Woodwind Music Lessons

Kelly Cunningham was born in Reno, Nevada and raised in Arlington, Texas. The daughter of a guitarist and granddaughter of a pianist, she was introduced to the tantalizing world of music from the start. However, it was at the age of 12 when the unique and emotive quality of the bassoon would captivate her almost entirely for decades to come. Kelly is a classically trained bassoonist and educator with equal passions for performing traditional works and pushing the envelope of bassoon expectations. She earned her doctoral degree at the University of Oregon (2022), masters at the University of Idaho (2018), and bachelors at the University of Nevada, Reno (2015), under the instruction of Steve Vacchi, Javier Rodriguez, and Eric Fassbender, respectively. One of Kelly’s favorite projects upon completing her DMA lecture was studying and performing Axeman for solo bassoon by Anna Meredith – a piece that requires plugging the bassoon into an amplifier to emulate an electric guitar rock solo. She enjoys creating music for bassoon with loop pedal and amplification in her solo endeavors. In the traditional realm, she holds a position as a bassoon fellow with Orchestra Next and has recently performed with the Women’s Choral Society and the Siletz Bay Music Festival. She is also thrilled to be working with composers in the area on new chamber and opera works.

As an educator, Kelly regularly adjudicates All-State auditions for areas of Nevada and Oregon, coaches young musicians in the PNW, and has maintained a private studio of bassoonists of all ages. Kelly wholeheartedly believes that everyone is creative and deserves a safe space to explore and nurture their personal creativity. It is her goal to help students from one point to the next in their creative journeys by inspiring confidence and providing the tactile tools necessary for success.

Clarinetist Dr. Anthony Aguayo has “the musical and personal ideas to really be one of the next great voices on the clarinet scene,” according to Stephanie Zelnick, associate professor of clarinet at the University of Kansas. Anthony holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Clarinet Performance from the University of Oregon where he served as Graduate Instructor of Clarinet from 2018-2022. He also holds Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees from Colorado State University and Eastern New Mexico University, respectively. Dr. Aguayo’s primary teachers include Drs. Wonkak Kim, Wesley Ferreira, and Jennifer Laubenthal. 

 Dr. Aguayo is an active performer, pedagogue, and scholar. Anthony has been invited to perform at numerous ClarinetFest®️ Conferences hosted by the International Clarinet Association and will be performing a set of unaccompanied Latin American works at the 2023 conference in Denver, CO. He has given over 20 premieres of new works throughout his career including “Time and Space” for two clarinets by GyungEun Lee which he performed with Wonkak Kim. Anthony strives to program works by living composers from underrepresented communities; his area of specialty is focused on chamber works by Latin American composers. 

 Alongside saxophonist, Jessica Dodge-Overstreet, Dr. Aguayo co-founded Chyornii & Dorado. As an active duo, they recently completed a tour of Northern Nevada and California; this tour culminated in a performance at ClarinetFest®️2022. The duo has performed recitals at the University of Oregon and has been highly sought after for local performances in the Eugene area. The duo has also  been invited as Guest Artists at Portland State University and Oregon State University. The Chyornni & Dorado Educational Outreach Program has visited middle and high schools as well as retirement communities throughout the Eugene community with the goal of enriching our community through music. Anthony and Jessica have a vision to expand the repertoire for this ensemble and together they have commissioned many new works that can be heard on their debut album, Black and Gold. The album was released in November of 2019. Dr. Aguayo is a founding member of the Emerald City Trio and Ultraviolet Winds, two Eugene based chamber ensembles that strive to perform for and serve our community.

At the University of Oregon, Anthony served as the Graduate Instructor of Clarinet. He taught applied lessons to a large portion of the clarinet studio with students majoring in clarinet performance, music education, general music, and non-music majors. He also taught the clarinet techniques course for music education students and coaches various undergraduate chamber music ensembles. Teaching the next generation of musicians is one of his greatest passions and he strives to inspire, support, and encourage all who study under him. Many of his former students have achieved high placements in the New Mexico and Colorado All State Orchestras and Bands as well as regional honor bands. Additionally, many of his students have been accepted to prestigious music schools for undergraduate study, such as the Eastman School of Music and the Manhattan School of Music.

For more information, please visit anthonyaguayo.com

Originally from Colorado, Rebecca began playing the oboe in 8th grade after encouragement from her band director to switch from the flute. Since then, Rebecca has built a love for classical music and performance. While so much of the oboe repertoire comes from the Baroque era, she also enjoys working on new compositions and expanding her knowledge of extended techniques.

Rebecca earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa where she travelled abroad to Vienna, Austria with the Luther College Symphony Orchestra and Spain with the World-Famous Luther College Concert Band. Rebecca earned her Master of Music in Oboe Performance at the University of Northern Colorado and where she played with both the Early Music Ensemble and Contemporary Ensemble, as well as the Longmont Symphony Orchestra.

Rebecca is currently finishing her Doctoral degree in Oboe Performance at the University of Oregon where she assists with the oboe studio in reed making and teaching lessons. She currently plays with the UO Orchestra and a Reed Quintet (oboe, bassoon, Bb clarinet, bass clarinet and alto saxophone) at the university, works with Oregon Mozart Players, teaches private oboe students, and has been a member of Orchestra NEXT. Rebecca’s teachers include Lisa Brende-Martin, Dr. Heather Armstrong, Dr. Laura Medisky, Dr. Euridice Alvarez, Timothy Gocklin, Melissa Peña and Dr. Dieter Koch. 

Sarah Llinás (Sarah Banker) earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Master’s degree in Flute Performance from Louisiana State University. She has studied flute under Dr. Katherine Kemler, Suzanne Buerkle, Ji Weon Ryu, and Rachel Ciraldo. Sarah holds a productive schedule between teaching and performing. Currently, she operates a private studio in Eugene, Oregon, catering to both local and virtual students. In addition to her teaching commitments, Sarah enjoys substituting in ensembles both domestically and internationally.

Notable groups she has collaborated with include the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Polizeiorchester Bayern, Rogue Valley Symphony, and the Britt Festival Orchestra. Furthermore, Sarah contributes her skills as an administrative assistant and flute section coach for the World Youth Wind Orchestra Project (WYWOP), a prestigious summer music festival situated in Schladming, Austria.