The Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet

The Artists

Arthur Grossman, Bassoon -
Diploma, Curtis Institute of Music. Arthur Grossman was born in New York City. He began his professional career at the age of thirteen, when he joined the Oklahoma City Symphony Orchestra, with which he performed for four years. After a further season with the San Antonio Symphony, he entered the Curtis Institute of Music where he studied with Sol Schoenbach and took chamber music classes with Marcel Tabuteau. Upon graduation he joined the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra which was stationed in Europe and with which he performed for three years, during which time the Seventh Army Wind Quintet, now the Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet, was formed. After two seasons when he served as principal bassoon with the Indianapolis Symphony and one with the Cincinnati Symphony, Soni Ventorum was asked by Pablo Casals to form the wind faculty of the newly created Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. Seven years and several recordings later Soni Ventorum moved to Seattle to join the faculty of the School of Music of the University of Washington. Grossman has toured world-wide with Soni Ventorum and as a soloist, and has made more than thirty recordings. He has also served as principal bassoon in the Israel Philharmonic. In January 1988 he became Associate Dean for Arts of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Washington, a position in which he served for ten years. He has continued to perform and record both as a soloist and with Soni Ventorum.

Arthur Grossman - solos and other performances of special interest

"Bassooniana" duos and trios for bassoons program
Bozza. Eugene download mp3
Dubois, Pierre Max download mp3
Roennes, Robert download mp3
Weissenborn, Julius download mp3

Fučik, Julius (1872 - 1919) Starý Bručoun, bassoon solo, (lit. Old Grumper) also published under various other titles, incl. Der Alte Brummbär (lit. The Old Growlbear), The Bear with a Sore Head and The Angry Grandfather.
Please download from Video Archive.

Galliard, Johann Ernst (1687-1749) Six Sonatas for Bassoon and Continuo
With guests Silvia Kind, harpsichord and Charles Brennand, cello
No.1 in A minor
download No.2 in G major download No.3 in F major download
No.4 in E minor download No.5 in D minor download No.6 in C major download
Recorded 1974 (MHS 3472)

Mignone, Francisco (1897 - 1987) "16 Valsas" for unaccompanied bassoon
No. 1 - 6 download mp3 No. 7 - 11 download mp3 No. 12 - 16 download mp3
Recorded 1991 (MHS 513565T)

Mozart, W.A. Concerto in Bb major for bassoon and orchestra (K. 191)
Arthur Grossman, bassoon; U.S. Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra, Ling Tung, conductor. Allegro download mp3. Andante ma adagio download mp3.
Rondo - tempo di menuetto download mp3.
A rare monaural recording of a concert presented in Bordeaux, France, 1957

Praag, H. C. van Fantasie for bassoon and wind ensemble. download mp3
From An Evening of Chamber Music for Large Woodwind Ensembles Performed May 30, 1981 Meany Theater, University of Washington.

Reicha, Anton Quintet for Bassoon and Strings
Arthur Grossman, bassoon, with the Philadelphia String Quartet:
Veda Reynolds and Irwin Eisenberg, violin; Alan Iglitzin, viola and Charles Brennand, cello
1. Allegro moderato; 2. Lento: Arioso; 3. Menuet: Allegro assai;
4. Finale: Presto 
download mp3
Recorded 1976 (MHS 3862)

Saint-Seans, Camille (1836 - 1921) Sonata for Bassoon and Piano, Op. 168 (1921) Arthur Grossman, bassoon; Joseph Levine, piano download mp3
Performed October. 1978

Villa Lobos, Heitor Ciranda das Sete Notas (1933)
for bassoon and string quintet

Arthur Grossman, bassoon; Veda Reynolds and Irwin Eisenberg, violin; Alan Iglitzin, viola; Charles Brennand, cello and James Harnett, bass download mp3
Recorded 1974 (MHS 3862)

Schumann, Robert (1810-1856) Romances, op. 94
Arthur Grossman, Heckelphone and Lisa Bergman, piano
2. Einfach, Innig download mp3 3. Nicht Schnell
download mp3
Recorded 2005 for the Heckel bassoon factory, Wiesbaden, Germany

David Kappy, Horn -
M.M. and B.M., University of Wisconsin; D.M.A. in progress, Yale University. Member of Soni Ventorum and chamber music groups; numerous recordings on Crystal, Musical Heritage, Delos, Telarc, and American Gramophone labels, and with the Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet; recordings with Mannheim Steamroller; taught on the faculty of the Interlochen Arts Academy, and received a Fulbright Award to teach at the Federal University of Minas in Brazil (1985); Solo Horn with the Omaha and Lincoln (Nebraska) Symphonies, and the Omaha Opera; veteran of Grand Teton and Claremont Music Festivals, and the Festival de Inverno in Campos de Jordao, Brazil; extra Horn with the Seattle Symphony and the St. Louis Symphony.

William McColl, Clarinet -
Diploma with honors, Akademie für Musik und darstellende Kunst, Vienna (known later as the Hochschule für Musik etc. and now as the Universität für Musik etc.), student of Leopold Wlach. In the United States, McColl had also studied with Keith Stein, George Waln and Herbert Blayman.  He began playing clarinet at the age of 12 and was soon attending the National Music Camp at Interlochen and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music (1951-1953). Member, the American Wind Ensemble of Vienna (along with Laila Storch). Founding member, Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet and the New World Basset Horn Trio; former principal clarinet, U.S. Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Hungarica (Vienna); featured performer at the Casals Festival (Puerto Rico); Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. Professor of clarinet, University of Washington (1968-2006). Specialist in early clarinets and basset horns; international tours, recordings and concert appearances with the Amadeus Winds, the San Francisco Philharmonia, the Boston Handel and Haydn Society the New World Basset Horn Trio, and others; recordings on Musical Heritage, and Crystal labels (with the Soni Ventorum), as well as on the Atlantic, Decca and Harmonia Mundi labels.

William McColl- solos

Stravinsky, Igor (1882 - 1971) Three Pieces for Solo Clarinet (1919)
William McColl, Clarinet download mp3
Performed November, 1994, Brechemin Auditorium, UW

Mozart, W.A. Concerto in A major for clarinet and orchestra (K. 622)
University Symphony Orchestra; Abraham Kaplan, conductor; William McColl, basset clarinet, using an instrument of his own construction.
Allegro download mp3. Adagio download mp3.Rondo allegro download mp3.
Performed December, 1987

Jeanjean, Paul (1874-1928) Carnival of Venice Variations, adapted for basset horn solo with clarinet choir accompaniment
William McColl, (modern) basset horn, Tim Salzman, conductor download mp3
Performed June, 1994

William McColl- Early Music performances (original instruments)

A Song Recital with Soprano, clarinet and pianoforte
Please see the Archives - Downloadable Music page for the links. By Composer: Gaveaux, Meyerbeer, Schubert, Spohr. There are videos of all songs: view videos

Schubert, Franz (1797 - 1828) Octet in F major, D. 803 program
1. Adagio - allegro download mp3 2. Adagio download mp3 3. Scherzo download mp3 4. Andante - Tema con Variazioni download mp3 5. Menuetto download mp3 6. Andante - allegro download mp3
Performed at Reed College, Portland, Oregon, Kaul Auditorium, April 8, 2001

Met Museum, NY: audio tour (2004) of the clarinet collection view video

Felix Skowronek (1935-2006), Flute -
B.M., Curtis Institute, student of William Kincaid. Founding member, Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet. Principal flute, U.S. Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Puerto Rico Symphony. Professor of flute, Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico (1960-1966). Principal flute, St. Louis Symphony (1966-1967). Professor Emeritus of flute, University of Washington (1968-2006). Founding President, Seattle Flute Society (1979). President, National Flute Association (1985-86). Music Director, Belle Arte Concerts (1983-1992/1999-2004). Principal flute, Seattle Opera's summer series of Wagner's The Ring of the Nibelung (1979-1982). Consultant to the Verne Q. Powell Company, flute makers. An authority on the use of foreign and domestic hardwood species for flute and woodwind instrument manufactures, Skowronek documented the tonal qualities of numerous hardwood species carved into wood flutes and wood flute head joints. Skowronek's research, performances and lectures throughout the 80's and 90's contributed significantly to the return of the wood flute and the option of using a wood head joint to create specific tonal effects relevant to the specific genre of music to be performed.

Felix Skowronek - solos and other performances of special interest

Bach, J.S., Sonata for Flute in B minor (BWV 1030)
Felix Skowronek, flute; with guest Martha Goldstein, keyboard lute (Lautenwerk)
Andante; Largo e dolce; Presto allegro download mp3
Performed October, 1978

Karg-Elert, Siegfried Sonata in Bb major for Flute and Piano, Op. 121 (1918)
Felix Skowronek, flute; with guest Anita Cummings, piano.
Idyllisch, nicht schleppend (Allegro amabile); Aüsserst Langsam (Adagissimo); Sehr Geschwind und Leichthin. download mp3

Performed and recorded for Pandora Records in the early eighties

Reicha, Anton Lento from the Sonata (Grand Duo) in D Major, Opus 103
Felix Skowronek, flute; Marshall Winslow, piano 
download mp3  
Performed February 26, 1970. The Soni Ventorum with guest artist Marshall Winslow observe the 200th Anniversary of Reicha's birth.

Telemann, Georg Philipp (1681 - 1767) Methodical Sonatas,1 - 6
with guest Martha Goldstein, harpsichord program
1. G minor download mp3 2. A major download mp3 3. E minor download mp3
4. D major download mp3 5. A minor download mp3 6. G major download mp3
Recorded 1970's for Pandora records LP Album cover

Laila Storch, Oboe -
Laila Storch, Oboe - Curtis Institute.  The first woman oboist to graduate from the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia where she studied with Marcel Tabuteau. Principal oboist, the Houston Symphony Orchestra (1948-1955). Carmel Bach Festival (1949), the Bethlehem Bach Festival (1947-49; 1967-70), Marlboro Music Festival (1960, 1962). Casals Festivals, (1950-53; 1965-68) including the Columbia recordings from 1950-51. Fulbright research grant; eighteenth century oboe concerti. Member, The American Wind Ensemble of Vienna. Academy of Music, Vienna. The Mozarteum, Salzburg (1955-1957), principal oboist, the Mozarteum Orchestra in Salzburg (1957-1958). Soloist, The Robert Shaw Chorale, tour of Germany and Eastern Europe (1962), Chicago Little Symphony tour (1964). Faculty, Harper College of Arts and Sciences, State University of New York at Binghamton (1963-1965). She has played with the National Symphony, the Kansas City Philharmonic, and the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra. Professor of oboe, Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico (1965-1968). Professor Emeritus of oboe, University of Washington (1968-1991). Guest Professor, Indiana University (summer 1979; fall 1995). Visiting professor, Central Conservatory of China, Beijing (1989). Master classes: Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music. Member of juries, Fernand Gillet International Oboe Competition, the Lucarelli International Competition for Solo Oboe Players, the Isle of Wight International Oboe Competition. Author and contributor to many articles about oboists and oboe history as well as Pablo Casals, the Casals Festival at Prades, France. Author of the definitive biography of Marcel Tabuteau, her teacher from the Curtis Institute.
Laila Storch - solos and other performances of special interest

Bach, J.S., Adagio from the Concerto in C minor for Oboe and Violin (1727)
Laila Storch, Oboe; Martin Friedmann, violin; with the Univesity of Washington Sinfonietta, Vilem Sokol conducting. download mp3
Performed February, 1970

Cambini, Giovanni Giuseppe (1746 - 1825) Sinfonia Concertante No. 1, in C Major. Laila Storch, Oboe; Robert Cole, Bassoon; Orchestra Accademia dell'Orso,
Newell Jenkins, conductor. 1. Allegro download mp3 2. Rondo Allegro download mp3
Performed in Milan, Italy, December 1956

Mozart, W.A.(1756 -1791) Quartet for Oboe and Strings (K.370)
Laila Storch, Oboe; Veda Reynolds, Violin; Alan Iglitzin, Viola; Charles Brennand, Cello. Allegro, Adagio, Rondo download mp3
Performed October, 1973

James Caldwell (1939-2006), Oboe, member from 1962 to 1965
Curtis Institute, substitute principal oboist (for his teacher, John de Lancie), Philadelphia Orchestra (1961) principal oboist and soloist, Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico (1962-1965) principal oboist and soloist, Chicago Little Symphony (1961-1965), principal oboist, Washington National Symphony (1965-1966/1968-1971), principal oboist, Chamber Symphony of Philadelphia (1967). Began teaching at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in 1971 where he taught generations of oboe players for the next thirty-five years. Caldwell was recognized as an authority on early music, founding the Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute and an avid player of the viola da gamba, a cello like instrument popular in the 1600's. Avid participant in the Marlboro Music Festival, Peninsula Music Festival and also active in electronic music, harpsichords, computers and bonsai tree sculpture.

Christopher Leuba, french horn, member from 1962 to 1963 and from 1968 through 1979
Carnegie Mellon University under William A. Schaefer, Pittsburgh Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Roosevelt University, Chicago. Chicago Symphony (1960-1962), Minneapolis Symphony (1954-1960, 1963-1968), Philharmonia Hungarica (Veinna; 1958). Casals Festivals (1962-1963). Teacher, Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico Symphony. Professor of french horn, University of Washington (1968-1979). Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington (1979-1990) College of Saint Thomas (St. Paul, Minnesota), St. Olaf College, Carleton College, Portland State University, the University of Puget Sound, the University of Victoria, the Koniglicke Vlaams Musiekonservatorium of Antwerp Interim principal horn, Milwaukee Symphony, 1995. Principal horn, Portland Opera Orchestra (1984-) Participated in fourteen complete cycles of the Seattle Opera's 'Ring' series produced from 1980 to 1987. International soloist and recording artist for Quincy Jones, Sarah Vaughn, Andy Williams and the Bill Russo Band.

Alex Klein, oboe, member from 1992 to 1994
An established performer in Brazil before entering Sao Paulo State University, transferring to the The  Oberlin Conservatory of Music to study under James Caldwell and the The Curtis Institute of Music. First prize, the Lucarelli International Competition for solo Oboe Players 1986, Aspen Music Festival Competition 1988, First Prize, Fernand Gillet International Oboe Competition, and the Concours Internationale d'Execution Musicale, Geneva 1988.
Returned to Oberlin in 1987 to earn diploma and teach. Founded the Chamber Music Society of Seattle with his wife Marlise Klein, violist. Principal oboist, Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Teacher, Northwestern University, Chicago Musical College at Roosevelt University, and currently at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

Alex Klein - solos

Bozza, E. Sonata for Oboe and Piano download mp3
Alex Klein, oboe and Lisa Bergman, piano.
Faculty Recital at Meany Theater Performed October 1991.

Pasculli, A. Gran Concerto.
Alex Klein, oboe and Lisa Bergman, piano.
download mp3
Faculty Recital at Meany Theater Performed October 1991.

Walmisley, A. Sonatine for Oboe and Piano. download mp3
Alex Klein, oboe and Lisa Bergman, piano.
Faculty Recital at Meany Theater Performed October 1991.

Rebecca Henderson, oboe, member 1996 to 1998.
Daughter of oboist Richard Henderson. University of Texas, El Paso, Oberlin Conservatory, student of James Caldwell. Civic Orchestra of Chicago, student of Grover Schiltz. Eastman School of Music, student of Richard Kilmer, John Mack and John de Lancie. Prizewinner, New York International Competition for Solo Oboist (1995) Lucarelli International Solo Oboe Competition (1988) soloist St. Paul Chamber orchestra, the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Alabama Chamber Orchestra, and the Philharmonia Northwest Chamber Orchestra. Studio work with Imax, Boston Records, Centaur, RCA Masterworks, RCWinds. Festival Institute Round Top, Texas. Currently teaching oboe at the University of Texas at Austin.

Robert Bonnevie, French horn, member from 1963 to 1967-
Curtis Institute. Marlboro Festival (1959-1961), Principal horn, New Orleans Symphony (1960-1963), Santa Fe Opera Orchestra (1962), Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, Casals Festival Orchestra (all 1963-1967) Seattle Symphony Orchestra (1967-1978/1980-2000), Hong Kong Philharmonic, principal horn (1979).
Bonnevie has also taught at Louisiana State University, the University of Puget Sound, Seattle Pacific University and Indiana University. Principal horn, the Grand Teton Music Festival, Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Married to Karen Bonnevie, violinist, Seattle Symphony and Grand Teton Festival. Played with Skowronek in early wind quintets during their high school years in Seattle, Washington. Robert Bonnevie passed away in 2012.

Peter Kern, Flute, member from 1966 to 1968
Curtis Institute, student of William Kincaid. U.S. Coast Guard Band, New London Connecticut, Professor, Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. Kern remained in Puerto Rico, performing as solo flutist of the Puerto Rico Symphony and a member of the Casals Festival Orchestra for almost thirty years. Additionally, Kern has performed with the Woodwind Arts Quintet, the Bethlehem Bach Festival and German tour of 1976 and a member of the Camerata Caribe chamber music ensemble.

Sidney Rosenberg, member 1977 - 1978 season
Curtis Institute, student of Sol Schoenbach. First bassoon, Montreal Symphony under Zubin Mehta. Professor of bassoon, Indiana University School of Music.

David Sternbach, french horn, member from 1967-1968
M.M. degree, cum laude, Indiana University under Philip Farkas. Chicago Brass Quintet, Chicago Chamber Orchestra. First horn, New Hampshire Music Festival. Toured with the Boston Pops Orchestra, performed in the Aspen Festival Orchestra. Fulbright scholarship for horn studies and musicological research, Berlin, Germany (1964). Associate principal horn, Danish National Radio Symphony, solo horn, Danish Royal Opera, Copenhagen. Member Deutsch Opera, first horn, Berlin Symphony Orchestra. Professor of horn, Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, solo horn, Puerto Rico Symphony and a member of the Casals Festival Orchestra. Freelance, New York. Teacher, West Virginia University (1974-1980). Freelance, Washington Opera. Clinical Degree, social work specializing in musicians’ issues and treating performance anxiety.

Dan Williams, oboe, member for the 1995-1996 season
Western Washington University, student of Nicholas Bussard. The Juilliard School of Music, New York under John Ferrillo and Elaine Douvas. Oboist, the Satori Wind Quintet, winners of the 1990 Artist's International Competition followed by a debut at Carnegie Recital Hall. Principal oboist, Binghamton Symphony, New York and the Harrisburg Symphony (Pennsylvania). Principal oboist, the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra (1992). Instructor of oboe, University of Washington (temporary position during the search for a permanent replacement to Alex Klein). Principal oboe, Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera and the Pacific Ballet Orchestra. Professor of oboe, Western Washington University. Oboist, the Amarcord Wind Quintet.

Please feel free to contact us at:  winds@soniventorum.com