Texas State Double Reeds at the September 5, 2023 Chamber Music Concert
John Araujo, Bassoon
John Araujo is a Bassoonist originally from Round Rock Texas who is a freshman at Texas State University. During his time at Hendrickson High School, he advanced to TMEA area auditions three times. More notably he was awarded the TMEA Texas music scholar award. He is currently pursuing a music education degree in hopes of one day being a high school band director.
Bobby Harris, Oboe
Bobby Harris, originally from El Paso is a Junior Music Performance Major at Texas State University and a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. A three-time TMEA All-Stater, at Texas State Bobby has served as Principal Oboe of the Texas State Symphony Orchestra and the Texas State Wind Symphony. A prize winner in the Texas State University Concerto competition, Bobby has appeared as soloist with the El Paso Wind Symphony and the El Paso Symphony Orchestra. In 2021 and 2022 Bobby was invited, by audition, to serve as an Artist/Counselor at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan where he performed as a member of the Blue Lake Summer Arts Festival in a series of performances broadcast live on National Public Radio.
Lauren Newby, Bassoon
Bassoonist Lauren Newby is currently a junior at Texas State University where she has performed as a member of their Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Winds on both bassoon and contra bassoon. Accomplished both on the stage and on the field, during the summer she works as a marching tech for local high school marching bands.
Hailey Sanford, Bassoon
Bassoonist Hailey Sanford is a second-year Music Education major from Houston, Texas and is currently a member of the Bobcat Marching Band and Texas State Symphonic Winds. Throughout her career, Hailey has performed in ensembles through Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Kinhaven Music School, Starlight Symphony, and Clear Lake Symphony. Upon graduation, Hailey plans on becoming an elementary music teacher.
Xadrian, Thomas, Oboe
SOPHOMORE oboist Xadrian Thomas, A SAN ANTONIO NATIVE is STUDYING MUSIC AT TEXAS STATRE UNIVERSITY AND CURRENTLY SERVES AS PRINCIPAL OBOE OF SYMPHONIC WINDS AND ENGLISH HORN IN THE Diabolical Double ReeD quartet. He is also a member of the Bobcat Marching Band where he doubles as a saxophonist. Upon graduation Xadrian plans to pursue a career as a High School Band Director.
“The Unaccompanied Concert”
Nathan Vuong, Oboe
Oboist Nathan Vuong is a senior at Texas State University studying music education. During his time here, he has served as both Assistant Principal and Principal Oboe of the Texas State University Wind Symphony. In 2022, he was principal oboist of the CBDNA Southwest Division’s Intercollegiate Honor Band. He is a member of the service fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi and previously performed as a saxophonist in the Bobcat Marching Band for three seasons. Upon graduation, Nathan plans to pursue a career in teaching high school band.
Noah Lee, Oboe
Oboist Noah Lee is in his third year studying Music Education at Texas State. He is from Cedar Park, Texas and graduated from Vista Ridge High School in 2019. He currently serves as Assistant Principal Oboe in the Texas State University Wind Symphony. He also studies, Trumpet having played with the Texas State Jazz Lab Band, and mellophone, this past summer performing as a lead mellophone with the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. He has taught as a high brass tech at nearby high schools for 2 years, in one season winning the 5A State Championship with his band. Upon graduation he plans to teach drum corps, high school band, and serve as a drill designer.
Sofia Barberena, Oboe*
Oboist Sofia Barberena is currently a Senior at Texas State University where she has performed as a member of the Texas State University Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony and the Symphonic Winds. During the summer of 2022 she served as an Artist/Counselor at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp working with students from around the United States. Also, while at Blue Lake she performed concerts, broadcast on National Public Radio, as a member of the Blue Lake Festival Orchestra, Blue Festival Band, and the Blue Lake Festival Staff Band. Sofia is a member of Mu Phi Epsilon and upon graduation plans to pursue a career in music education.
*Student teaching during the fall semester of 2023
Making Reeds with alum Mika Valenzuela!
Sabrina Becker, Bassoon
Bassoonist Sabrina Becker is a second-year student at Texas State University. She is a Sound recording Technology major, and a Music Composition minor. She has also been in the Bobcat Marching Band. She loves music and wants it to be involved in her life!
Brittany Harris, Bassoon/Oboe
a member of both double reed studios, Brittany Harris is a second-year student at Texas State University currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in Music Education and Performance. As a two-time TMEA All-Stater, Brittany has gone on to serve as Principal Bassoonist in Symphonic Winds, Assistant Principal in the Orchestra, and Contrabassoonist in Wind Symphony at Texas State. Aside from bassoon, Brittany also plays trumpet in the Jazz Lab Band, and Bobcat Marching Band and is a singer-songwriter who plays piano, guitar, and sings in a newly formed punk rock band.
Dustin Regalado, Bassoon
Bassoonist Dustin Regalado is a fourth year Music Studies student at Texas State currently pursuing his bachelor's degree. He is from Austin, Texas and attended John B. Connally High School under the director of a Texas State alumnus. He has performed with multiple Texas State ensembles including the Texas State Wind Symphony, Salsa Del Rio, and currently the Texas State Symphony Orchestra. He has also participated in the Texas State Concerto Competition and advanced to finals in 2022. Along with performing, he has taught at Seguin High School and Sycamore Springs Middle School in a band tech capacity.
Melanie Thompson, Oboe
Oboist Melanie Thompson is currently a sophomore at Texas State University, and is pursuing a bachelors of science in Wildlife Biology. With her free time she participates in the Oboe Studio and is a member of the Diabolical Double Reeds, Double Reed Quartet. She has performed alongside the Hill country youth chorus and various children’s and adult choirs around the San Antonio and New Braunfels area. She is currently employed at Hays High school, Barton Middle school and Wallace Middle school as a colorguard/winterguard tech, and has aided in their success at BOA, USbands, WGI regionals and TCGC state/championships. Upon graduation she will be pursuing a career in the field study of wildlife and environmental preservation.
Brock Wade, Oboe
Brock Wade is currently a first year graduate student at Texas State University pursuing a M.M. in Musicology. He earned a bachelors in Instrumental Music Education in May 2023 at Ouachita Baptist University. He also participates in the Oboe Studio, along with being a Graduate Instructional Assistant for 2313 Intro to Fine Arts. Previous positions include: Principal Oboist of the Ouachita Baptist University Wind Ensemble, as well as previous church gigs. Along with being an oboist, he also is an artist in digital photography and mixed media, a composer, and a budding musicologist.
Izzy Delgado, Oboe
Izzy Delgado is a junior music studies major with a minor in jazz at Texas State University. He is currently in the Texas State Symphonic Winds, Bobcat Marching Band and The Etoile Ventus Wind Quintet. Outside of the university, he is an oboist with the Flower Mound Symphony Orchestra as well as a preschool kindergarten music teacher. As a saxophonist he has performed in the Texas State Jazz Lab Band and Jazz Combo. He previously served as principal oboe of the symphonic band at Stephen F. Austin State University
Roman Lomas, Bassoon/Oboe
Double Reed Specialists Roman Lomas is currently a Senior at Texas State University. He studies BM Music Studies under the direcEon of both his studio professors, Professor Daris Hale – Bassoon, and Dr. Ian Davidson – Oboe. Roman has performed many repertoires on both the bassoon and oboe throughout his musical career; he has been in many ensembles such as Concert Band, Symphonic Winds, Wind Symphony, and the Symphony Orchestra at Texas State on oboe, english horn, bassoon, and contrabassoon.He also has played 3 seasons of synth for DCI and WGI. He plans on geQng his Masters in a Woodwinds Degree in the future.
Lailie Rios, Bassoon
A native of Edinburg Texas who is also a first-generation college student, bassoonist Lailie Rios is currently a sophomore at Texas State University. At Texas State she performs bassoon in the Concert Band and Alto saxophone in the Bobcat Marching Band. Recent awards include the John Philip Sousa Band Award. Previously she performed in the UTRGV Youth Symphony Orchestra. She is currently pursuing a degree in music education and upon graduation intends to pursue a career in public school teaching. Lailie is the first to seek a career in music out of a family of Nurses! Like her family she intends to help others and alter their lives for the better, but through the language of music.
Nick Speer, Bassoon
Bassoonist Nicholas Speer is a freshman at Texas State University pursuing a degree in Music Education. Multi-talented, he plays saxophone in the Texas State Bobcat Marching Band, bassoon in Texas State Wind Symphony, and bass in the Texas State Jazz Lab Band. He also plays bass in the funk band, “Cake in a Bowl” often heard in venues in and around Central Texas.
Benjamin Sykora, Oboe
Dallas Based Oboist Ben Sykora Is a Sophomore at Texas state University where he is Pursuing a Bachelor of science in Sound recording Technologies. Ben is the assistant principal oboist in the Texas state symphony orchestra, and a member of the DDR double reed Quartet. He is currently an administrative assistant at Harmonic software production studios and the Lead A/V tech at St. Johns episcopal church in new Braunfels.
Lillian Vo, Bassoon
Bassoonist Lilian Vo is currently in her fourth year at Texas State University majoring in Music Performance and minoring in Business Administration. Originally from Austin, Texas, she has served as principal bassoonist of both the Wind Symphony and Symphonic Orchestra. She has also been recognized as a finalist in the Texas State Concerto Competition. Lilian has performed with professional ensembles such as the Austin Symphony Orchestra and the Eastern Faculty Orchestra. When she’s not in the practice room or attending classes, Lilian teaches private lessons to middle school and high school students in the South Austin, Kyle, and San Marcos areas. She has also been accepted into summer music festivals such as Eastern Music Festival and Sewanee Summer Music Festival.
Shelby Avants, Bassoon
From the moment Shelby Avants first stepped onto the stage with an orchestra, the magic of music captured her heart. Her musical journey began and has been a symphony of passion and dedication ever since.
Shelby Avants is a versatile musician who effortlessly bridges the classical and vernacular realms of music. While she regularly graces the halls of Texas State University with enchanting classical performances, she also lends her talents to three local bands in the vibrant Austin music scene. Shelby's musical prowess has earned her prestigious performance awards and scholarships from renowned institutions like Southwestern University and Temple College, showcasing her commitment to excellence. For Shelby Avants, music is more than notes on a page—a profound connection. She thrives on the shared experience of creating music with fellow musicians and the joy of connecting with audiences through their performances. Looking ahead, Shelby has ambitious goals: to continue performing, sharing her love of music, and inspiring others through her teaching. The future is brimming with endless melodies and harmonies, and Shelby is ready to embrace every note.