Winds Faculty

Claudia Anderson - flute (YAS, JSS1 JSS2, program director JSS1 JSS2)

Claudia Anderson’s brilliance and originality as a solo performer (“Flute playing of the highest echelon” – New York Concert Artists Guild; “Vast range of sonorities” – Giornale di Sicilia) have graced audiences throughout the U.S., Europe and Brazil.  A Fulbright scholar to Italy, Ms. Anderson was subsequently principal flute of the Orchestra del Teatro Massimo in Palermo. After returning to the U.S., she was solo piccolo for ten years with the Cedar Rapids (IA) Symphony and is presently principal flute with the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony in Iowa.

Receiving degrees from the Universities of Michigan, Massachusetts and Iowa, Dr. Anderson is a guest artist and clinician at many colleges and music series around the country; she is exclusively a Miyazawa artist and also performs with flutist Jill Felber in the innovative duo ZAWA! (www.zawa.org; www.miyazawa.com).  Equally at home in both the standard and contemporary repertoire, Dr. Anderson has commissioned and arranged works for solo and duo format. Her unique programming and performing styles were influenced by an early background of extensive contemporary music performance and her years of playing opera in Italy.  Her work with Jill Felber of ZAWA! reflects the drama/theatricality of new music and the operatic stage, with their unconventional staging, lighting and costumes. Another recent chamber initiative, New Prairie Camerata--a core ensemble of flute, violin and harp based in Grinnell--links performance with history and architecture by performing in nontraditional spaces that showcase local gems and stimulate community participation.

Faculty positions include Grinnell College (currently), Universities of Iowa and Northern Iowa, Ithaca College and the University of California at Santa Barbara.  Her recorded solo and duo performances can be found on the Centaur, Neuma and CRI labels. Her solo CD, American Flute (Centaur, 1994), was awarded five stars from Classical Pulse in 1995. Duo CDs include ZAWA! (Neuma, 2001), ZAWA2 (ZawaMusic, 2006) and Duos for Flute and Oboe (Centaur, 2005) with Rocky Ridge colleague William McMullen.

Dan Kuehn - trumpet (YAS, JSS1, JSS2, Brass Ensemble)

Professor Kuehn is an accomplished professional with over twenty-nine years of experience performing with major symphony orchestras, nationally recognized brass ensembles and other chamber groups. He has been featured soloist with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Arapahoe Philharmonic, and at the Boulder Bach Festival. His orchestral appearances include Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Central City Opera, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra in Hamilton, Canada, and Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra in Chautauqua, N.Y.

He received the Gianini Award for Excellence in 1976, has judged numerous auditions, mentored trumpet students, and participated as a musician representative in the restructuring of the Denver Symphony into the current musician-managed Colorado Symphony Orchestra. He is co-founder and past board member of the Boulder Brass Ensemble, participated in the recording for the motion picture “Warriors of Virtue,” and has performed and recorded CD’s with Alpine Brass, Boulder Brass, Denver Brass and Aries Brass Quintet.

Dan completed his Bachelor of Music degree in 1987 at North Carolina School of the Arts, and is presently pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education degree at Metropolitan State University in Denver, Colorado. He has been on the faculty at the University of Colorado in Boulder, and at the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver.

His teachers include Doc Severinsen (with whom he collaborated in the testing of new designs for the recently released Destino Trumpets), Vincent Chichowicz, Allan Dean, Emerson Head and William Vacchiano.

Christina Jennings - flute ( YAS - Visiting Artist)

Flutist Christina Jennings is praised for virtuoso technique, rich tone, and command of a wide range of literature featuring works from Bach to Zwilich. The Houston Press declared: “Jennings has got what it takes: a distinctive voice, charisma, and a pyrotechnic style that works magic on the ears.” The first flutist in fifteen years to win the Concert Artists Guild International Competition, other honors include First Prize at the Houston Symphony Ima Hogg Competition and the William C. Byrd Competition. In 2007 Musical America listed her as “an artist to watch.”  Highlights of the 2007-2008 season include performances with the Takács String Quartet, a performance of the Christopher Rouse Flute Concerto with the Spokane Symphony, a collaboration with Juthro Tull, and Philadelphia performances of Pierre Boulez’s Le marteau sans maître.

Active as a concerto soloist, Ms Jennings has appeared with the Utah and Houston Symphonies, Orchestra 2001, Park Avenue Chamber Orchestra, Flint Symphony, Orchestra de Camera (Mexico), and Pro Musica (UK). Recent chamber music festivals include Strings in the Mountains (CO), Cascade Head (OR), OK Mozart (OK), Chamber Music Quad Cities (IA), and the Bowdoin International Festival (ME).

As broad-gauged in her musical pursuits as she is in her repertoire choices, Ms. Jennings is Principal Flute with the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra (Houston), collaborates with pianist Lura Johnson, and enjoys mixing disciplines through projects with David Parsons Dance Companies and members of Pilobolus. In addition, she is the founder of Oklahoma City’s Brightmusic Series. Chamber music partners have included So Percussion, the Brentano and Avalon Quartets, soprano Lucy Shelton, and cellist Colin Carr.

Christina Jennings can be heard in works by Alec Wilder alongside jazz great Marian McPartland in a shared CD for Albany Records. Also on Albany Records is a disc featuring Ms. Jennings as soloist in Shulamit Ran’s flute concerto Voices with the Bowling Green Philharmonia. Of the recently released Jennings-Johnson Duo CD, the American Record Guild declared: “Jennings is an extraordinary musician, with facile technique, a soaring tone, and a natural sense of phrasing that is often absent from flute playing.”

Ms. Jennings grew up in Vermont and is the daughter of Andrew Jennings, former member of the Concord String Quartet. She received her Bachelor and Master’s degrees at The Juilliard School, and her principal teachers include Carol Wincenc, Leone Buyse and Jeanne Baxtresser. Based in Boulder, she teaches at the University of Colorado.  Her website is at www.christinajennings.com

Kassey LeBow, - Flute, (YAS Flute Teaching Assistant)

Kassey LeBow started her musical studies at the age of 11 in New Mexico and by 13, she was awarded a full college scholarship to New Mexico State University as a promising young talent. Ms. LeBow is an accomplished soloist and chamber musician, and has won several national and regional competitions including the National Flute Association Masterclass Performers Competition, UCSB Concerto Competition and the Leni Febland Competition.

In June 2003, Kassey graduated from University of California at Santa Barbara with a Master of Music, where she was the Flute Studio Teaching Assistant and studied with Jill Felber, internationally acclaimed soloist and chamber musician of ZAWA!. Her other teachers include Tadeu Coelho, Valerie Potter, Jenny Paulson and Claudia Anderson, and she holds her Bachelors of Music degree from the University of New Mexico. Kassey's flute students have won numerous national, New Mexico state, California state, and Southwestern regional competitions, in addition to holding high ranking seats in several youth symphonies in the Bay Area. Kassey has a full private flute studio through out the San Francisco Bay Area.  Kassey is also a member of Areon Flutes, a premiere chamber group in California.  Their website is at. www.areonflutes.com.

Heidi Mendenhall - clarinet ( JSS1, JSS2)

Heidi Mendenhall is co-principal clarinet of the Cheyenne Symphony and recently completed her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at the University of Colorado in Boulder. She received her Masters degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Northern Colorado.  Ms. Mendenhall’s main teachers include Bil Jackson, Ken Grant, and Daniel Silver.
 
Besides performing regularly with the Cheyenne Symphony, she is also a member of the Steamboat Springs Chamber Orchestra and the Emerald City Opera.  As an active freelancer, Ms. Mendenhall has performed with the Boulder Philharmonic, Ft. Collins Symphony, Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, Colorado Symphony, Colorado Springs Symphony, and with the Strings in the Mountains Chamber Orchestra. She has recently appeared as soloist with the Cheyenne Symphony and presented guest artist recitals at Aspen’s Music in the West End series and the Emerald City Opera spotlight series in Steamboat Springs. She teaches both private lessons and master classes along the front range. Ms. Mendenhall lives in the Boulder area with her husband, oboist Kyle Mendenhall, and their two year old son, Korbin.

William McMullen - oboe ( YAS, JSS1, JSS2)

William McMullen, oboe, is Professor of Oboe at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln and a member of the Moran Quintet. He is a frequent recitalist throughout the United States with pianist Catherine Herbener and has performed at IDRS conventions in Florida, Arizona, Wisconsin, the Netherlands, Australia and Canada.

A new CD of nine flute and oboe duets with flutist Claudia Anderson was released this past November by Centaur Records and another CD of "20th Century British Music for Oboe and Piano" with pianist Catherine Herbener was released in 2002 by Crystal Records. McMullen has been on the faculty of RRMC for the past 19 summers. He studied at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music and The Juilliard School.

Matthew Scheffelman - french horn (YAS, JSS1, JSS2, Brass Ensemble)

Matthew Scheffelman performs around the world as soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. He grew up in the S.F. Bay Area of California, playing horn with his public school bands. He went on to join three Bay Area youth orchestras, the Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra, Oakland Youth Symphony and the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. During this time, he also played with professional orchestras, Berkley Symphony and the California Symphony. Mr. Scheffelman studied at the Harid Conservatory (now Lynn University) in Florida with the great horn player, Arthur Brooks. After studying at the Aspen Music Festival, Mr. Scheffelman made his way to New York to study at the State University of New York at Purchase, Purchase Conservatory of Music, studying with David Wakefield, Philip Myers, David Jolley, Howard T. Howard and John Cerminaro. While in New York Matthew won the New York Times Concerto Competition (1995) and performed the R. Strauss Horn Concerto No. 1 with the New York Youth Symphony at the Isaac Stern Hall of Carnegie Hall.

As a professional horn player in the New York City area, Matthew performed with many professional orchestras, ballet groups, modern music ensembles, big band and chamber ensembles. Matthew is dedicated to Modern Music and has performed and recorded with many different ensembles committed to music of our time. Most notably, performing the music of Iannis Xenakis at the 92 street Y,Knitting Factory NYC and in Paris at Radio France. With the ST-X ensemble, Matthew has recorded 4 CDs on Mode Records and Asphodel Records. From 1997 until 2001, Matthew held the position of Solo horn and section leader with the National Symphony of the Dominican Republic, a 100 year old orchestra made up of world class musicians from around the world. Matthew performed as a soloist with the orchestra on many occasions. Recently, Matthew has been appointed Principal Horn of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. He was Principal Horn of the Mid-Summer Mozart Festival (SF) from 2002-2004, has performed as substitute with the Colorado and Milwaukee Symphonies, toured with the National Broadway Tour of "Little Women, the Musical", and has performed on a number of recent shows in the Denver area.  Matthew is an expert mountain biker and 7 handicap golfer.  Some of his other abstract interests include Modern music, experimental brain wave/electronic media, soundscapes, production and multimedia art.

Matthew has taught for the National Conservatory of Music in the Dominican Republic. He has also coached and taught for the Chicago Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Denver Young Artists Orchestra and is currently Assistant Professor Of Horn at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Cecily Sher - bassoon (YAS, JSS1, JSS2)

Cecily Sher began playing the bassoon at the age of ten in her native country of Korea. She quickly became one of the important woodwind performers in Korea, as evidenced by her many competition victories and notable performances. She was twice the featured soloist with the Seoul Junior Philharmonic. She was the winner of  the prestigious Chosun Daily News Debut Competition, as well as taking first prize in the Korea Music Foundation Competition.

Upon completion of her undergraduate studies from the Seoul National University (where she was valedictorian of her class), Mrs. Sher then came to the United States to complete her studies at the Mannes College of Music, receiving both the Professional Studies degree as well as a Masters degree, studying with Leonard Hindell of the New York Philharmonic and began doctoral study at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. During her studies, Mrs. Sher maintained her busy concertizing career, and has been heard in New York’s greatest venues: she has performed the Mozart Bassoon Concerto in Carnegie Hall with the Korean Chamber Orchestra and the Seoul Symphony in Merkin Hall respectively, as well as the Strauss Duo Concertante with the New York Sinfonietta. She was also chosen a winner of the Young Artists International Competition in NY in 1999.

Throughout her career, Mrs. Sher has been active as an orchestral musician, having served in numerous orchestras including the Seoul Philhamonic (where she was the youngest member in that orchestras history), Waterloo Music Festival Orchestra (NJ), Jupiter Symphony (NY), Asia Philharmonic (tour of Japan), Green Bay Symphony, and the Aspen Music Festival Orchestra.  Mrs. Sher has been an active chamber musician, having performed with the Seoul National University Woodwind Quintet, and most recently as member of the New York-based Franko Trio (bassoon, violin and piano).

Mrs. Sher currently makes her home in Denver, maintains a busy teaching schedule and has performed locally with the Colorado Opera Troupe, the Boulder Bach Festival, the Colorado Symphony, the chamber group Schubertiade, and as soloist with the Colorado Symphony's UCAM Ensemble.  She makes her home in Denver with husband Martin and their son Aidan.

Bron Wright - trombone, tuba (YAS, JSS1, JSS2, Brass Ensemble)

Bron Wright, trombone, is described by Gramophone Magazine as having “bountiful refinement, virtuosity and collegial gusto!”  He currently serves as Principal Trombone with both the Charleston Symphony Orchestrain South Carolina and the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. He has performed on numerous occasions with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, National and Boston Lyric Operas, and the New World Symphony in Miami, FL. He has worked with conductors such as Seiji Ozawa, John Williams, Kurt Masur, and Sir Neville Marriner. 

As a soloist, Bron has toured to over 35 countries including China, South Africa, Egypt, Poland, Germany, Russia, Denmark, Japan and Thailand.  In 1993, he performed David’s Concertino for Queen Noor and King Hussein at the Jerash International Music Festival in Amman, Jordan.  An avid supporter of new music, Bron has commissioned works for solo trombone, brass quintet and voice, and has recorded with the Calithumpian Concert under Stephen Drury. As founder of the Huntington Brass Quintet, Bron has received many grants (CMA, NEA) and has been featured on National Public Radio and CBS’s “The Early Show.” Bron received his Bachelors Degree in 2001 from the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied with both Norman Bolter and Douglas Yeo of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. 

Stephanie Zelnick - clarinet (YAS)

Stephanie Zelnick is the Assistant Professor of Clarinet at the University of Kansas. She has performed as a soloist and orchestral clarinetist throughout the United States, South America, and Europe. Dr. Zelnick has received critical acclaim forher performances on three continents. The San Francisco Classical Voice calls her playing "simply sublime," and the Boulder Daily Camera praises her"exquisite clarinet solos." She is currently serving as principal clarinet in the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, Central City Opera, and the Colorado Ballet.  She has held positions as principal clarinet in the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, the Prague Opera, the Johann Strauss Opera in Vienna, and the Frantisbad Symphony Orchestra in the Czech Republic. Dr. Zelnick has toured Europe as a soloist and a member of the Prague International Trio, performing in Italy, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Germany. Recently her solo appearances include ensembles such as the Czech Chamber Philharmonic, University of Kansas Wind Ensemble, Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Aspen Choral Society. She was a featured soloist at the Southern Clarinet Symposium, and throughout Brazil, including Rio De Janeiro, Brasilia, and Campinas. Dr. Zelnick has been awarded prizes in several international competitions, including the Czech-English International Competition in London. She remains a member of the Prague-based chamber ensemble Classicon XX. Her playing has been heard on NPR and Colorado Public Radio. Upcoming performances include a tour of Serbia, the International Clarinet Association ClarinetFest, and the OU Clarinet Symposium.

Dr. Zelnick has previously served on the faculties of The University of Wyoming and the University of Northern Colorado as well as teaching at The Florida
State University. She is an active clinician and has presented masterclasses at numerous universities and conferences, including most recently Michigan State
University, University of Denver, and University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Zelnick graduated from Rice University with a Bachelors Degree in clarinet
performance. She was then the recipient of a Fulbright Grant and received her Artist Diploma at the Academy for the Performing Arts in Prague. She earned her
Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Northern Colorado.