Sapphire Woodwind Quintet "Not Just Classical Music"
"Not Just Classical Music"
MEET THE MUSICIANS
Kim Sopata, Flute
Kim has performed at the Kennedy Center, Symphony Space (NYC), the White House, the United Nations, and before HRH Queen Rania of Jordan. She received a B.M. from Northwestern University and an M.A. in Ethnomusicology from Bethel University. She has performed with many orchestras, including Milwaukee, Elgin, Elmhurst and Charlotte Symphony Orchestras, and the Illinois and South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestras, and CUBE contemporary music ensemble, as well as solo performances with the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony, South Carolina Philharmonic, and the Millenium Chamber Players. She also performs frequently with guitarist James Baur as the Avanti Duo and harpist Janelle Lake as the Lake Effect Duo. Kim plays traditional Arabic music on the Egyptian nay as a member of the Mosaic Ensemble and the Bulbul Ensemble. She is an adjunct professor of flute at Trinity Christian College and maintains a private flute studio in Niles and Evanston.
Somerlie DePasquale, Oboe
Somerlie received a Bachelor of Music degree from Vanderbilt and a Master of Music degree from Roosevelt University. She is a former member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and was a featured soloist with the Civic Orchestra in Alfred Schnitke's Concerto Grosso No. 4. She has also performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Mstislav Rostropovich conducting. Somerlie is on the faculty at the People's Music School and also teaches privately.
Anna Najoom, Clarinet
Anna holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Lawrence University Conservatory. She has performed with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra, Ohio Light Opera, Green Bay Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfonica UANL in Monterrery, Mexico and the Chamber Orchestra for the 2002 International Double Reed Society Conference. She is also a member of the Chicago based groups Claraconbrio and Symphony Sounds. She currently teaches at the Merit School of Music, Maine South High School, District 64 in Park Ridge, and in Wilmette and Kenilworth.
Ann Dufek, Bassoon
Ann holds a Bachelor of Music in performance from The University of Miami and a Masters of Music Education and Performance from Northwestern University. She has studied the bassoon extensively and has performed with numerous orchestras, including the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra, Rockford Symphony Orchestra, the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and the Highland Park String Orchestra. Ann teaches music in the Wilmette Public Schools and serves as Adjunct Professor of Music Education at Northwestern University
Lisa Taylor, Horn
completed a Bachelor of Music degree at New England Conservatory, a Master of Music degree at Peabody Conservatory and the Advanced Music Studies Program at The Banff Centre in Canada. She enjoyed a summer contract at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and two summers at the Chautauqua Summer Music Festival. Before becoming an official Midwesterner, she was a member of the Annapolis Symphony and played extra with the Baltimore Symphony. She is currently principal horn in the Park Ridge Orchestra and a member of the Chicago Chamber Orchestra. She has played with many local groups, including the Illinois Symphony, Southwest Michigan Symphony, and Kenosha Symphony. She is also a member of the Cathedral Brass Quintet, the Chicago Horn Quartet and enjoys performing with Jeff Hedberg's C11 Jazz Band. Lisa also has degrees in mechanical engineering, and colleagues learn not to leave any instrument with moving parts unguarded.
Kim has performed at the Kennedy Center, Symphony Space (NYC), the White House, the United Nations, and before HRH Queen Rania of Jordan. She received a B.M. from Northwestern University and an M.A. in Ethnomusicology from Bethel University. She has performed with many orchestras, including Milwaukee, Elgin, Elmhurst and Charlotte Symphony Orchestras, and the Illinois and South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestras, and CUBE contemporary music ensemble, as well as solo performances with the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony, South Carolina Philharmonic, and the Millenium Chamber Players. She also performs frequently with guitarist James Baur as the Avanti Duo and harpist Janelle Lake as the Lake Effect Duo. Kim plays traditional Arabic music on the Egyptian nay as a member of the Mosaic Ensemble and the Bulbul Ensemble. She is an adjunct professor of flute at Trinity Christian College and maintains a private flute studio in Niles and Evanston.
Somerlie DePasquale, Oboe
Somerlie received a Bachelor of Music degree from Vanderbilt and a Master of Music degree from Roosevelt University. She is a former member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and was a featured soloist with the Civic Orchestra in Alfred Schnitke's Concerto Grosso No. 4. She has also performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Mstislav Rostropovich conducting. Somerlie is on the faculty at the People's Music School and also teaches privately.
Anna Najoom, Clarinet
Anna holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Lawrence University Conservatory. She has performed with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra, Ohio Light Opera, Green Bay Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfonica UANL in Monterrery, Mexico and the Chamber Orchestra for the 2002 International Double Reed Society Conference. She is also a member of the Chicago based groups Claraconbrio and Symphony Sounds. She currently teaches at the Merit School of Music, Maine South High School, District 64 in Park Ridge, and in Wilmette and Kenilworth.
Ann Dufek, Bassoon
Ann holds a Bachelor of Music in performance from The University of Miami and a Masters of Music Education and Performance from Northwestern University. She has studied the bassoon extensively and has performed with numerous orchestras, including the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra, Rockford Symphony Orchestra, the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and the Highland Park String Orchestra. Ann teaches music in the Wilmette Public Schools and serves as Adjunct Professor of Music Education at Northwestern University
Lisa Taylor, Horn
completed a Bachelor of Music degree at New England Conservatory, a Master of Music degree at Peabody Conservatory and the Advanced Music Studies Program at The Banff Centre in Canada. She enjoyed a summer contract at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and two summers at the Chautauqua Summer Music Festival. Before becoming an official Midwesterner, she was a member of the Annapolis Symphony and played extra with the Baltimore Symphony. She is currently principal horn in the Park Ridge Orchestra and a member of the Chicago Chamber Orchestra. She has played with many local groups, including the Illinois Symphony, Southwest Michigan Symphony, and Kenosha Symphony. She is also a member of the Cathedral Brass Quintet, the Chicago Horn Quartet and enjoys performing with Jeff Hedberg's C11 Jazz Band. Lisa also has degrees in mechanical engineering, and colleagues learn not to leave any instrument with moving parts unguarded.
