Mark DeMio is an Assistant Professor of Bassoon at Kent State University's H.A. Glauser School of Music, alongside holding faculty roles at Cleveland Institute of Music, Case Western Reserve University, and Cleveland State University. He maintains preparatory faculty positions at institutions including The Music Settlement and Baldwin-Wallace University Conservatory of Music. His performance career includes frequent engagements with the Cleveland Orchestra, performing on bassoon and contrabassoon across tours and recordings. DeMio's expertise extends to reed making, a skill honed through study with Cleveland Orchestra bassoonists such as George Goslee and Stanley Maret. Education: BM and MM from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Teaching spans over three decades, emphasizing Cleveland School techniques. His professional affiliations include the Akron Symphony, Erie Philharmonic, and Blue Water Chamber Orchestra. Personal interests involve family life with his pianist wife Elizabeth and children Teresa and Vincent.
Susan Lawrence McCardell serves as a Lecturer of Music at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music since 2000, teaching bassoon techniques for music education majors and private bassoon lessons. She also coaches woodwind ensembles and has been a Teacher of Bassoon at the Lawrence Community Music School since 2009. Additionally, she holds part-time faculty roles at St. Norbert College and the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. Her career includes professional editing, specializing in information technology and college-level Basic Writing, including editing Lawrence colleague Karen Leigh Post’s book Mind-Body Awareness for Singers: Unleashing Optimal Performance . McCardell holds a Master of Music from Ball State University and dual Bachelor degrees from Lawrence University in Bassoon Performance and French Literature. She performs with orchestras such as the Weidner Philharmonic, Fox Valley Symphony, Civic Symphony of Green Bay, and Manitowoc Symphony, and plays contrabassoon in regional ensembles. Her teaching and performance focus on bassoon, music education, and collaborative orchestral work.
Fraser Gordon is the Head of Woodwind at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) and Principal Contrabassoon of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO). He joined the RPO in 2012 and is an active performer, educator, and advocate for music education. Fraser studied violin at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland before switching to bassoon, graduating with First Class Honours and winning all available performance prizes. His financial support included grants from the Dewar Awards, Caird Trust, and Wolfson Trust. Performance highlights include Mahler 6 at the BBC Proms, Henze's Voices in Finland, and The Planets at Carnegie Hall. He is a founder of the award-winning STROKEstra programme and co-hosted the Woodwind Category of the 16th International Tchaikovsky Competition. Fraser leads RAM's woodwind department, focusing on student development and professional readiness. His community work includes RPO Resound and international outreach, alongside touring across the globe. Fraser's teaching emphasizes practical skill development and career preparation for young musicians.
Richard Polonchak is an adjunct professor at Shepherd University's School of Music, where he performs with the Faculty Wind Trio (Shepherd Three) and The Two Rivers Trio. Formerly, he held roles as principal bassoonist of the United States Marine Band ("The President’s Own") and White House Orchestra, and performed with the Marine Woodwind Quintet and Trio d’Anches. He has taught at institutions including Duquesne University, Catholic University, and the University of Virginia. Polonchak earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Music from Duquesne University under Arthur Kubey and Benjamin Spiegel, with additional studies in bassoon repair under Lewis Hugh Cooper. His expertise spans bassoon pedagogy, instrument design, and music performance. Collaborating with Custom Music Company, he co-designed the Kroner 450 bassoon/contrabassoon in Germany and advised factories on American bassoon modifications. He has presented clinics in 35 states and authored Primary Handbook for Bassoon (1982, 5th printing), contributing to The Woodwind Players Cookbook and Western International Band Clinic audio materials. His articles appear in The Instrumentalist , Bandworld Magazine , and others. Polonchak’s work bridges performance, education, and instrument innovation, with ongoing contributions to bassoon technique and design.
Keith A. Koster is a Professor and Director of the MS Ed in Music Education program at Nazareth University's School of Music. With a focus on pedagogical innovation, he bridges music teaching methodologies and performance practices, particularly for bassoon and contrabassoon. Ph.D., University of Missouri M.M., Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University B.S., Quincy College His research and teaching emphasize the intersection of music literacy and effective teaching strategies, including Orff Schulwerk, Kodály Method, and Dalcroze Eurhythmics. He actively engages students in experiential learning through ensembles, workshops, and leadership opportunities via organizations like C-NAfME and C-NYSSMA. Koster leads the Orff Schulwerk Summer Music Institute in partnership with GRAOSA, promoting advanced training for music educators. He maintains strong post-graduation connections with alumni and mentors students in applied bassoon, chamber music, and music education. Paul and Gertrude Mathews Prize for Excellence in Teaching High Flyer Award for Excellence in the Scholarship of Teaching As a performer, he collaborates with the Wilmot Wind Quintet and encourages interdisciplinary engagement. His teaching philosophy, inspired by Émile Jaques-Dalcroze, centers on problem-based learning and holistic student support.
Jeanne Coonan is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Music at Nazareth University, where she teaches undergraduate Music Education courses and supervises student teachers. With 37 years of public school teaching experience in instrumental music across elementary, middle, and high school levels, she has earned national recognition for her educational work, including Superior ratings at the Annapolis Music Festival and the 2017 Rochester Philharmonic Outstanding Music Educator Award. Education: B.M. (Eastman School of Music), M.M. (Ithaca College), Certificate in Labor Studies (Cornell University) Her research and professional focus centers on music pedagogy, wind ensemble development, and performance education. Notably, she co-founded the Hochstein Junior Wind Symphony and Hochstein Youth Wind Symphony to provide immersive performing experiences for young musicians. As a performer, she actively plays bassoon and contrabassoon with regional orchestras. Awards: 2017 Rochester Philharmonic Outstanding Music Educator Award for Band Ms. Coonan's career spans both public education and higher education, with extensive adjudication experience and union involvement through the Webster Teachers Association and New York State United Teachers. Her current role emphasizes teacher training and curriculum supervision in music education.
Elizabeth Roberts is a Distinguished Lecturer in Bassoon at the University of Virginia's Department of Music within the College of Arts and Sciences. She has been on faculty since 2001 and previously served as Visiting Assistant Professor of Bassoon at the University of Missouri (2013–2014). She is also an active performer, holding positions with the Charlottesville Symphony, Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra, and has freelanced with major ensembles including the Philadelphia Orchestra and National Symphony Orchestra. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University of Illinois, a Professional Studies Diploma and Bachelor of Music from the Harid Conservatory, and a Master of Music from the University of Southern California, where she was honored with the Dean’s Special Commendation and named a USC Presidential Fellow and Pi Kappa Lambda member. Elizabeth Roberts specializes in music performance , particularly on bassoon and contrabassoon, as well as chamber music , reed making , and music education . She has performed as a soloist with numerous orchestras and at the International Double Reed Society conferences across the U.S. Her artistic work emphasizes youth engagement and arts education, reflected in her roles as Director of Youth Education for the Charlottesville Symphony and Music Advisor for Crozet Arts. Though no formal list of advisees is available, she has taught and mentored students through programs such as the Wintergreen Performing Arts Festival, Beyond the Notes (UVA), Music Mind and Reading (NC), and the Coastal Youth Symphony Camp (GA), where she served as Program Director. She has also performed on notable recordings including Michael Daugherty's Night Owl and John Adams' Lollapalooza . Virginia Governor’s Award for the Arts nominee (2008) Pi Kappa Lambda member USC Presidential Fellow Dean’s Special Commendation, USC Ms. Roberts has been deeply involved in arts education and outreach, leading youth programs and artistic initiatives. She served as Artistic Director for Beyond the Notes at UVA and Program Director at the Coastal Youth Symphony Camp. Her work bridges performance excellence with community engagement, particularly in music education for young people.
Miles Maner serves as an Adjunct Lecturer in Bassoon Performance at DePaul University School of Music since 2014, concurrently holding positions as bassoonist/contrabassoonist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Arizona Music Festival. His educational foundation includes: Bachelor of Music, University of Texas Master of Music, Rice University Specializing in bassoon and contrabassoon performance, Mr. Maner maintains an active chamber music career through ensembles like the Chicago Symphony Winds, Dempster Street Pro Musica, and MusicNOW (CSO's new music wing), with prior appearances at Rembrandt Chamber Players and Rush Hour summer concert series. His orchestral background features three seasons as associate principal bassoonist/contrabassoonist with the Kansas City Symphony, principal bassoonist at Breckenridge Music Festival, and performances with Pittsburgh Symphony, Houston Symphony, Austin Symphony, and Austin Lyric Opera. He has conducted masterclasses at University of Texas at Austin, University of Michigan, Texas State University, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Grand Valley State University, and Utah Valley University, drawing from festival experiences at Pacific Music Festival, Tanglewood Music Center, and National Repertory Orchestra under mentors Benjamin Kamins (Rice University) and Kristin Wolfe Jensen (University of Texas).
