Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church - New Paltz

Join us for a wonderful afternoon of music provided by the Woodstock Wind Trio.

The Woodstock Wind Trio consists of oboe, clarinet and bassoon. The ensemble performs various styles of music ranging from classical to contemporary for all occasions. The Woodstock Wind Trio musicians are Allison Rubin Bitz (Oboe/English horn), Tony Penz (Clarinet) and Melissa Brown (Bassoon). The trio met as active members of the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra who perform regularly in New York's Hudson Valley region and formed this wind trio ensemble in 2010.

Oboist, Allison Rubin Bitz, received her B.M. from The Juilliard School (NY Philharmonic scholarship recipient) and her M.M. from the Yale School of Music (merit scholarship recipient). She has studied with Lois Wann, Humbert Lucarelli, John Ferillo and Ronald Roseman. Ms. Bitz has participated in orchestral repertiore master classes with John Mack and Elaine Douvas. She has performed in chamber music master classes for Luciano Berio, Samuel Adler, Gerry Mulligan, and The New York Woodwind Quintet. Ms. Bitz has performed with the New Jersey Pops Orchestra, the Bronx Opera Company, and the Bronx Chamber Orchestra. Since the 2009-2010 season, Allison has been the Principal Oboist for the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra, where she will be featured as a soloist in April 2012. Ms. Bitz free lances in the Hudson Valley region and has an active oboe and reed making teaching studio in Saugerties.

Clarinetist, Tony Penz, a resident of Kingston NY, has been Principal Clarinet of the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra since 1983. He has been featured as a soloist with the orchestra several times. He began his studies of the clarinet with Joseph and Anthony Gigliotti in Philadelphia, and soon played with the Delaware Valley Philharmonic Orchestra. Other teachers have included Raoul Querze, and Susan Martula. From 1965 to 1968, Tony attended the US Naval School of Music, was selected for the All Eastern Military Band, and was assigned to the First US Army Band. Since moving to the Hudson Valley in 1970, he has performed with various chamber music groups including Kingston Camerata. Tony has also played with the Pittsfield and Schenectady Symphonies.

Bassoonist, Melissa Brown, received her B.M from the Crane School of Music/SUNY Potsdam studying with Frank Wangler and graduating Magna Cum Laude. She received her M.M. from the Yale School of Music and is currently pursuing her DMA at SUNY Stony Brook under the guidance of Frank Morelli. She has performed with the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra, Wallingford Symphony Orchestra, Yale Philharmonia, Yale Opera, New Haven Buxtehude Project, Northern Dutchess Symphony, and Woodstock Chamber Orchestra. She is also frequently found playing chamber music with a variety of groups including an avant-guard Bassoon Duo. She has spent summers at Windfest, Domaine Forget, and the National Orchestral Institute, working with Cedric Coleman, Christopher Millard, Richard Gagnon, Daniel Matsukawa, Sue Heineman, and Frank Morelli.

The Woodstock Wind Trio invites you to visit: www.oboebitz.com to learn more.