Tuesday, April 17, 2012

WindSync @ Elefante Music

“The world is saying ‘yes’ to WindSync!” – Culturemap Houston

“…revolutionary chamber musicians” – Houston Chronicle

WindSync presents

Homeward Bound

A Concert Featuring Music Inspired by Our Travels across America

Tuesday, April 24, 2012 @ 7:30pm
Elefante Music & School for the Performing Arts
$12 adults/ $6 students
1790 Springfield  Ave.
New Providence, NJ
(908) 464-5928
www.elefantemusic.com  *  www.windsync.org


"Homeward Bound" is a concert featuring music of American composers and song writers. This concert is the culmination for two months of touring across America and Canada. Repertoire includes music by Aaron Copland, Eric Ewazen, Billy Joel, David Maslanka and more.

A young, fresh and energetic ensemble, WindSync, is thrilling audiences with their unique approach to classical music. WindSync specializes in creative and engaging interactive performances that inspire audiences of all ages. Critics and audiences alike rave about performances that expand the woodwind quintet repertoire with several world premiere pieces that were written or arranged especially for WindSync. Houston public radio called WindSync, “innovative…unconventional and exciting” and Idyllwild Arts Academy praised WindSync as “one of the most talented groups of young musicians on the scene today.”

Strongly committed to educational enrichment, WindSync has performed in over 50 concerts in schools since the ensemble began in 2009, enriching the lives of students from San Francisco to the Virgin Islands. Young Audiences of Houston applauded WindSync for their “extraordinary ability to connect with students, educators, administrators and parents in a powerful and meaningful way.” Masterclasses and lecture recitals given at Drexel University and Stanford University and at high schools such as Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and California’s Idyllwild Arts Academy have received similar acclaim. Working with Music for Autism, Windsync has presented specialized performances across the United States for students with special needs. WindSync frequently performs at schools throughout southeastern Texas representing Da Camera of Houston and Young Audiences of Houston, an arts program that serves over a quarter of a million students.

Recognized for their adventurous programming, WindSync was named the 2011-2012 Ensemble in Residence for the Da Camera of Houston Young Artist Program. The ensemble was a finalist in the prestigious Astral Artist Competition in Philadelphia in 2009 and Artist in Residence for The Music Bus Tour in 2010. Recently, WindSync was named Artist in Residence for 2012 at Newark Academy in Livingston, New Jersey and was invited to perform at the 34th Annual Chamber Music America Conference in New York City in January 2012. Dedicated to building a sense of community and promoting arts engagement, they appear in the concert series “first Tuesday at Methodist” and their programs have been enjoyed by children and families at The Children's Museum of Houston and at M.D Anderson Children's Hospital. In Houston, where they are based, WindSync was the founding ensemble of Classical Revolution and have been heard numerous times on the Houston Public Radio’s “The Front Row.” As Windsync begins its third year with an array of accomplishments, it is apparent why CultureMap Houston writes, “the world is saying yes to WindSync.”

WINDSYNC MEMBERS

Garrett Hudson, Flute

Garrett emerged as a promising young musician through the Manitoba high school band program and has since gone on to win numerous local, provincial and national music competitions. He performed his orchestral solo debut with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra at the age of 16 and with the same orchestra recently performed Mozart's Flute Concerto in D Major. Mr. Hudson earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of British Columbia in 2007, studying under Scottish flutist Lorna McGhee. He has held positions in some of North America's leading professional training orchestras including the National Academy Orchestra of Canada and the Orchestre de la Francophonie based in Montreal, Quebec. Additionally he has participated in other world-class summer training programs such as the Young Artists Program through Ottawa's National Arts Center and The National Youth Orchestra of Canada. Garrett earned his Masters of Music Degree from Rice University's Shepherd School of Music under the tutelage of renowned flute pedagogue, Leone Buyse.

Kerry Hughes, Oboe

A doctoral candidate at the University of Houston, Kerry Hughes has performed with the Symphony of Southeast Texas in Beaumont, TX, the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra, the Galveston Symphony Orchestra, and the Clear Lake Symphony Orchestra. He has performed as principal oboist with the University of Houston Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, toured with the New England Youth Ensemble based at Columbia Union College, and was invited to play oboe and English horn with the Texas Music Festival. His primary teachers include Anne Leek, Robin Z. Hough, Robert J. Krause, and Janet Lanier. Kerry has performed at the John Mack Oboe Camp and has also studied with Daniel Stolper, Jan Eberle, Linda Strommen, Rebecca Henderson, Charles Veazey, and Amy Anderson. In addition to maintaining a private oboe studio, Kerry also taught music theory at the University of Houston with Dr. John Snyder. An avid connoisseur of the many culinary delights Houston offers, Kerry also enjoys sports, travelling, and involvement with his extensive family.

Ben Haeuser, Clarinet

Hailing from Atascadero on the central coast of California, Ben Haeuser earned Bachelor of Music degrees in both Performance and Education from California State University Long Beach. Following his undergraduate degrees, Ben left sunny California to complete a Master of Music degree and an Artist Diploma from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. While enjoying white, snowy winters in Cincinnati, Mr. Haeuser studied with Cincinnati Symphony clarinetists, Richie Hawley and Ixi Chen. Always an advocate for music education and outreach, Ben founded the clarinet and saxophone program at the Cincinnati Music Academy, and was on faculty from 2008 - 2011. He has also taught extensively in Long Beach, Los Alamitos and Irvine, California and in Northern Kentucky. Currently, Ben maintains an active studio in Houston Texas, continuing to educate young musicians and foster an appreciation and love of music.

Tracy Jacobson, Bassoon

A New Jersey native, Tracy Jacobson began her musical career riding the commuter train to Juilliard Pre-College every Saturday. She took her bassoon and moved southwest to continue her studies, to pursue a Bachelor of Music degree from Rice University's Shepherd School of Music. Throughout her career, Ms. Jacobson has been an active recitalist, playing solo and collaborative recitals across the country. Tracy has played with orchestras including the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphony of Southeast Texas and has soloed with the New Philharmonic of New Jersey. Ms. Jacobson is dedicated to outreach programs, particularly those designed to get both children and adults excited about classical music. She is a recipient of Rice University's Sviatoslav Richter Fund for music outreach and has led the JUMP! outreach program at Rice. Tracy founded the Music Bus Tour, an organization that sponsors emerging chamber groups. In addition to founding the Music Bus Tour, Tracy was a fellow at the Music Academy of the West, National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute and Sarasota Music Festival.

Anni Hochhalter, French Horn

Just like her inspired decision to join WindSync, Anni began playing the French horn in 7th grade after a few months on the trumpet, and she has never looked back. Her initial passion for music was fostered in Henderson, Nevada and continued during her undergraduate career at the University of Southern California. There she studied with James Thatcher and Kristy Morrell, discovering a love for chamber music and educational outreach programs. Anni was a founding member of the Horn Squad, a horn quartet which toured public and private schools in Los Angeles and, as the Thornton School of Music Outreach resident ensemble, the group traveled to New Orleans in 2008. In 2009 Anni won first prize in the Yen Liang Young Artist Competition and soloed with the Diablo Symphony in Walnut Creek, California. After graduating in 2009 with a Bachelor of Music she moved to Cincinnati, Ohio and began working on a Masters degree at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. In addition Anni has attended both the Chautauqua Music Festival and the Texas Music Festival where she studied with Roger Kaza.