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Douglas Brown, bassoon, is a graduate of the Juilliard School in New York City and completed his studies with Whitney Crockett,
Principal Bassoonist of the Metropolitan Opera in spring of 2009. Douglas joins the Great Falls Symphony this season as Principal
Bassoon in the orchestra and the Chinook Winds. Douglas also performs as Principal Bassoonist with the Billings Symphony Orchestra as
well as the Rimrock Opera Company, both in Billings, Montana. While in New York Brown was a member of New York's Argento New Music
Ensemble with which he traveled to Jakarta, Indonesia, performing works of composer Tony Prabowo, among others. Mr. Brown's summer
activities have included the Pierre Monteux School for conductors in Maine and principal bassoonist with the National Symphony
Orchestra's Summer Music Institute in Washington, D.C. He was chosen for the 2008 Juilliard Orchestra tour of China, performing in
Beijing, Shanghai, and Suzhou where he performed as a principal bassoonist. With members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Brown
recorded octet selections from Beethoven's Fidelio issued on the Oboe Classics label in the fall of 2007.Allison Sontz, clarinet, is the Principal Clarinetist in the Great Falls Symphony and a member of the Chinook Winds Quintet. She grew up in Fairfax, VA, a suburb of Washington D.C. Allison attended The Peabody Conservatory of Music of The Johns Hopkins University receiving her BM in clarinet performance. She then attended the University of Maryland Baltimore County where she studied American Contemporary Music. Upon graduation, Allison successfully obtained the Position of Principal Clarinet with the Great Falls Symphony and Chinook Winds Quintet. Prior to moving to Great Falls, Allison played with The Woodbridge Chamber Orchestra, The Capital Wind Symphony, co-founded The Four Winds Quartet, and maintained a private teaching studio. Her former teachers include Sharon Bonneau, Robert Little, Edward Palanker, and Dr. E. Michael Richards. When not playing the clarinet, Allison enjoys exercising, hiking, camping, and swing dancing. Nick Murdick, horn, is a member of the Chinook Winds Quintet and principal horn of the Great Falls Symphony Orchestra. He previously held positions with orchestras in Michigan and Kentucky. Nick was a graduate assistant at the University of Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music where he earned an Artist Diploma in 2007 and studied music with Randy Gardner and Duane Dugger. While at CCM, he freelanced with several orchestras in the area including the Cincinnati Symphony, Pops and Chamber Orchestras, Columbus Symphony Orchestra and Columbus ProMusica. He has performed at the National Orchestral Institute, Chautauqua and Tanglewood summer festivals. Nick enjoys spending time with his family and friends, art, photography, hiking and traveling. Bill Aikens, oboe, is the Principal Oboist of the Great Falls Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Chinook Winds Quintet. Bill is a recent graduate of the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, where he received his Master's Degree in Oboe Performance. During his time in Cincinnati, Bill had the privilege of studying under Dr. Mark Ostoich, as well as the members of the Cincinnati Symphony's oboe section. Originally from Pittsburgh, Bill earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education at Duquesne University where he studied with Scott Bell and Jim Gorton. When he's not playing his oboe, Bill is an avid sports fan and is looking forward to exploring the outdoors in Montana. Amy Eyles, flute, performs her tenth season as principal flutist with the Great Falls Symphony and as flutist in the Chinook Winds Quintet. Passionate about performing, she has also performed with Windy Mountain Music Project in Canada, the Helena Symphony, Ohio Light Opera Orchestra, Aspen Music Festival and Round Top Festival Institute Orchestras. She has traveled throughout California and Montana playing with Silverspruce Flute and Guitar Duo. Also enthusiastic about teaching, Amy provides flute instruction both privately and for the University of Great Falls. Originally from northern Virginia, Amy graduated high school from the Interlochen Arts Academy. After earning a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, she received a Master of Music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Amy enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and two young children.
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