Class of 2023

 

Sai Ganti  graduated from Mountain Ridge High School in 2019 and is now a sophomore pursuing a major in Molecular and Cellular Biology with a minor in Bassoon Performance. Sai has played bassoon since his sophomore year of high school and studied under Alisa Hanson. Sai has played in the All regional and state ensembles in Arizona as well as performing for the 2019 MFA festival.

Brandon Good is a Sophomore majoring in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science and minoring in Music, Computer Science, and Biochemistry at the University of Arizona. He started playing bassoon at 11 years old and since then has performed with the Youth Symphony of the Southwest, the AMEA All-State Orchestra and the AMEA All-State Band. He first studied with Andy Bunch, and now studies under Professor Olegario. Brandon is interested in obtaining a PhD in a natural science and hopes to one day run his own research lab and become a professor. He currently works for a research lab studying age-related macular degeneration. In his free time, he enjoys being active outside, spending time with friends, and photography.

Photo credit: Brandon Good

Mallory Mahoney graduated from Skyline High School in 2019, and is now in her second year at the University of Arizona pursuing a Music Education degree with a minor in Spanish. She has played in many youth ensembles in High School such as the Youth Symphony of the South West, The Honors Performance Series, Regional Orchestra, and All State Orchestra. At the University of Arizona, Mallory has been the principal bassoon of the Arizona Wind Ensemble since last year. Mallory is an active member of the sorority Tau Beta Sigma, which is a service sorority that supports the Pride of Arizona. She plays tuba in the Pride of Arizona, and hopes to continue with Marching Band throughout college.

Carlos Garcia was born and raised in Guaymas, Mexico. He began his musical studies when he was 10 years old at Fray Ivo Toneck Arts Foundation. He became the principal bassoonist for Orquesta Sinfónica Infantil De Mexico (2009 – 2012). In 2012 he was a founding conductor of Orquesta Sinfonica Esperanza Azteca Sonora; a music education program that has expanded internationally to have 82 youth orchestras in Mexico and 1 in The United States. With this orchestra, he conducted the Saint – Säenz cello concerto in A minor featuring the international famous cellist Carlos Prieto and was awarded the Mexico Younger Conductor Recognition from 2011 – 2014. He was a Sonora cultural ambassador, which involved him meeting with President of Mexico Enrique Peña Nieto in which he discussed arts development in Mexico. Additionally, Carlos created La Caridad Symphonic Orchestra; a special music education program in Nacozari, Sonora for the mining group in Latin America and the United States; Grupo Mexico. Carlos is majoring in Music Education at the University of Arizona. He studies bassoon with Professor Marissa Olegario and is the bassoonist with The Fred Fox Graduate Wind Quintet. He has performed in numerous orchestras including Orquesta Escuela Carlos Chavez, Orquesta De La Universidad Autónoma De Zacatecas, and Orquesta Juvenil De Guadalajara. Garcia Ramirez loves dogs, the beach and really enjoys the musical social work to help children or some people through music.

Matthew Dutczak is a bassoonist and conductor holding degrees from UW-Milwaukee and University of Illinois. He has studied conducting with Dr. John Climer (UWM), and Dr. José O. Riojas and Javier Mendoza (UIC). His bassoon teachers include John Gaudette (UIC) and Beth Giocobassi (UWM).  
Matthew actively performed in chamber ensembles, bands, and orchestras at UIC and held the position of UIC Pep Band Game Management Apprentice in which he assisted the organization and performance of the UIC Pep Band. He was also a member of the UIC Band Staff for four years and was Logistics Manager for one year.
At UWM, Matthew served as Band Office Manager where he worked closely with Dr. John Climer and the UWM Wind Ensemble as well as Professor Margery Deutsch and the University Community Orchestra.

 

Class of 2024

 

Kenny Kriha is a freshman at the University this year and was born and raised in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, IL. He graduated from Lockport Township High School in 2020 and was a principal player of the Lockport Wind Symphony for three years, the last of which earned a spot at the Midwest Clinic for a 2021 performance. He served as principal bassoonist and contrabassoonist in the Naperville Youth Symphony Orchestra for four years, section leader of the high school marching band for three years, principal bassoonist and contrabassoonist of the ILMEA All-State Symphony Orchestra for two years, and was recognized as a national level youth musician in the 2019 and 2020 Honor Band of America. Currently, studying under Professor Marissa Olegario, he serves as second bassoon in the Arizona Wind Ensemble and Arizona Philharmonic Orchestra. Pursuing degrees in Music Education and Bassoon Performance, he hopes to one day direct a high school or college band of high caliber. Kenny is a member of the Pride of Arizona cymbal-line and also is a member of CatCall A Cappella, the premier men’s vocal ensemble on campus. Outside of music, he participates in competitive curling, and hopes to start a club at the University some day. 

Jillian Sweetland is a freshman at the University of Arizona and is pursuing a MS in biology. She graduated from Vero Beach High School in 2020 and has played bassoon for 7 years. Jillian has performed in multiple honor bands across the state of Florida, including Nine Star Honor Band, Four County Honor Band, and All County Honor Band. While in high school, Jillian marched trombone for her first two years and was drum major for the last two years. She is also a recent member of the University of Arizona Philharmonic Orchestra. She is a proud member of the Chi Omega Fraternity and is an undergraduate researcher in the Mouneimne Cancer Research Laboratory.

Class of 2025

 

Aleksey Prok is class of 2025 at the University of Arizona and is double majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Music. He is from Powell, Ohio and is graduating from Olentangy Liberty High School. Aleksey started playing the bassoon when he was 12, studying under Emily Klepinger. He has played in the Columbus Symphony Cadet Orchestra for two years and played in the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra for three years. Aleksey also plays the contrabassoon and performed the Mother Goose Suite in 2019. He loves to go on runs and spend time with his friends and family.