansas Bandmasters Association convention and as a contrabassoon clinician for the online subscription service I Compete in Texas. Festival appearances include the Round Top Music Festival, the Texas Music Festival, the Pierre Monteux School Orchestra, and the Festival de Música de Santa Catarina in Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil. He maintains an active private studio of bassoonists ranging in age from 12 to their mid 60’s. He has served on the faculties of the Austin Chamber Music Center, the Longhorn Music Camp, the Bocal Majority Bassoon Camp, and the High Plains Band and Orchestra Camp. Several of Dr. Koch’s solo and chamber music arrangements are available through TrevCo Music, including works by Vivaldi, Beethoven, and Debussy. Dr. Koch holds degrees from Wichita State University (B.M.) and The University of Texas at Austin (M.M., D.M.A.) where he studied with Nicolasa Kuster and Kristin Wolfe Jensen.

Laura McIntyre Lanier

Laura McIntyre Lanier, D.M.A. 2016, joined the U.S. Air Force Band of the West in 2016, learned to be a pilot and currently works in administration in the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations. As a soloist, she performed Johann Hummel’s Bassoon Concerto with the Mid-Texas Symphony as winner of their 2015 concerto competition. Laura also received second prize at the 2013 T. Gordon Parks Collegiate Concerto Competition and received accolades at the Tucson Symphony Young Artist Competition and the Texas MTNA competition. Laura is a member of the wind quintet QuinTexas, winners of the Silver Medal at the 2016 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and first prize in winds at the 2015 Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition. QuinTexas has also received honors from the Plowman Chamber Music Competition, the Plovdiv International Chamber Music Competition, and the American Prize. With her husband Hudson Lanier, Laura is a member of Duo Brucoco, a bassoon-guitar duo dedicated to community engagement and education. Laura received a University of Texas Continuing Fellowship–a competitive award granted by The University of Texas at Austin's College of Fine Arts–to pursue extensive research on beginning bassoon instruction. Her research is available to educators and students on her website, www.bassoonsolos.com, and has been published in The Double Reed journal. Laura has presented recitals and clinics at International Double Reed Society Conferences and the Texas Bandmasters Association Conference. As an orchestral musician, Laura frequently performs with the Victoria Symphony, Mid-Texas Symphony, Brazos Valley Symphony, and Round Rock Symphony. She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts from The University of Texas at Austin in 2016, studying with Kristin Wolfe Jensen. Her other major teachers include Albie Micklich and Barrick Stees.
 

Ethan Lippert

Ethan Lippert, B.M. 2017, is the Morse Postgraduate Fellow for the Music In Schools Initiative, a partnership between the Yale School of Music and New Haven Public Schools. He teaches bassoon, clarinet, saxophone, and flute to middle and high school students in individual and group lessons, and he runs an after-school workshop designed to prepare those students for placement in New Haven’s All-City honors ensembles. He received his Bachelor of Music in 2017 from the University of Texas at Austin and his Master of Music in 2019 from the Yale School of Music. He performs frequently with the Apenzeller Chamber Orchestra, and he has been a substitute with New Haven Symphony, The Orchestra Now, and various central Texas orchestras. He has participated in several summer festivals such as Orpheus@Mannes, Chautauqua Music School Festival Orchestra, Fresh Inc, and Brevard Summer Music Festival. Former teachers include Frank Morelli, Kristin Wolfe Jensen, and Louis Lazzerini.

Miles Maner

Miles Maner joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as Bassoonist and Contrabassoonist in the summer of 2013 after playing three years with the Kansas City Symphony as Associate Principal Bassoonist and Contrabassoonist, and several summers as Principal Bassoonist of the Breckenridge Festival Orchestra. He completed his bachelor’s degree with Kristin Wolfe Jensen at The University of Texas at Austin in 2007 and his master’s degree with Benjamin Kamins at Rice University in 2009. A winner of Rice University’s Shepherd School Concerto Competition, Mr. Maner performed the Weber Bassoon Concerto with the Shepherd School Chamber Orchestra in 2008. Mr. Maner has attended various summer music festivals, including the Pacific Music Festival, the Tanglewood Music Center, the National Repertory Orchestra, and the International Festival-Institute at Round Top.
 

Jenny Mann

Dr. Jenny Mann is the Executive Director and President of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. Previously, she served as Associate Professor of Bassoon at The University of Alabama and Artist/Teacher at the Hot Springs Music Festival. She is the author of the hybrid teaching resource Teaching Woodwinds: Bassoon published by Mountain Peak Music, and former Principal Bassoonist and the Executive Director of the Tuscaloosa Symphony. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music from The University of Texas at Austin where she studied with Kristin Wolfe Jensen. Dr. Mann began her doctoral study at the Eastman School of Music where she studied with John Hunt, and David Van Hoesen, and she also holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor University.

Aaron Meyers

Aaron Meyers received his Bachelor of Music Studies Degree with an emphasis in Instrumental Education in 2021, studying with Kristin Wolfe Jensen. He currently teaches general music, band, and color guard in Alamogordo, New Mexico. As an educator, Aaron practices culturally responsive teaching by creating learning environments that welcome students’ prior knowledge and life experiences.

Eric Stone Miller

Eric Stone Miller, D.M.A. 2008 is principal bassoonist of the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra and the Austin Chamber Ensemble. He teaches bassoon, chamber music, reed making, music history, music theory and humanities at a number of Central Texas institutions including: Southwestern University, Temple College, Concordia University and served a year-long appointment at Texas State University. He can be heard on the soundtrack for the movie Artois the Goat which was released internationally. He has appeared as a soloist with the Austin Civic Orchestra playing Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante in Eb, K. 297b.holds the distinction of being the first doctoral student accepted by Kristin Wolfe Jensen at The University of Texas at Austin, his pursuit of many different musical avenues meant that he wasn’t the first to graduate with said degree : – ). He also holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Yale University. A new father, Dr. Miller is in the process of balancing an entirely new (and rather wonderful) set of personal and professional demands. He lives in Temple, TX.

Laura Miller

Noted for her luscious, rich-tone and compelling musicality, Laura Miller, B.M. 2009, M.M. 2012, has performed around the world as a soloist, and chamber and orchestral musician. She soloed with the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra after winning first prize at the 2011 Asian Double Reed Association Competition. Featured at the 2012 Victoria Bach Festival in Texas, she collaborated with Grammy-award winning Soprano and fellow “Emerging Artist,” Estelí Gomez. Laura was a finalist in the International Gillet-Fox Bassoon Competition that same year and the Meg-Quigley Vivaldi Competition two years prior. She was the only American bassoonist to qualify for the 2nd Antonov International Competition for Woodwind Performers in 2014—which was to be held in Kiev but cancelled due to political unrest. From 2012-15 she toured throughout North America with the woodwind quintet, the City of Tomorrow, appearing in venues ranging from university concert halls and churches, to art galleries, bars and rock venues, and several radio broadcasts and a talk show. Back in 2008, Laura embarked on a European tour with the University of Texas Wind Ensemble, performing throughout Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, England, and Spain. Laura can be heard on Naxos Blu-Ray Audio, Mark Masters Records, Ravello, and Codaex labels with University of Texas ensembles, the woodwind quintet the City of Tomorrow, and Canadian chamber orchestra Gruppo Montebello. Laura currently resides in South Tyrol, Italy, with her husband and three bassoons (modern, classical, and baroque). During her historical bassoon studies abroad, she attended festivals in Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands to learn from such highly esteemed bassoonists as Javier Zafra of the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra; Christian Beuse of the Academy of Ancient Music Berlin; and Wouter Verschuren of the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra. In 2017 she received a full scholarship to attend the American Bach Soloists Academy in San Francisco, California. She has concertized on classical and baroque bassoon in Europe with Concerto München, Accademia di Monaco, Concerto de Bassus, and Ensemble Cordia, and recorded on the Savary classical bassoon replica several times, including two opera productions by Simon Mayr for the Naxos label. Before moving to Europe in 2015 to complete her second Masters degree in Germany, studying historical bassoons with Katrin Lazar and Lyndon Watts at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München, Laura performed as principal bassoonist in several Texas symphony orchestras, including the San Antonio Symphony, Mid-Texas Symphony, and Corpus Christi Symphony. Touring throughout North America with the award-winning woodwind quintet, the City of Tomorrow, she presented concerts and master classes while also maintaining an active bassoon studio comprised of around 20 young bassoonists in Texas. In 2011 Laura helped found an early music ensemble in central Texas, known now as the Austin Baroque Orchestra, which continues to perform solely on historical instrument replicas. She served as the UT Bassoon Studio’s Teaching Assistant 2011-2012.

Nick Nelson

Nicholas Nelson joined the Omaha Symphony as Assistant Principal and Second Bassoon in September of 2016. He has held positions with the Youngstown, Firelands, and Ashland Symphonies in Ohio, the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. He has also performed with the Louisiana Philharmonic, Austin Symphony, and l’Orchestre de la Francophonie. He holds degrees from The University of Texas at Austin, Northwestern University, and Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with Kristin Wolfe Jensen, Christopher Millard, and John Clouser respectively.

Brandon Scott Rumsey

Brandon Scott Rumsey (they/them) is a queer, nonbinary composer, bassoonist, and teacher based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Brandon is the Director of Operations/Research for the Trade Winds Ensemble and joined the University of Michigan theory faculty in 2020 as a Lecturer of Music Theory. Brandon’s musical style is characterized by its distinctive harmonic palette and alluring nature, as well as their imaginative orchestration and love of performance. Their music has been enjoyed by performers and audiences around the world. Beyond the concert hall, Brandon has composed and arranged for musical theatre and has written incidental music for numerous contemporary plays, although scoring a film is on their bucket list. Brandon’s goals as a teacher are to empower students to make their voices heard and build brave spaces for students who are also neurodivergent, disabled, queer, and/or trans. Brandon holds an A.Mus.D. in Music Composition and a Graduate Certificate in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies from the University of Michigan, and an M.M. in Composition from The University of Texas at Austin where he engaged in bassoon lessons and ensemble playing as well.
 

Midori Samson

Midori Samson is a bassoonist, educator, and activist. She currently holds the positions of Instructional Assistant Professor of Bassoon at Illinois State University, Second Bassoon in the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Principal Bassoon in the Beloit-Janesville Symphony, and founder and bassoonist of Trade Winds Ensemble, an innovative wind quintet dedicated to sharing music and education around the world. Previously, she was Artist in Residence at Oklahoma State University, Lecturer of Bassoon at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, Fellow in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and performed in several Chicago Symphony Orchestra family concerts in the roles of 2nd bassoon, “Hunter”, and “Ms. Dog”. In addition, she has performed in the Austin, Charleston, and New World symphonies, National Orchestral Institute, New York String Orchestra, and Pacific Music Festival. Her chamber music appearances include the Norfolk and Bowdoin International music festivals, Banff Centre, and Elliott Carter’s 102nd birthday party. As a soloist, she recently performed a recital of seven new solo works for bassoon, which she commissioned by composers from across Africa. She also was the winner of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Wind Ensemble’s inaugural Concerto Competition and will perform Concerto for Bassoon by Frigyes Hidas with the ensemble next year. Originally from Portland, Oregon, she received her Bachelor of Music degree from The Juilliard School, studying with Frank Morelli, and her Master of Music degree from The University of Texas at Austin in 2016, studying with Kristin Wolfe Jensen. In June 2019, Trade Winds Ensemble partnered with the Ruth Ellis Center (a short and long-term residential safe space providing support services for homeless and at-risk LGBTQ youth) to provide workshops centered around creativity, wellness, and self-expression. Upon meeting the youth at Ruth Ellis, it became apparent that dance was a key element in how they expressed themselves. Our classes invited students to use interpretive dance as a compositional technique in both soundpainting and graphic notation activities. In addition, we gave free, family-friendly interactive concerts at local libraries in the Detroit area.

Isaac Sanabria

Isaac Sanabria, Masters student in 2021, won the bassoon position in the U.S. Air Force Concert Band in Washington D.C. This is one of the most prestigious premier bands in the country, and this was his first professional audition! ‘’Conducted by Colonel Don Schofield, the U.S. Air Force Concert Band performs across the United States via biannual tours, engages the local community in our nation’s capital through numerous concert series, and reaches millions globally through live radio, television, and internet broadcasts.’’ A native of Lakeland, Florida, Isaac Sanabria began his bassoon studies at the age of twenty as a sophomore at Brigham Young University, where he earned his BM in Bassoon Performance, studying with Dr. Christian Smith. An avid performer, he has been selected to tour with international performing groups and festivals to China, Switzerland, France, Italy, and Scotland. He was selected as the first prize winner of the 2021 National Federation of Music Clubs Double Reed Competition, the 2021 Utah Music Teachers Association Concerto Competition, as well as the 2020 and 2021 BYU Philharmonic Concerto Competitions, and was the first bassoonist to win two years consecutively, performing Andante and Hungarian Rondo by C.M.V. Weber and the Mozart bassoon concerto.

Michael Severence

Michael is Third Bassoonist and Contrabassoonist of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra in 2014. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in 2012 studying with Kristin Wolfe Jensen at the Butler School of Music at The University of Texas at Austin, and his Master of Music degree at he Shepherd School of Music at Rice University where he won the 2014 concerto competition while studying with Benjamin Kamins.He has performed with many orchestras, including the San Francisco Symphony, the New York Philharmonic and the Houston Symphony. His solo performances at the Shepherd School of Music include the first public performance of Alain Bernaud’s “Fagkonzert” in 2013 and as the winner of the Shepherd School Concerto Competition, the Rossini Bassoon Concerto with the Shepherd School Chamber Orchestra in 2015. He is now a student at Harvard Law School.

Christopher Stahl

Since May of 2003, Christopher Stahl has held the position of principal bassoon with the United States Air Force Band of Liberty. Born in Coram, New York in 1979, he began playing bassoon at the age of eight. In 1997, he started his formal musical training at George Mason University and graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor’s of Music with Concentration in Education. In 2003, Christopher graduated with a Master’s degree in Performance from The University of Texas at Austin. In 2007, Christopher had the honor of performing at the International Double Reed Society Convention at Ithaca College as a member of the woodwind quintet, the New England Winds. During his time in school and as a professional, he has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra (substitute 2000), the Moscow State Radio Symphony (substitute 2000), the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra (principal 2003-04), and the Waco Symphony Orchestra (contrabassoon 2004). Christopher has given performances with ensembles at prestigious venues across the United States some of which include Carnegie Hall, in New York City, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the Barnes at Wolf Trap in Northern Virginia, the Chautauqua Institute in NY, and Jordan Hall in Boston. His principal teachers include: Truman Harris, Kristin Wolfe Jensen, and Richard Svoboda. Since 2003, he has been featured on several CD recordings including The Spirit of Ellis Island and his latest woodwind quintet feature album, Discoveries, which includes a commission by Anthony Plog and three world premiers. Christopher’s touring schedule and free downloads of his latest recordings are available at www.bandofliberty.af.mil and facebook.com/usafbandofliberty.
 

Maya Stone

Dr. Maya Stone is currently Acting Second Bassoon of the Jacksonville Symphony and Instructor of Bassoon at the University of North Florida. She has served as the Assistant Professor of Bassoon at the Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) School of Music, Visiting Professor of Bassoon at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and Visiting Professor of Bassoon at the University of Missouri. Currently, she is Second Bassoonist with the Huntsville Symphony in Alabama, is running a thriving studio of bassoonists in the Nashville area, and serves on the board of the Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition and Symposium. Stone has given master classes solo and chamber music recitals around the United States, and has performed in Europe and South America as well. She holds a D.M.A. in bassoon performance from The University of Texas at Austin, a M.M. in bassoon performance and woodwind specialty from Michigan State University, and a B.M. in music education from the SUNY Potsdam Crane School of Music. She studied with Kristin Wolfe Jensen, Barrick Stees, Frank Wangler and Michael Kroth.

Amanda Swain

Amanda Swain, B.M. 2009, is the Principal Bassoonist of the Houston Grand Opera, and Second Bassoonist in the Houston Ballet, and Instructor of Bassoon at Sam Houston State University, and was selected to teach Professor Jensen’s students for a semester as a sabbatical replacement in 2017. She received her B.M. at The University of Texas at Austin where she studied with Kristin Wolfe Jensen and her M.M. at Northwestern University where she studied with Christopher Millard. She was the Second Place winner in the 2012 Fernand Gillet-Hugo Fox Bassoon Competition. Amanda was the second bassoonist for the Round Rock Symphony and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and has substituted with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She has played under world renowned conductors Leonard Slatkin, Jaap van Sweden, Xian Zhang, Esa Pekka Salonen, and others. She was a founding member of the Chicago-based contemporary ensemble The City of Tomorrow, who won the Gold Medal in the Senior Wind Division of the Fischoff Competition in 2011 . Other accomplishments include winning First Prize in the Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition (2010), being a semi-finalist in the Heida Hermanns International Woodwind Competition (2007), and being selected as an alternate for the Gillet-Fox International Competition for Bassoon (2010). She grew up in Friendswood, Texas.

Shih-Min Tang

Shih-Min Tang, born in Taiwan, resides in Austin, Texas where she maintains a large private studio, and performs with the Richardson and Victoria Symphony Orchestras. She is the second prize recipient in the 2017 “Golden Classical Music Award” International Competition and performed  on the winners’ concert in Carnegie Hall in 2017. She has also received accolades at the Young Texas Artist Competition and the Asia Double Reed Association Competition. As an orchestral musician, Shih-Min has performed with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Kingsville Orchestra, Monte Vista Orchestra and Lubbock Symphony Orchestra. She has traveled as principal bassoonist with the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players for their “Pirates of Penzance” Tour and The University of Texas Wind Ensemble for their 2014 World Tour. She also has traveled with Taipei National University of Art as principal bassoonist for the International Choral Kathaumixw. She has performed in the United States, United Kingdom, Taiwan, Japan, China, Thailand, Canada and Hong Kong. Shih-Min received her Doctor of Musical Arts in Bassoon Performance at The University of Texas at Austin in 2015 where she studied under the tutelage of Professor Kristin Wolfe Jensen and served as the bassoon teaching assistant. She received her M.M. from Indiana University where she studied with Kathleen McClean.

Quincey Trojanowski

Quincey Trojanowski, B.M. 2023, is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Bassoon Performance at the Shepherd School of music at Rice University, studying with Benjamin Kamins. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Bassoon Performance from The University of Texas at Austin (class of 2023) studying with Kristin Wolfe Jensen. Originally from Chicago, Quincey studied bassoon with Miles Maner (2nd bassoonist in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra), and Drew Pattison (professor of bassoon at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music) throughout high school. Quincey is an alumna of the Merit School of Music, the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America. Most recently, Quincey was the 3rd place winner of the 2023 Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition, a finalist in the 2021 Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition, and a member of the 2021 & 2022 Round Top Texas Festival Orchestras. In her free time, Quincey enjoys spending time with cats, traveling, drawing/painting, bouldering, meditating, and cooking. She aspires to travel the world through music someday, and has been absolutely in love with the bassoon since she was eight years old.

Lecolion Washington

Lecolion Washington, Jr., B.M. 1999, was appointed the Executive Director of the Community Music Center of Boston in 2017. Previously, he served as Associate Professor of Bassoon at the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis and bassoonist of the Memphis Woodwind Quintet. He received a Bachelor of Music in Music Studies from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Music in Orchestral Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. He also did Artist Certificate studies at Southern Methodist University. His principal teachers were Kristin Wolfe Jensen, Frank Morelli, and Wilfred Roberts. As a chamber musician, Washington has performed with principal players from orchestras all over the world including the New York Philharmonic, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Mozarteum, the Leipzig Gewaundhaus, and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. He has performed with the New York Chamber Ensemble and the North Country Chamber Players (NH). In the summers, Washington serves on the faculty of the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival in South Africa where he performs, coaches chamber music, and teaches master classes along with faculty from all over the world. Washington is also the founder and director of the PRIZM Chamber Music Festival, which occurs annually in Memphis. The PRIZM Festival creates intensive chamber music experiences for students and adult amateurs. As a soloist Washington has performed concertos with the Round Top Festival Orchestra, the Eroica Ensemble, and the Meadows Symphony Orchestra at Southern Methodist University among others. Professor Washington has given recitals and master classes at schools around the country including the Eastman School of Music, the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, and the University of Texas at Austin. He gave a lecture-recital on music for bassoon by African-American composers at the 2007 National Association for the Study and Performance of African American Music Conference, and he has performed at International Double Reed Conferences in 2005 (Austin, TX), 2007 (Ithaca, NY), 2009 (Birmingham, UK), and 2010 (Norman, OK). Washington has attended the Texas Music Festival, the Cape May Music Festival, and the International Festival Institute at Round Top. In 2008 his first CD, Legacy: Works for Bassoon by African-American Composers, was released on the Albany Records label. The recording was met with rave reviews in several publications and websites including All Music Guide, The American Record Guide, and Fanfare Magazine. He has recently recorded the Eric Ewazen Concerto for Bassoon and Wind Ensemble with the University of Memphis Wind Ensemble. He currently serves as principal bassoon of the Eroica Ensemble in Memphis and performs regularly with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and the IRIS Orchestra. He has served as guest principal bassoon with the Memphis Symphony, the Arkansas Symphony, the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, and the Reno Philharmonic. Washington is a Fox artist and plays on a Fox 660 bassoon.

Steve Wilson

Steven Wilson joined the National Symphony Orchestra as second bassoonist in 2001 after three seasons as principal bassoonist of the Virginia Symphony. Previously, he served as second bassoonist in both the Tulsa Philharmonic and the Abilene Philharmonic. He studied at The University of Texas at Austin with Kristin Wolfe Jensen and at Abilene Christian University with Andy Patterson and Eric Wilson. He has participated in the Round Top, Chautauqua, and Colorado Music Festivals. He currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife, NSO English Hornist Kathryn Meany, and their twins, Austin and Lucy.
 

Julia Windle Littleton

Julia Windle teaches private bassoon lessons in Austin and performs with Round Rock Symphony Orchestra and Waterloo Sound Conspiracy. A native of Kingsport, TN, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy and has participated in the Colorado College Music Festival, Brevard Music Center, Interlochen Arts Camp, and Las Vegas Music Festival. Julia has performed with Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra, Temple Symphony Orchestra and, Orquesta Sinfónica de la UANL (Monterrey Symphony Orchestra) in Monterrey, Mexico. Former teachers include Kristin Wolfe Jensen, Barrick Stees, and Keith McClelland.
 

Meridith Wright

Meridith Wright,M.M. 2017, is the principal bassoonist of Symphony Viva of San Antonio and second bassoonist with the San Antonio Harmonie ensemble. She has performed with the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra, the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, Round Rock Symphony and performs frequently with the Mid Texas Symphony. Meridith maintains a large private studio in the San Antonio area of bassoon students of all levels, beginner through high school. Originally from Houston, Meridith began playing bassoon in her sixth-grade band program, and later joined the Houston Youth Symphony which inspired an interest in orchestral playing, chamber music and a serious pursuit in playing bassoon. She first studied bassoon with University of Houston faculty Cheryl Huddleston and graduated from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. She then received the full tuition Barbara and David Jacobs scholarship to study with Kathleen McLean at Indiana University, where she earned her Bachelor of Music degree. After the completion of her undergraduate studies, Meridith continued on to pursue a graduate degree under fellowship at The University of Texas at Austin and completed a Master’s Degree in performance under the direction of Kristin Wolfe Jensen.