Award winning baritone saxophonist Adrian Barnett has performed all across the nation at venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to Lollapalooza. He has been a featured soloist with symphony orchestras, jazz big bands, concert wind ensembles, and touring rock groups. Active not only as a performer, Adrian continues to be involved with music education. As well as teaching at the collegiate level, he has taught lessons at every level, directed small and large ensembles, written music for a variety of ensembles, given numerous clinics and guest artist appearances, adjudicated festivals, is an active clinician, and continues to teach private lessons.

Saxophonist and composer Alex Graham is an Assistant Professor of Saxophone at Belmont University in Nashville, TN and completed his doctorate in Jazz Studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY in 2009.

Dr. Graham has performed with a variety of well-known artists and his groups have performed at festivals and clubs all over the United States opening for Dave Brubeck, The Count Basie Orchestra, Dianne Reeves and John Pizzarelli, among others. He has been awarded fellowships and residencies to compose original music, and has composed and arranged for small group, big band and studio orchestra. He currently directs the Mackinac Jazz Initiative on Mackinac Island, MI where he has been teaching jazz studies to selected university students every summer since 2008. His latest CD on Origin Records, Brand New, was ranked in jazzweek.com’s top 50 nationally for airplay, and made several top 10 lists in the year it was released.

Vandoren Regional Artist, Alisa Hines has a bachelors in music education from Millikin University class of '95.  Following school, she continued studying clarinet with Jeff Lerner of the University of Houston.  Alisa has over 20 years experience teaching private clarinet and music in the South Houston/Clear Lake area.  She doubles on saxophone and flute and loves performing in the pit for local musicals and at church.  Alisa is married to Chadwick Hines, trumpet player and store manager of H&H Music (Pasadena) and has two daughters that play the French Horn.

Dr. Amanda Morrison is on faculty at Slippery Rock University and a private studio instructor in the Pittsburgh area. She has served on the staff of Fairmont State University, West Liberty University, Florida State University, and Gulf Coast Community College. Morrison has given performances and lectures at the International Clarinet Association’s ClarinetFest, the NACWPI National Convention, the Music by Women Festival, the West Virginia Music Educators Association Conference, the American Musicological Society’s National Conference, and numerous universities throughout the United States. She is a founding member of the Milano Duo clarinet ensemble and the PM Woodwind Project (a flute and clarinet duo committed to sharing education-based chamber and solo music performances). Morrison has been a clarinetist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, and Butler Symphony Orchestra. Having a strong interest in extended techniques for clarinet, Morrison’s research focuses on the music of clarinetist/composer Eric Mandat, publishing numerous articles on his life and works in the Clarinet Journal and NACWPI Journal. She is also a registered and licensed Music Together early childhood music teacher. Dr. Morrison earned a BM degree from Duquesne University and MM and DM degrees from Florida State University with her principal teachers being Mark Nuccio, Dr. Deborah Bish, and Dr. Frank Kowalsky. When she is not performing, teaching, or spending time with her family, she enjoys reading, traveling with her family, attending modern dance and movement classes, and indulging in vegan dark chocolate.

Amanda Walker is a clarinet concert artist, studio recording musician, and teacher.  A native of Great Britain, she graduated from the prestigious Royal College of Music in London with honors, and was an exchange student at UCLA where she earned the Master of Fine Arts with the acclaimed clarinetist, Gary Gray.  She pursued additional studies at USC with Yehuda Gilad, Michele Zukovsky, Mitchell Lurie, and David Howard.   Ms. Walker is in high demand as a studio recording artist, and can be heard on the soundtracks of numerous films, including The American President and Cast Away.  She has also performed with the Pacific Symphony, Opera Pacific, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Los Angeles Opera, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the Long Beach Symphony, the Santa Barbara Symphony, and the Los Angeles Mozart Orchestra.  In addition to her annual coaching sessions at the Idyllwild School of the Arts Summer Program for the junior high school, high school, and college divisions, Ms. Walker is currently on the faculty of the UC Irvine Department of Music where she teaches clarinet.  A strong advocate for music education, she currently has 40 students in her private clarinet studio, many of whom have been selected to participate in the California All-State Honor Bands and Honor Orchestras, the All-Southern California Honor Band and Honor Orchestra, and the Southern California Society of Bands and Orchestras.

Andy Wright serves on the faculty of Grayson College in Denison, TX where he conducts the band and offers saxophone lessons. Prior to this appointment, he maintained a studio of over 50 students in the DFW area. These students often earn positions in the All-State and All-Region bands along with positions in local ensembles such as the Lone Star Youth Orchestra and the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Wind Symphony. Additionally, his students have been semi-finalists for competitions at the North American Saxophone Alliance biennial conference.

As a saxophonist based out of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Dr. Wright has been guest soloist with the Lone Star Wind Orchestra, Grayson College Concert Band and the University of North Texas Symphonic Band. He has appeared with various ensembles, mostly notably the Lone Star Wind Orchestra, the North Texas Wind Symphony, the Plano Symphony Orchestra, Odysseus Chamber Orchestra and the Les Elgart Orchestra. Along with numerous solo recitals, Dr. Wright has performed and presented lectures at various North American Saxophone Alliance conferences and World Saxophone Congresses. He can be heard as a featured soloist on multiple recordings from the North Texas Wind Symphony including: Canvases, Composer’s Collection: George Gershwin, Reconstructions and Conclave. Dr. Wright has shared the stage with Ray Charles, Chris Vadala, Steve Houghton, Marc Nuccio and Andy Martin.

Dr. Wright received his doctorate degree in saxophone performance from the University of North Texas studying with Eric Nestler. He holds a Masters of music degree in jazz studies from the world renown jazz program at the University of North Texas, studying with Jim Riggs along with a Bachelors in music education from the University of Central Arkansas under the tutelage of Jackie Lamar.

Andy Wright is a Yamaha Performing Artist and Vandoren Regional Artist and performs on Yamaha saxophone and Vandoren mouthpieces and reeds exclusively.

Audrey Denny currently works at Saxquest, repairing
woodwind instruments. Audrey apprenticed in clarinet repair with Morrie
Backun and Elaine Ward at Backun Musical Services. She also worked for
Conn-Selmer, Inc/Leblanc Division where she worked as a clarinet tester
and instrument technician. Audrey obtained her Bachelor's of Music
Degree from DePaul University in 2000. As a free-lance musician in
Chicago, Audrey performed concerts with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
(CSO) and was a regular member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago in
1999. Audrey was also a member of the Barossa Quintet and was a lecturer
at DePaul University where she taught clarinet methods to music
education majors.

Betty Bley, a Vandoren Regional Artist, is a clarinetist with The Pro Arté Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington, The Loudoun Symphony, and The Virginia Grand Military Band. She maintains a large private studio and works throughout Northern Virginia as an adjudicator, clinician, master class instructor, clarinet sectional coach, and freelance musician.

Ms. Bley’s students are routinely selected as principal players in local youth orchestras, youth wind programs, All-District Bands, Senior Regional Orchestras, and the Virginia All-State Band on all types of clarinet including Bb Soprano, Eb Soprano, Bass Clarinet, Contra Alto Clarinet and Contra Bass Clarinet. During the past two years, only four clarinet students from the state of Virginia were selected as Bb Clarinetists in the NafME All-National Honor Band, and they were all Ms. Bley’s students. One of her students was the Woodwind Division Winner of the nation-wide SmartMusic Bumblebee Competition. Two of her students were among six finalists in the 2016 Sidney Forrest Clarinet Competition at Catholic University, and one of them was awarded the top prize. Ms. Bley is the editor of clarinet music for the Virginia Band & Orchestra Directors Association, grading and maintaining a database of over 4,000 solo and ensemble works for clarinet. For four weeks each summer, she teaches clarinet technique to 125 beginning through high school clarinet students at the Vienna Band Camp.

Ms. Bley’s teachers include Patti Carlson, Paul Cigan, Barbara Duman, Sidney Forrest, William Wright and Garrick Zoeter. She holds a MMA in Clarinet Performance from Shenandoah Conservatory, a BA in Music and a BS in Psychology from the College of William & Mary, attended the University of Michigan School of Music at Interlochen, and holds a MS in Management Information Systems from the George Washington University. In December of 2015, Ms. Bley performed solos on Eb soprano clarinet and Bb clarinet at the Bruges Conservatory in Belgium and received a Clarinetissimo Talent Award for her “outstanding performances and high artistic level.”

Atlanta-based saxophonist, Brandyn Taylor, is Adjunct Professor of Saxophone at Georgia State University and Reinhardt University. In addition to mentoring a thriving private studio of students from across the metropolitan region, he is the saxophone instructor for the Atlanta Music Academy and the Principal Saxophonist of the 116th United States Army Band. He is in demand as a clinician at schools throughout the state.

He has performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Ballet, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Saxophone Quartet, Bent Frequency, Terminus Ensemble, and Chamber Cartel. In his work as an Atlanta freelancer, he has performed with Grammy Award winners Patti LaBelle, Maxwell, and Brandon Bush. Brandyn has been featured on various NPR programs broadcasted across the north and southeast including "Atlanta Music Scene", "In a Mellow Tone", and MIT's "Not Brahms and Liszt". He made his Nashville recording debut in the summer of 2014 with the band RYE. Former students have been awarded top prizes/chairs in competitions across the southeast and earned full-ride scholarships to study music at prestigious universities.

Brandyn holds degrees in music performance from Columbus State University and Georgia State University. His primary teacher was Dr. Jan Berry Baker, with additional studies from Dr. Frederick Hemke, Joseph Lulloff, and Mace Hibbard. Brandyn is a Vandoren Artist-Clinician and a Conn-Selmer Performing Artist.

Concert saxophonist, Chika Inoue has been praised for her "beautiful tone, acute sensitivity and virtuosic technique." She has received numerous performance awards in competitions, lavishing praise as a soloist and chamber musician. Chika has performed internationally at major venues, appearing as soloist and chamber musician in the United States, Germany, Italy, China, and Japan with lavishing admiration. She has been a featured performing artist in international festivals such as The Faenza International Saxophone Festival in Italy, and The Yamaha Saxophone Festival in Japan. Additionally, she was recitalist and master class teacher at The International China Clarinet, and Saxophone Music Festival in Taiyuan, China and University of Arts, Berlin (UdK). She is on-call saxophonist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. 

Chika actively looks beyond the standard saxophone repertoire for works that allow the saxophone to shine, continuously transcribing and performing works of violin, clarinet, oboe, flute, voice and piano, expanding the limits of the saxophone technique and artistry. Although her concentration has primarily been on classical music, her phenomenal musicianship is embraced by jazz, film, ethnic folk, rock and electronic musical genres in her concerts.

A native of Osaka, Japan, Chika spent most of her youth in Frankfurt, Germany and San Diego, California.  She has won first prize laureate at the Japan International League of Artists Music Competition, the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus Young Artists Competition, Redlands Bowl Young Artist Competition, Fresno Musical Club Bell T. Richie Award, and the Beverly Hills National Auditions. A graduate of the USC Thornton School of Music (D.M.A.), California State University, Fresno (M.A.), and UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music (B.A.), Chika is dedicated to sharing her knowledge with students. She is currently on faculty at Los Angeles City College as well as the California State University, Dominguez Hills. 

Don Norton is a saxophonist and woodwind performer based in Portland, OR. He has extensive performance experience in a variety of styles that include jazz, classical, world music, and musical theater. In addition to performing, his musical interests include jazz history and pedagogical methods for jazz and saxophone performance, and he has presented research at conferences of the Jazz Education Network and the North American Saxophone Alliance.

Don is an Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Portland, where he serves as Director of Jazz Studies and teaches saxophone and academic courses in music and fine arts. He holds degrees from the University of Northern Colorado, the New England Conservatory of Music, and Northern Illinois University.

Drew Whiting’s diverse musical interests have led him to perform with symphony orchestras, big bands, new music ensembles, salsa bands, improvisation collectives, chamber ensembles, and solo recitals of traditional and contemporary saxophone works throughout the United States. An advocate for new music, he has worked with composers and has performed more than twenty world premieres of compositions by established and emerging composers. In addition to performing, Dr. Whiting is a dedicated and vibrant teacher. In 2013, Dr. Whiting joined the music faculty at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh as Lecturer of Music, where he teaches courses on music and culture, music theory, and saxophone. Drew Whiting received Master and Bachelor of Music degrees from the Michigan State University College of Music and completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Gina lives in the DFW area and is a graduate of University of North Texas. After completing her studies, she became the Assistant Band Director at Killian Middle School in Lewisville, a position she held for four years. In 2013, Gina formed the Lone Star Clarinet Camp which has since expanded into Austin and is sponsored by Vandoren. She was one of the first Vandoren Regional Artists and has been performing clinics on a regular basis.

A versatile artist, Jackie Glazier is an active soloist, chamber musician, orchestral clarinetist, pedagogue, and advocate of new music. Dr. Glazier was appointed Assistant Professor of Clarinet at The University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music in 2016. Solo performances have taken Jackie throughout the United States and internationally to Paris, France. Jackie gave the world premiere of Scott McAllister’s Concerto Americana, which led to subsequent performances, including the College Band Director’s National Association Conference. Jackie has collaborated in a chamber music setting with members of the Chicago Symphony and Philadelphia Orchestra, and appeared at numerous chamber music series. Jackie performed regularly with the Orlando Philharmonic as principal, second, and e-flat clarinet from 2011-2016. She was appointed principal clarinet of the Ocala Symphony, where she served from 2012 to 2016. She currently performs with the Tucson Symphony and the Grammy Award-nominated True Concord Voices. Orchestral collaborations include many internationally renowned artists such as Renée Fleming, Joshua Bell, and Yefim Bronfman. Jackie was the first-prize winner of the International Clarinet Association Orchestral Competition at ClarinetFest 2014. An active clinician and educator, Dr. Glazier has presented guest master classes at major universities throughout the United States. She has earned degrees from Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, University of Florida, and Florida State University. Her teachers include Richie Hawley, Karl Leister, Mitchell Estrin, Deborah Bish, Ixi Chen and Jonathan Gunn. In her spare time, Jackie enjoys hiking, biking, travelling, and playing tennis.

Dr. Jackie McIlwain is Assistant Professor of Clarinet at The University of Southern Mississippi. In addition to championing new works for clarinet and performing in regional orchestra, Dr. McIlwain is also licensed in Body Mapping as an Andover Educator. 

Saxophonist and Educator Jacob Swanson has been praised by audiences and composers for his “... gorgeous, lyrical tone, spectacular technique, and heartfelt musicality ...” As an educator, Swanson actively shares his passion for music with others. In 2016 Swanson was invited to guest conduct the Cattaraugus County All County High School Band. He teaches instrumental music for the Gowanda Central School District in Gowanda, NY and maintains a studio at Infinity Visual and Performing Arts in Jamestown, NY where he co-founded and directs the Infinity Saxophone Ensemble (a youth saxophone orchestra) with fellow saxophonist, Sarah Marchitelli. Swanson holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees and a Performer’s Certificate from the State University of New York at Fredonia where he studied with saxophonist Wildy Zumwalt. He has additionally studied with Carina Raschèr.

James Moffitt has been the Honolulu Symphony’s Associate Principal and Bass Clarinet since 1981, and also served four separate seasons as Acting Principal Clarinet. He has toured, performed and recorded with the Chicago Symphony Winds and Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Alabama Symphony, as well as performed with the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra for 10 seasons. His festival credits include the Britt Festival Orchestra, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and the Aspen Music Festival.

Vandoren Regional Artist Jenny Maclay enjoys a diverse career as a clarinet soloist, recitalist, orchestral player, and chamber musician. Ms. Maclay was the recipient of the 2015-2016 Harriet Hale Woolley award for musical study in Paris, where she received her Master of Musique, interprétation, et patrimoine at the Versailles Conservatoire in the class of Philippe Cuper. She has achieved several notable musical honors, including selection as a semi-finalist and finalist for such international competitions as Concert Artists Guild and Astral Artists. Most recently, Ms. Maclay received 1st prize at the 2017 Clé d’Or international music competition. She made her solo debut at the age of 16, as first prize winner of the Huntsville Symphony Young Artist Competition. She was the only North American high school student invited to participate (on a full scholarship) in the inaugural year of the Buffet Crampon USA Summer Clarinet Academy.  Additionally, she was the highest ranked clarinetist at the 2016 Tunbridge Wells International Young Artist Competition in England.

Maclay has performed with orchestras throughout Europe and North America. In 2017, she toured with the Jeune Philharmonie franco-allemande et hongroise, an international orchestra comprised of musicians from over 20 different countries. During past seasons, she has performed with several orchestras, including the Ensemble Orchestral Les Voyages Extraordinaires, Écoute Ensemble de Musique Contemporaine, Orchestre d’Harmonie de Levallois, Florida Orchestra, Valdosta Symphony, Ocala Symphony, and the Gainesville Chamber Orchestra. As a chamber musician, Maclay has performed several masterworks in prestigious venues, such as her performance of the Mozart clarinet quintet at the pre-opening at La Seine Musicale in Paris.  Ms. Maclay received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Clarinet Performance at the University of Florida, where she graduated summa cum laude and was a Fulbright Scholar finalist. Her teachers include Philippe Cuper, Mitchell Estrin, Donald Dowdy, Todd Waldecker, and John Cooper. She has performed in the master classes of noted clarinetists Stanley Drucker, Yehuda Gilad, Jon Manasse, and Charles Neidich, at such venues as the International Clarinet Association ClarinetFest and Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium. She was the youngest presenter of refereed research at the 2014 International Clarinet Association ClarinetFest. Ms. Maclay has presented recitals and master classes at the University of Central Florida, University of South Florida, University of Southern Mississippi, and was a featured soloist at the keynote ceremony of the 2015 Alabama Music Educators Association Conference.

Ms. Maclay maintains a popular blog, Jenny Clarinet, where she regularly posts educational articles and advice for musicians. Her first book, an examination of unaccompanied clarinet repertoire, is currently in publication.  Ms. Maclay is a Vandoren Regional Artist and performs exclusively on Vandoren reeds, mouthpieces, and ligatures.

Jessica Maple is a clarinetist currently residing in San Antonio, TX. She works at High School Music Service, specializing in band and orchestra instruments and accessories. A band director of seven years, Jessica remains connected with the music education world, working for various school districts in the Texas region, teaching beginner woodwinds, high school band and music theory.

John Thomas is an experienced and effective educator, having previously held teaching positions at East Carolina University, the University of Northern Colorado, Colorado Christian University. Before relocating to Baltimore, he was the Director of Jazz Studies at Casper College, and is currently the Director of Jazz Ensembles at the Baltimore School of the Arts while maintaining an active private saxophone studio.

He holds a double Masters of Music in Jazz Studies and Saxophone Performance from East Carolina University. Currently, Mr. Thomas is pursuing a doctoral degree in classical saxophone performance at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University.

Jordan VanHemert is a composer and woodwind specialist residing in Holland, Michigan. As a composer, Jordan actively fulfills commissions for new chamber music and jazz ensemble compositions. A champion of new music, Dr. VanHemert actively commissions and performs works from composers of underrepresented backgrounds. VanHemert has presented and performed at the Michigan Music Conference, Jazz Education Network, and North American Saxophone Alliance conferences. He is also an adjudicator for the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association and Central Michigan University Jazz Weekend.

Dr. VanHemert currently serves on the faculty of Hope College as Assistant Professor of Music, where he teaches Applied Saxophone, Saxophone Quartet, Jazz History, and is the director of Hope's flagship jazz ensemble, the Jazz Arts Collective. Jordan holds degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Michigan, and Central Michigan University.

Dr. Julie Schumacher Detweiler is a classical freelance clarinetist who has been described as delivering her musical style with “flair.” Dr. Detweiler has served as a New York Philharmonic Teaching Artist and has taught in the pre-college programs at both Manhattan School of Music and The Julliard School. She has maintained an active private-teaching studio for seventeen years.

Dr. Detweiler received her Bachelor of Music in clarinet performance from the State University of New York at Potsdam, her Master of Music degree at Northwestern University, and her Doctor of Music degree in clarinet performance at Florida State University. Julie’s teaching philosophy is: Successful music education requires equal passion and dedication to both music and teaching. I believe in music education that motivated and inspires students through positive modeling and approval-based techniques and ultimately teaches the student to teach herself with confidence.

Saxophonist and woodwind artist Justin Pierce serves as Assistant Professor of Instrumental Music at Oklahoma Baptist University, where he teaches saxophone, clarinet, and jazz studies courses. As a freelance woodwind performer, Justin has performed with The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Doc Severinsen, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, The Temptations, The O'Jays, and Wayne Newton.

Justin is currently ABD in the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Saxophone Performance at the University of North Texas, where he also earned a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies. While at North Texas, Justin served as lead alto saxophonist in the One O’Clock Lab Band (Lab 2012) and the Two O’Clock Lab Band (Two Twos). Justin is active as a clinician and adjudicator in Oklahoma and Texas, and has recently presented at TMEA, JEN, and NASA.

Kristen Boulet is a professional clarinetist and
woodwind specialist in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. She maintains a large
clarinet studio in the Southlake, Northwest, and Lewisville ISD’s. She
is a freelance artist across the metroplex on multiple woodwind
instruments and has performed in various ensembles. In addition, she is a
graduate from Texas Tech University, 1990. Kristen received her BME in
music education. Mrs. Boulet’s clinics focus on developing the total
clarinetist by emphasizing the importance of a beautiful tone, solid
fundamentals, musicality, and the intricate nuances of the instrument
itself. She also works with many directors in developing the best
clarinet sections. She does this through proper equipment choices and
correct clarinet pedagogy from the beginning.

Seattle born clarinetist, Levana Cohen is an avid performer and music educator. Her performances have taken her to some of the most prestigious concert halls including, Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose hall, the Koussevitzky Music Shed and Ozawa hall of Tanglewood, Benaroya Hall, Symphony Space, The DiMenna Center, Flushing Town Hall and the 92ndY sharing the stage and performing with such artists as Frank Morelli, William Purvis, Steven Taylor, Shlomo Mintz and the Emerson String Quartet to name a few.  Levana's life as a NY based freelance musician has made her into an extremely versatile musician performing and teaching in a multitude of different genres. In performance, these genres include the ballet, pit orchestra, opera, chamber music (both in the concert hall and for house parties), studio musician (recording for TV and radio), and the occasional concerto. Currently, Levana perform as the Principal Clarinetist for the Astoria Symphony Orchestra and appears at universities nation-wide leading masterclasses, clinics and performing recitals and concertos.

As a committed and devoted music educator, Dr. Cohen enjoys teaching students of all ages.  At this time, she teaches Clarinet and Woodwind Methods at LIU Post, is the Clarinet Instructor at Suffolk County Community College, and operates her own private teaching studio in Port Washington NY.  Apart from helping her students find their true, unique voice on their instrument, one of her highest priorities at the college level is to prepare her students for successful careers in music.  Dr. Cohen also enjoys her work as a clinician with the Vandoren Regional Artist program, Woodwind Specialist and coach with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestras of New York, as a chamber music coach for Stony Brook University, and as director of the Port Washington Clarinet Choir. 

Levana holds both a Master of Music degree and a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from Stony Brook University under the tutelage of Daniel Gilbert.  She performs on Buffet Tosca clarinets and uses Vandoren mouthpiece, ligature and reed products.

Las Vegas musician Lynzii O’Connor is the Saxophone & Clarinet Paraprofessional for Clark County School District, the largest fine arts department in the country with over 47,000 students enrolled in secondary music programs. She will be the Woodwinds Coach for the Las Vegas Youth Orchestras Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Band beginning this fall, and has been an adjudicator and clinician for the Nevada Music Educators Association, Southern Nevada Band Association, and Las Vegas Music Teachers Association; Woodwinds Coach of the Las Vegas Philharmonic Youth Orchestra; Adjunct Instructor of Saxophone at Union College; and Band Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. O’Connor maintains a private woodwind and piano studio of more than seventy students in Nevada.

Mande Gragg is an independent private clarinet teacher and music educator based in Midland, Texas. Mande received her Bachelor of Music degree from Angelo State University in 2005 and has since served as a clarinet teacher, performing musician, band director, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the Permian Basin.  Currently, Ms. Gragg is a Vandoren Regional Artist and maintains a private clarinet studio while performing as Bass Clarinetist for the Midland-Odessa Symphony & Chorale.  She is also frequently seen within the Midland community, as a woodwind specialist, performing in local stage productions, church orchestras, and educational concerts. 

Ms. Gragg is a strong advocate for music education in the public school system, especially in rural, small-town school districts. As a fifth-generation Texan raised in a small farming and ranching community, Mande believes that music has something to offer to everyone, no matter the background, income amount, or zip code.  She continues to live by her roots, on a ranch, with her husband and two children near Midland, Tx.  

Check out the latest from Mande's Clarinet Studio!

Concert saxophonist and pedagogue Matthew Younglove, a South Carolina native, has performed concerts and recitals across the United States, France, and the UK. He currently serves on the faculty of Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, and is pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Contemporary Music at Bowling Green State University, in Bowling Green, OH. Additionally, he has served on the faculties of the University of South Carolina and Edinboro University of Pennsylvannia.

Younglove is a Presser Scholar and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of South Carolina where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Saxophone Performance. He completed graduate studies at Northwestern University earning a Master of Music in Saxophone Performance. His principle teachers include Connie Akers, Frederick Hemke, Clifford Leaman, and John Sampen.

Melissa Koprowski is Assistant Professor of Clarinet at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Alabama, and completed her Master's and Doctorate of Musical Arts degrees in music performance from The University of Southern California. Dr. Koprowski is an active performer and soloist. Dr. Koprowski has performed with many orchestras across America including the Alabama Symphony, Huntsville Symphony, Downey Symphony, Burbank Philharmonic, and American Youth Symphony. She can be seen and heard as clarinetist on the Dreamworks film, The Soloist.

As a dedicated teacher and pedagogue, Dr. Koprowski has been teaching clarinet to all ages ranging from elementary to college and has had many students become successful performers and educators across the country. Previous to her appointment at the UWEC, she taught for five years as Professor of Clarinet at The Master's College, teaching clarinet, chamber music, and woodwind techniques.

Mike Waddell is a Wilmington, North Carolina native with degrees from the University of Michigan (M.M. ‘79, clarinet) and East Carolina University (B.M.E. ‘78).

Waddell is the recipient of two Jazz Composer Fellowships from the North Carolina Arts Council (‘94 & ‘99), as well as two Regional Project Artist Grants from the United Arts Council (‘98 & ‘04). His has released two jazz CD’s, “Defining Moments” (2001) and “Not From Concentrate” (‘95). Jazz Times reviewer Owen Cordle writes, “Defining Moments defines Mike Waddell as a complete artist, a triple threat as clarinetist, saxophonist, and composer. “Mr. Cordle chose this as one of his top ten jazz picks of 2001 in the Raleigh, N.C. News and Observer.

Noah Vece graduated in 2011 with a B.M. in Saxophone Performance from Kennesaw State University. During that time he studied with Sam Skelton, Tyrone Jackson, Kenneth Fischer, James Houlik, and Chris Hemingway, among many others. Comfortable in any genre of music, Noah remains active as a multiple woodwind doubler at nearly all of the professional theatres throughout the state of Georgia. He also maintains a private studio of students of all ages who have consistently made top scores at district and state level auditions. 

Originally from Wisconsin, Rebecca Berinsky has taught clarinet in Texas since 2006. In addition to maintaining a full private studio, Mrs. Berinsky stays active as a performer. She is a member of the Round Rock Symphony and Waterloo Sound Conspiracy, a local chamber music ensemble. Berinsky has performed with the San Antonio Chamber Orchestra, the San Antonio Symphony, and the Brazos Valley Symphony. Mrs. Berinsky holds degrees in clarinet performance from the University of Michigan (BM) and University of Texas (MM).

Ricky Parrell completed his Master's degree in saxophone performance at the University of North Texas with a related field of jazz studies.  He also holds a Bachelor's degree in music education from George Mason University.  Comfortable in all performing styles, Mr. Parrell is currently serving as a member of one of the premier Washington D.C. military bands. Additionally, he is frequently seen in the Washington D.C. area working as a freelance musician and sideman.  In 2010, Mr. Parrell had the pleasure of performing the World Premiere of Vincent Oppido's Rituals for Alto Saxophone and Orchestral Winds. The piece was written specifically for Mr. Parrell and the George Mason University Wind Symphony. Mr. Parrell is an active educator and currently holds the position as adjunct faculty and instructor of saxophone at Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria Campus.

Roman Cisneros is currently one of the most sought after artist teachers in the Houston area. He is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music where he was under the guidance of Jon Manasse. After graduation, Roman toured North America for 8 years with the 3rd National Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. In addition, he has toured Japan 13 times as 2nd clarinetist with the New York Symphonic Ensemble.

Sarah Roberts is currently a saxophonist living near the Dallas/Ft. Worth Area. In August 2014, Ms. Roberts began work as the Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies at The University of Texas at Tyler in Tyler, TX. Her responsibilities include the instruction of the saxophone studio, directing the UT Tyler Jazz Ensemble, and the UT Tyler Jazz Patriots Combo.

Ms. Roberts holds dual masters of music degrees in saxophone performance and jazz studies from the University of North Texas and dual bachelor’s degrees in saxophone performance and jazz studies from the University of Michigan.

Shawn Maxwell is a jazz saxophonist currently residing in Chicago, IL. He has an extensive performing career, touring internationally with various groups. With equal parts genius and toil, Maxwell has become one the preeminent performers in the Chicago jazz landscape. His multi-instrumental talents have been lauded by fellow musicians and critics alike. Equally involved in his performance career, Shawn has an extensive background in clarinet doubling and music education. Shawn earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Millikin University in 1999.

Dr. Shelley Jagow (Wright State University; Dayton, OH) serves as Professor of Saxophone and Director of Symphonic Band; her university student Avion Saxophone Quartet can be heard on Cdbaby.com. "Dr.J" enjoys working with schools bands and presents clinics, performances, adjudications, and serves as honor band conductor at state, national, and international events. She is a contributing author to both The Music Director's Cookbook (Meredith) and Teaching Music Through Performance in Band (GIA). Shelley also authored Teaching Instrumental Music: Developing the Complete Band Program, Tuning for Wind Instruments: A Roadmap to Successful Intonation, Intermediate Studies for Developing Artists on the Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone, and Bassoon (Meredith Music) and the Londeix Lectures--a multi-vdv set archiving the historical lectures of Jean-Marie Londeix (and translated by William Street, University of Alberta) available at www.adolphesax.com or www.wright.edu/musicstore.

Stacey McColley is the adjunct professor of clarinet at St. Petersburg College, Florida Southern College, Eckerd College, Southeastern University, and is on the faculty of the InterHarmony International Music Festival in Arcidosso, Italy. She serves as Principal Clarinet with the Charlotte Symphony, utility clarinet with the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Solo Clarinetist with the Reflections Chamber Ensemble, and performs regularly on bass clarinet with the Sarasota Opera. She served as principal clarinet in the Opera Tampa Orchestra under Maestro Anton Coppola, and also with Opera Naples. Stacey is active as a soloist and chamber musician. She performed a recital in Madrid Spain in 2015, has recently performed concertos in both Florida and California, and has performed in ClarinetFest and Carnegie Hall. She performs chamber music throughout the state of Florida and in Italy, focusing on the work of modern composers.

Stacey earned her Master’s Degree in Clarinet Performance from the University of California, and while in California studied with clarinet legends Mitchell Lurie, Kalmen Bloch, Michelle Zukovsky and William Powell. She received her BA from the University of South Florida. Stacey’s students are accepted at prestigious Colleges and Universities across the country. In addition to being a Regional Artist, Stacey is a Buffet Crampon Performing Artist.

Saxophonist Sunil Gadgil is best known as a prominent and active soloist, chamber musician, and teacher of the saxophone. He has been lauded as a “virtuosic” and “effortless” soloist, and his chamber music performances with the Bel Cuore Quartet. Gadgil frequently appears on stage as a member of the Zenith Quintet, the Bel Cuore Quartet, the Austin Saxophone Ensemble, and REVEL Classical Band. 

Gadgil is also the Director of Sax Pro Workshops, which brings the Austin-area student saxophone community together with guest artist master classes and summer workshops designed to broaden and deepen students’ understanding of musicianship and the saxophone. Gadgil completed his doctoral and other degrees in music from The University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music. When he is not performing, practicing, or teaching, Gadgil enjoys cooking, singing with his wife Kristin, and playing with his dogs Tashi and Maggie.

Taylor Barbay Assad is an active member of the professional saxophone community and has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in France, Scotland, Croatia, and all over the United States. As an advocate for new music, she has premiered works for solo saxophone, saxophone and live electronics, saxophone and fixed media, saxophone duo, chamber ensemble, and saxophone quartet. Her work in the commissioning of various compositional projects led to her dissertation titled “Insights into the Collaborative Process between Electronic Music Composers and Commissioning Saxophonists.” In this project, she explored the relationships between composers and performers and examined case studies of completed commissioned new works for saxophone and electronics. She has performed at the Electric LaTex Festival, the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, New Music DePaul, the Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium, NOLA Chamber Fest, at North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial and Regional Conferences, and at the World Saxophone Congress. 

Dr. Assad is a founding member of Quartetto Obrigado, a Louisiana-based professional saxophone quartet. The ensemble regularly performs new commissioned music and standard saxophone quartet repertoire at North American Saxophone Conferences and at World Saxophone Congress conferences. Quartetto Obrigado collaborated with Red Shift Choir for a performance of Estonian composer Tõnu Kõrvits’ Hymns from the Western Coast. They also premiered David Stock’s Circling the Square for saxophone quartet and marimba with Dr. Gustavo Miranda at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. 

As a jazz musician and doubler, Dr. Assad has performed with industry greats such as the Four Tops, Johnny Mathis, and the Harry James Jazz Orchestra. She has performed with the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. In addition, she performs with Minos the Saint, an eclectic chamber-folk ensemble with Cajun and Zydeco influence and elements of music from the Eastern European, Latin, and jazz traditions.  Dr. Assad routinely directs sectionals and gives clinics and masterclasses throughout Louisiana. She directed a group of over thirty saxophonists from Louisiana universities during a recital performance at the Regional North American Saxophone Alliance Conference in Oxford, Mississippi. Students of her private studio routinely make the Louisiana All-State Symphonic, Concert, and Jazz Bands.

Dr. Assad teaches saxophone, flute, and jazz at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. She has degrees with concentrations in Music Education, Music Performance, and Arts Administration. Her primary teachers include Griffin Campbell, Jonathan Helton, and Geoffrey Deibel. She performs on Selmer saxophones and is a Vandoren Artist-Clinician.

Dr. Todd Goranson is an Associate Professor of Music  (Bassoon/Saxophone/Jazz) at Messiah College, PA, having served  previously on the faculties of Texas A&M University-Commerce and  Frostburg State University. Goranson has enjoyed a performance career  playing saxophone and bassoon in a wide variety of settings and genres.  In addition to his own performing groups, he has appeared in concert  with a diverse list of artists including Ray Charles, Johnny Mathis, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra and more.

A native of the Pacific Northwest, saxophonist Tracy  Knoop is one of the best-known jazz artists and teachers in the region.  After graduating from the Berklee School of Music in Boston,  Massachusetts, he joined the world-famous Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and  toured with them for ten years. He can be heard on commercial recordings by the Charlie May All-Star Big Band, Keith Henson, Octet, Pony Boy  All-Star Big Band, and the Tracy Knoop Quartet. He continues to perform and teach extensively throughout the Northwest and across the country.