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Wright State University Department of Music is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)

Wright State University Department of Music is a proud OMEA

WSU Faculty Woodwind Quintet

Dr. Christopher Chaffee,
flute

Mr. John Kurokawa, clarinet

Ms. Katherine deGrutchy,
oboe

Mr. Bill Jobert,
bassoon

Mr. Sean Vore,
horn

 

Faculty Woodwind Quintet

The Wright State Faculty Woodwind Quintet, also known as The Wright Winds has been an active performing ensemble since 1985. With a focus on developing chamber music programs at WSU and with community outreach, the group has an active repertoire ranging from standard quintet literature to music by new composers. This cross section of styles is a reflection of the eclectic membership of the quintet and their varying experiences and musical tastes.

Since 1989 the group has performed and presented clinics at three OMEA conferences and has toured the British Virgin Isles and Hong Kong, China. Every year the group visits schools throughout Ohio presenting educational concerts that explore concepts from introducing the woodwind instruments to the challenges of playing in a chamber ensemble.

The members of the ensemble coach a variety of chamber ensembles at Wright State including woodwind trios, clarinet choir, horn choir, flute choir, and bassoon ensembles. In the 2008-2009 school year the WSU Faculty Quintet began an aggressive program to increase the chamber music training for music majors in the department. A "freshman woodwind trio" under the direction of Dr. Christopher Chaffee was developed and has performed together for all four years of their studies at Wright State.  In addition to coaching the trio, Dr. Chaffee has worked with the students on touring schools and entering chamber music competitions. Dr. Chaffee does this in addition to his flute choir which also performs extensively in our region.  Our horn instructor, Sean Vore is currently coaching a freshman brass quintet and bassoon instructor Bill Jobert is overseeing a bassoon ensemble and a bassoon/oboe duo.  Each year another chamber ensemble will be added into the program with the intent of keeping the ensembles together for their entire undergraduate experience. The WSU Quintet fosters this program and each member works with the groups so that students get experience with all the professors in the department. This allows for a more pedagogical approach to the teaching of chamber literature and performance.

Dr. Randall Paul, who was one of the original members of the WSU faculty woodwind quintet, is now the Department of Music's Chair; we welcome John Kurokawa to our group as Dr. Paul's replacement. Mr. Kurokawa has extensive experiences performing with both chamber groups and orchestras.  He currently performs regularly with the Dayton Philharmonic along with Sean Vore, our French horn player and Kathy DeGruchy, our oboe and English horn player.

For more information about the background and experiences of each member or to contact members of the quintet, just follow their links to their department of music pages. We have also included some of our favorite links to professional organizations and woodwind quintet music sites for you to check out.

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For more information about these events or to arrange for the Faculty Woodwind Quintet to do a performance or clinic at your school please contact Bill Jobert at (937)775-3170 or william.jobert@wright.edu

Past Performances....

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CalendarTo find out about upcoming performances,
view the Music Event Calendar