Robert Sorton, Oboe
Robert Sorton is Professor of Oboe at The Ohio State University, where he founded OBOHIO, The Double Reed Consort in 1990. In addition to teaching applied oboe and oboe studio class, he coaches small/chamber ensembles and teaches a graduate woodwind literature course. After graduating from the North Carolina School of the Arts, he earned both his Bachelor and Masters Degrees, summa cum laude, from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Following a position with the Miami Philharmonic, he was Assistant Principal Oboe of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for fourteen years. He has also performed with the orchestras such as Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony, the Columbus Symphony and the Charlotte Symphony. Mr. Sorton was Principal Oboe of Eastern Music Festival (1993-1999) and the Wintergreen Festival Orchestra (2000-2008). As a performer and educator, he has participated in numerous festivals, conferences and master classes throughout the US and abroad. He is a founding member of the Winds of Wintergreen, a professional harmoniemusik ensemble which has taught and performed in the US and South Africa. As a member of OBOHIO, he has taught and performed extensively throughout the US, Canada, Europe, and most recently at the Fairbanks (AK) Summer Arts Festival. He is internationally acclaimed for his reed making. Mr. Sorton was awarded the OSU School of Music Distinguished Teaching Award in 1990. Professor Sorton has been listed in Who's Who in the Midwest and Who's Who in Entertainment. He is a member of the International Double Reed Society and Pi Kappa Lambda, the music honor society. He has recorded with London Decca Records, Delos, Artisie 4 (Grammy winner) and Coronet Records.
Karen Pierson, Bassoonist
Karen Pierson is the Associate Professor of bassoon at The Ohio State University. Ms. Pierson accepted this position in 2007 upon completing a thirteen-year tenure with the Houston Symphony Orchestra.
Karen was hired as the second bassoonist with the Houston Symphony in 1994. During this period, Ms. Pierson made several orchestral recordings and toured Japan, Europe and the domestic United States. She has performed with the Grand Tetons Summer Music Festival, Chautauqua opera orchestra, Chicago Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Columbus Symphony and the Austin Symphony. Karen has also appeared as soloist with the Omaha Symphony, Academy of the West Orchestra, Skokie Symphony and with university ensembles at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) conference.
Bassoon pedagogy is of great interest to Ms. Pierson. Her teaching posts have included The University of Nebraska at Omaha, The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Houston, All-State Division at the Interlochen National Music Camp, Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, Midwest Bassoon camp and the Texas Music Festival.
Karen began her professional career in 1989 as the principal bassoonist with the Omaha Symphony after completing that summer as a Tanglewood fellow. She won the second place prize in the Fernand Gillet International Double Reed Competition in 1994 and has subsequently performed at the conference several times.
Ms. Pierson received a Master's degree in bassoon performance with Norman Herzberg at the University of Southern California and a Bachelor's degree in performance with Hugh Cooper at the University of Michigan.
Karen was hired as the second bassoonist with the Houston Symphony in 1994. During this period, Ms. Pierson made several orchestral recordings and toured Japan, Europe and the domestic United States. She has performed with the Grand Tetons Summer Music Festival, Chautauqua opera orchestra, Chicago Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Columbus Symphony and the Austin Symphony. Karen has also appeared as soloist with the Omaha Symphony, Academy of the West Orchestra, Skokie Symphony and with university ensembles at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) conference.
Bassoon pedagogy is of great interest to Ms. Pierson. Her teaching posts have included The University of Nebraska at Omaha, The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Houston, All-State Division at the Interlochen National Music Camp, Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, Midwest Bassoon camp and the Texas Music Festival.
Karen began her professional career in 1989 as the principal bassoonist with the Omaha Symphony after completing that summer as a Tanglewood fellow. She won the second place prize in the Fernand Gillet International Double Reed Competition in 1994 and has subsequently performed at the conference several times.
Ms. Pierson received a Master's degree in bassoon performance with Norman Herzberg at the University of Southern California and a Bachelor's degree in performance with Hugh Cooper at the University of Michigan.
P. Bailey Sorton, Oboe
P. Bailey Sorton received a Bachelor of Music degree, magna cum laude, from Appalachian State University with a double major in Oboe Performance and Music Education (K-12). At ASU, she was a Presser Scholar, was listed in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and was inducted into numerous honor societies, including Pi Kappa Lambda, the music honor society. She earned a Master of Music Education degree from James Madison University, specializing in Adult and Higher Education. As a founding member of OBOHIO, The Double Reed Consort, she has performed extensively in North America and Europe. She held the English horn chair in the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra from 1972-2010 and the Oboe II position from 1996-2010. From 2000-2008, she served as Oboe II/English horn in the Wintergreen Festival Orchestra. With the Winds of Wintergreen, she performed and taught in the US and South Africa. Mrs. Sorton has also performed with the Fairbanks (AK) Summer Arts Festival Orchestra, KwaZulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, WindWorks, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra of Columbus, BalletMet Columbus, Opera Columbus, Opera Roanoke, Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra, Winston-Salem Symphony and the Western Piedmont Symphony among others. She has performed with many artists, including the Irish Tenors, Liza Minnelli, Bruce Hornsby, Ray Charles, Eilene Farrell, Van Cliburn, Robert McDuffie, Zuill Bailey, Julie Albers and David Kim.
She has recorded with OBOHIO, the Roanoke Symphony, Winds of Wintergreen (WOW) and on a private recording for Ray Charles and Quincy Jones. Prior to moving to Ohio, she was an educator in North Carolina Schools, teaching instrumental music. In Ohio, she continues to be an active educator, maintaining a private studio and teaching applied oboe at Kenyon College and Mount Vernon Nazarene University. At Kenyon, she also teaches bassoon and recorder and coaches the Woodwind Chamber Ensembles. Mrs. Sorton has experience coaching and teaching at Wake Forest University, the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, the Roanoke Youth Symphony Summer Music Institute, Cannon Music Camp, Wintergreen Summer Music Festival and Eastern Music Festival and master classes at universities such as The Ohio State University. She has been accepted into American Mensa, Intertel and the Triple Nine Society.
She has recorded with OBOHIO, the Roanoke Symphony, Winds of Wintergreen (WOW) and on a private recording for Ray Charles and Quincy Jones. Prior to moving to Ohio, she was an educator in North Carolina Schools, teaching instrumental music. In Ohio, she continues to be an active educator, maintaining a private studio and teaching applied oboe at Kenyon College and Mount Vernon Nazarene University. At Kenyon, she also teaches bassoon and recorder and coaches the Woodwind Chamber Ensembles. Mrs. Sorton has experience coaching and teaching at Wake Forest University, the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, the Roanoke Youth Symphony Summer Music Institute, Cannon Music Camp, Wintergreen Summer Music Festival and Eastern Music Festival and master classes at universities such as The Ohio State University. She has been accepted into American Mensa, Intertel and the Triple Nine Society.
Julie Grasso, Oboe; Camp Director
Julie Grasso has been performing and teaching as a professional oboist for twenty five years. She currently serves as Principal Oboe and Personnel Manager of the Gainesville Symphony Orchestra and has performed numerous concerts with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Atlanta Pops Orchestra. She has performed with the Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra, Atlanta Ballet Orchestra, Kentucky Symphony, Richmond (IN) Symphony, Georgia Sinfonia, Greenville Symphony, Columbus Symphony and Macon Symphony. Ms. Grasso is a founding member of the Double or Nothing Ensemble which serves as Quartet In Residence at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. As an active free-lance artist, she has performed with artists such as Johnny Mathis, Al Jarreau, Dianne Reeves, Joni Mitchell, Brian Wilson, The Moody Blues, Michael Bolton, Roger Daltry, Frank Sinatra, Jr., and Harry Connick, Jr.
Julie’s discography includes performances on the Christian label, Father’s Heart ~ “Mist On the Mountain” album in 1999, the nationally released album entitled “Christmas Eve” in 2000, the newly released Songscope album entitled, “Suspired Dreams” and as a featured soloist on the album “The Heart of Worship,” released November, 2005.
In addition to her performing responsibilities, Ms. Grasso has organized nationally recognized oboe and english Horn events for artists such as Elaine Douvas (Principal Oboe, The Metropolitan Opera), Patrick McFarland (English Horn, Atlanta Symphony) and Linda Strommen (Oboe Faculty, The Julliard School). Additionally, Ms. Grasso served as Orchestra Contractor for the Fox Theatre’s (Atlanta) 75th Anniversary Show in December 2004. She has served as adjunct oboe faculty at Piedmont College and has recently assisted in an educational oboe presentation at the Midwest Music Conference in Chicago. Julie is also one of the founding faculty members of the popular “Oboes at Oxford” camp, which takes place each summer in metro Atlanta, Georgia as well as Director of the Midwest Oboe Camp. Her article entitled “An Intriguing New Work for the Oboist” was published in the 2001 International Double Reed Journal where it received numerous positive reviews from colleagues throughout the organization. Together with colleagues Melissa Walding and Lauren Piccirillo, Julie has established a thriving reed business called Double or Nothing Reeds.
Julie’s discography includes performances on the Christian label, Father’s Heart ~ “Mist On the Mountain” album in 1999, the nationally released album entitled “Christmas Eve” in 2000, the newly released Songscope album entitled, “Suspired Dreams” and as a featured soloist on the album “The Heart of Worship,” released November, 2005.
In addition to her performing responsibilities, Ms. Grasso has organized nationally recognized oboe and english Horn events for artists such as Elaine Douvas (Principal Oboe, The Metropolitan Opera), Patrick McFarland (English Horn, Atlanta Symphony) and Linda Strommen (Oboe Faculty, The Julliard School). Additionally, Ms. Grasso served as Orchestra Contractor for the Fox Theatre’s (Atlanta) 75th Anniversary Show in December 2004. She has served as adjunct oboe faculty at Piedmont College and has recently assisted in an educational oboe presentation at the Midwest Music Conference in Chicago. Julie is also one of the founding faculty members of the popular “Oboes at Oxford” camp, which takes place each summer in metro Atlanta, Georgia as well as Director of the Midwest Oboe Camp. Her article entitled “An Intriguing New Work for the Oboist” was published in the 2001 International Double Reed Journal where it received numerous positive reviews from colleagues throughout the organization. Together with colleagues Melissa Walding and Lauren Piccirillo, Julie has established a thriving reed business called Double or Nothing Reeds.
Lisa Sayre, Oboe; Camp Co-Director
Lisa Sayre has her Bachelor of Music and Masters from Louisiana State University in Oboe Performance. From 1980 - 1983 Lisa studied with Stuart Dunkel at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA. She then completed her studies in 1987 at LSU with Earnest Harrison and Dr. Mark Ostoich. Lisa has performed in master classes with John Mack, Evelyn Rothwell, Robert Sprenkle and Elaine Douvas. Further studies include teachers Mark Hill and Robert Sorton. Upon completing her degrees, Lisa became a member of the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight for seven years.
Lisa is a professional oboist and teacher currently residing in Atlanta, Georgia. Currently she is adjunct professor of oboe at Reinhardt University and the University of West Georgia. She is constantly in demand as an oboist and performs with organizations such as the Atlanta Lyric Theater, The Atlanta Ballet, Carrollton Symphony, Macon Symphony and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. She was solo oboist and English hornist on three Billboard charting CDs with the Taliesin Orchestra and performed the Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in 2009. In 2004, Lisa toured nationally with the New York City Gilbert and Sullivan Company.
Lisa is a professional oboist and teacher currently residing in Atlanta, Georgia. Currently she is adjunct professor of oboe at Reinhardt University and the University of West Georgia. She is constantly in demand as an oboist and performs with organizations such as the Atlanta Lyric Theater, The Atlanta Ballet, Carrollton Symphony, Macon Symphony and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. She was solo oboist and English hornist on three Billboard charting CDs with the Taliesin Orchestra and performed the Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in 2009. In 2004, Lisa toured nationally with the New York City Gilbert and Sullivan Company.
Melissa Walding, Oboe
Melissa Walding is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Oboe Performance from Baylor University in Waco, Texas where she studied with Dr. Doris DeLoach, and her Master's Degree in Music Education from Piedmont College.
Melissa has taught at Cornell, Coe, and Kirkwood Colleges in Iowa, where she performed with the Dubuque and Quad Cities Symphony Orchestras and recorded with the Rockefeller Foundation-sponsored Center for New Music.
She has attended and performed at the Paris Repertoire Festival in France and the John Mack Oboe Camp in North Carolina. Melissa was a competitor in the 2009 Barbirolli International Oboe Festival and Competition in the Isle of Man, and the 2010 International Oboe Competition Markneukirchen in Germany. She has performed in master classes given by Ray Still, John Mack, John DeLancie, Wayne Rapier, Rebecca Henderson, Bobby Taylor, Yvonne Peterson, Laila Storch, Linda Strommen, and Joseph Robinson, and with several symphonies including the Central Florida Symphony Orchestra in Ocala, and the Waco, Brazos Valley, and Temple Symphonies in Texas.
Melissa Walding is currently the adjunct professor of oboe at the College of Mount Saint Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio. In addition, she enjoys teaching a private studio of young oboists and is a partner in Double or Nothing Reeds, providing quality oboe and bassoon reeds to students and young professionals.
Melissa has taught at Cornell, Coe, and Kirkwood Colleges in Iowa, where she performed with the Dubuque and Quad Cities Symphony Orchestras and recorded with the Rockefeller Foundation-sponsored Center for New Music.
She has attended and performed at the Paris Repertoire Festival in France and the John Mack Oboe Camp in North Carolina. Melissa was a competitor in the 2009 Barbirolli International Oboe Festival and Competition in the Isle of Man, and the 2010 International Oboe Competition Markneukirchen in Germany. She has performed in master classes given by Ray Still, John Mack, John DeLancie, Wayne Rapier, Rebecca Henderson, Bobby Taylor, Yvonne Peterson, Laila Storch, Linda Strommen, and Joseph Robinson, and with several symphonies including the Central Florida Symphony Orchestra in Ocala, and the Waco, Brazos Valley, and Temple Symphonies in Texas.
Melissa Walding is currently the adjunct professor of oboe at the College of Mount Saint Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio. In addition, she enjoys teaching a private studio of young oboists and is a partner in Double or Nothing Reeds, providing quality oboe and bassoon reeds to students and young professionals.
Lauren Piccirillo, Bassoon
Lauren Piccirillo is a professional bassoonist and teacher. She received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Lauren has collaborated with many great musicians, including William Winstead, Martin James, Hugh Michie, Michael Burns, and Fumiko Yamashita. She continues to perform as bassoonist with many orchestras in the Tri-State area, including the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, the Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, and others. Lauren is the bassoonist in the Cincinnati based all-female double reed quartet, the Double Or Nothing Ensemble. Lauren makes and sells her reeds through Double Or Nothing Reeds, LLC, of which she is Partner and Co-Founder. During her graduate studies, Lauren worked as a Graduate Assistant in the Music Theory department at CCM where she has experience tutoring students and teaching Graduate Music Theory and Analysis. She is currently teaches at Earlham College, Franklin College, Walnut Hills High School, and Larry A. Ryle High School. After managing a 200-student music studio, Lauren started her own music business called Prelude Inc., through which she continues to teach and perform around the Cincinnati area. Her teaching background includes private Piano, Bassoon, Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, and Violin lessons in addition to Preschool General Music and Upper Elementary Music. Lauren is a member of the American Federation of Musicians and the International Double Reed Society, and she serves as the Music Chair of the Three Arts Scholarship Fund.
