Jessica Johnson
flute		 Jason Price
trumpet, cracklebox, electronics		 John Pickford Richards
viola, accordion
Jackie Leclair
oboe		 Michael Clayville
trombone		 Stefan Freund
cello, composer
Elisabeth Stimpert
clarinet, sax		 Payton MacDonald
percussion, tabla, composer		 Miles Brown
bass
Bill Kalinkos
clarinet, sax		 John Orfe
keyboards, composer		 Alan Pierson
artistic director, conductor, keyboards
Michael Harley
bassoon, voice, keyboards		 Courtney Orlando
violin, voice, keyboards, accordion		 Gavin Chuck
managing director, composer
Matt Marks
horn, keyboards, electronics		 Caleb Burhans
violin, viola, voice, electric guitar, composer		 Nigel Maister
staging director

Jackie Leclair

oboe

Jackie Leclair

I grew up in Syracuse, New York and Sarasota, Florida and started playing the oboe when I was eight. At nine, I decided to become a "professional oboist" and -- curiously -- never considered another career.

My undergrad was at the Eastman School after which I went to SUNY Stony Brook for my Masters degree. In 1991, after just starting my doctoral work, I won an audition to join an orchestra in Oviedo Spain. So off I went, and lived in Oviedo for nearly three years. I headed back to the United States in early 1994, not sure if I would stay in music or not, thinking deeply about music, culture and my place in it. Eventually I got back into playing, especially new music. Before long I realized that without a doubt, playing music was definitely my thing, and I threw myself back into it. A couple of years ago, I went back to school to finish my doctorate and I completed it in December '05. These days, I freelance in New York City, playing all varieties of music, ranging from brand-new amplified, experimental solo works to Baroque orchestral masterpieces. I'm a member of Sequitur and the Curiously Strong Winds as well as Alarm Will Sound. I also appear throught the season with many other NYC ensembles such as Sospeso, Orpheus and Speculum Musicae.

Jackie Leclair

In addition to the performing I do, I love teaching oboe and coaching chamber music. I am on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music Contemporary Music Graduate program and I am the full time oboe professor at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. I also teach privately throughout the year, and during the summer often serve as faculty at programs like June in Buffalo, Apple Hill and Bennington Chamber Music Conference.

Contemporary music in particular has fascinated me since I was a kid, and over the years I've spent a lot of time studying new music, collaborating with many composers and performing all sorts of recent works. As a result of these experiences, I regularly teach unusual wind techniques and repertoire, both privately as well as a guest lecturer at schools. Recently, I've given talks at the Eastman School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and Brigham Young University. I also give performance/lectures on my edition of Luciano Berio's Oboe Sequenza. Interacting with students keeps me on my toes, and helps me take new looks at familiar ideas. When I'm not working on music, I hang out with my two awesome Siamese cats, practice Yoga and listen to even more music for fun.