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.

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, State Academy of Music, Vienna (known today as the Hochschule), 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 Emeritus 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 Phil-harmonia, 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.

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.

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.

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 of 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.

Rebacca 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.

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.

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.

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