Dallas Winds Musicians (Woodwinds)

Dr. Margaret Fischer has been a member of the Dallas Winds since 2016. She is the principal flutist of the Dallas Chamber Symphony and piccoloist with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra. She previously held positions with the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, Midland-Odessa Symphony, and Lansing Symphony Orchestra (MI). She appears regularly with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and has also performed with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Opera, Dallas Summer Musicals, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra (NY), Fort Smith Symphony Orchestra (AR), and Lawton Philharmonic (OK). In addition, she also performs with the Caledonia Chamber Winds, a Dallas-based woodwind quintet, and has also performed chamber music with ensemble75 and as part of the Fine Arts Chamber Players Basically Beethoven series.

Dr. Fischer received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University, her Master of Music degree from UNT, and her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Southern California. Her primary teachers have been Richard Sherman, Terri Sundberg, Jim Walker, and Toby Caplan-Stonefield. She has been teaching privately in East Plano since 2006. Outside of music, Dr. Fischer is a craft coffee enthusiast, a black belt in taekwondo, and a passionate baker. She lives with her husband in Allen.  Email

Abby Easterling is the Principal Flutist of the Dallas Winds, Associate Principal Flutist of the Helena Symphony, and interim Principal Flutist of the Las Colinas Symphony. Originally from Dallas, TX, she holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Rice University; her primary teachers include Bonita Boyd, Leone Buyse, Anne Harrow, and Helen Blackburn.

Abby has won honors in competitions across the country, including first prize in the Philadelphia Flute Society Young Artist Competition, South Carolina Flute Society Young Artist Competition, and the National Flute Association Orchestral Excerpt Competition. In 2018, she was the sole flutist selected as a winner of the Yamaha Young Performing Artist Competition.

Abby teaches privately across the DFW area and enjoys working with students of all ages and abilities. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, cooking healthy meals, and playing with her dog Harper.

Kathy Johnson, Adjunct Professor of Woodwind and Brass Techniques at the University of North Texas, has led a distinguished career of 39 years teaching in the Texas public school system. Highly respected clinician and conductor, Mrs. Johnson serves as Artistic Director for the Dallas Winds Honor Band and as Program Consultant for many school districts in the DFW area. Mrs. Johnson plays flute in the Dallas Winds where she is a founding member and can be heard on 22 of their recordings.

Dedicated to music education and developing the individual young musician, Mrs. Johnson co-authors Musical Mastery for Band and the forthcoming Student Teachers Workbook. A member of the prestigious American Bandmaster Association, Mrs. Johnson serves on both the Ostwald and Educational committees. Mrs. Johnson’s other professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu, where she is a board member representing the small schools of Texas, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Women Band Directors International, and the Texas Music Adjudicators Association. She is currently serving on the University Interscholastic League Prescribed Music List Committee. Kathy Johnson resides in Flower Mound, TX with her husband, Eric.  Email

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Band Consulting

Offers program consulting for band directors (or soon-to-be band directors) to ask advice, review program structure, and offer suggestions to grow the program, to offer specific teaching strategies, etc. Currently working with schools from Frisco ISD, Denton ISD, Lewisville ISD, Mansfield ISD, Midlothian ISD, Anna ISD, and Venus ISD.  MusicalMastery.org

Dr. Nathan Ingrim is a professional oboist and educator from Central Texas. He began
his musical studies at an early age, studying both oboe and piano. As a performer, he has won numerous awards and made his Carnegie Hall solo recital debut in the spring of 2019. He is currently based in Dallas, Texas and is an active freelance musician. Dr.Ingrim has performed in the oboe sections of such ensembles as The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, and The Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

Dr. Ingrim maintains a thriving oboe studio in North Texas. Many of his students have gone on to pursue music performance degrees with notable universities and conservatories.

Dr. Ingrim holds performance degrees from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Southern Methodist University, and Baylor University. His teachers include Erin Hannigan, Dr. Mark Ostoich, Dwight Parry, Dr. Eric Ohlsson, and Dr. Doris DeLoach. He is an alumnus of the National Orchestral Institute Festival, Eastern Music Festival, The Hot Spring Music Festival, among others.

Abigail Hawthorne joined the Dallas Winds as section oboe in August 2023. She holds the Oboe II / English horn position with the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra (Shreveport, LA) as well as the McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra (McKinney, TX) and the Allen Philharmonic Orchestra (Allen, TX). She held the third oboe and English horn position with the Wichita Symphony Orchestra (Wichita, KS) for the 2017-2018 season, performed with the Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra (Durango, CO) in the July 2023, 2022, 2018, and 2016 seasons, and has participated in the American Institute of Musical Studies (Graz, Austria), Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute (Toronto, Canada), Sarasota Music Festival (Sarasota, FL), National Repertory Orchestra (Breckenridge, CO), and Eastern Music Festival (Greensboro, NC). Hawthorne is also an associate musician with The Dallas Opera (Dallas, TX) and has performed with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (Fort Worth, TX), New World Symphony Orchestra (Miami Beach, FL), Symphoria (Syracuse, NY), Plano Symphony Orchestra (Plano, TX), and the Richardson Symphony Orchestra (Richardson, TX).

Hawthorne graduated with performance degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Southern Methodist University. Her primary teachers include Richard Killmer, Erin Hannigan, David Matthews, Megan Blauvelt Heuer, and Geoffrey Burgess (Baroque oboe).

In addition to performing, Abby enjoys sharing the joy of music with students and maintains a studio of middle to high school oboists, in addition to an adjunct faculty position teaching oboe through Dallas College. She also works as administrative manager with the Orchestra of New Spain, a Dallas-based ensemble specializing in Spanish baroque and contemporary Hispanic music.

Brendan Fairleigh is an active freelance clarinetist, chamber musician and private lesson instructor based in Austin, Texas. He has been the E♭clarinetist of the Dallas Winds since August of 2022. Originally from Kansas City, Kansas, Brendan received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas and his master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. In the summers of 2019 and 2021, Brendan was a fellow at the Round Top Festival Institute in Round Top, Texas.

Brendan maintains a private studio all around the Austin area consisting of students ranging in age from 11 to 18. His students have routinely placed highly in region, area and state level competitions. His primary teachers have included Jonathan Gunn, Stephanie Zelnick, Lawrence Maxey and Ashley White.

Deborah Fabian is the Concertmaster of the Dallas Winds, Principal Clarinetist with the Plano Symphony Orchestra and Clarinetist with the Music in the Mountains Music Festival in Durango Colorado. She frequently performs with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Opera Orchestra and Fort Worth Symphony.

Deborah joined the Clarinet Faculty at the University of North Texas in the fall of 1990 and has a private clarinet studio at her home where she welcomes all levels of students beginner through advanced.

Deborah is in demand as clarinetist, teacher and clinician. Several of her former students have gained international recognition for their high honor achievements in music competitions such as From the Top, the International Clarinet Association, and the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts as well as positions in major symphony orchestras. Email

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Private Lessons

Lessons available for any age and any level, beginner through doctorate.

Sharon Knox Deuby enjoys a rich and varied career as an orchestral, band and chamber musician, as well as an educator. Sharon performs as Principal Clarinet for the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, as well as Associate Principal Clarinet for the Dallas Winds, and Co-Principal for the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra. Sharon has recorded 23 compact discs with the Dallas Winds that have received international acclaim and Grammy Awards nominations. As a member of Texas Winds Musical Outreach, she presents educational concerts for Head Start schools throughout Dallas County. Sharon has performed as a soloist with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra and Richland String Orchestra and as a soloist or clinician for the Texas Music Educators Association Conference, University of Texas at Tyler Single Reed Day, OU Clarinet Symposium, Texas Clarinet Colloquium and Clarinet Solutions.

Sharon is Adjunct Instructor of Clarinet at University of Texas at Tyler and Richland College, where she also directs the Chamber Woodwinds. Sharon is a member of the clarinet faculty for the Dallas Winds Band Camp and Honor Bands. Sharon received her Master of Music in Performance from Michigan State University and Bachelor of Music Education from Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam. Her primary teachers include Fred Ormand, Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr, Stephen Girko, Allen Sigel and Alan Woy, as well as special training with Donald Montanaro. Sharon is a Selmer artist and performs on Selmer Paris Privilege clarinets. Email

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Private Lessons

I’m teaching online either via Zoom and Skype , depending on which works best for the student. All ages and experience welcome.

Masterclasses

Classes available are available via Zoom. Masterclasses are available to address Fundamentals (Tone, Articulation, Intonation, Reed Preparation/Adjusting, Altissimo Range, Reed Workshop, Technique, etc.) and also Repertoire class.

Sectionals

Classes available via Zoom. Classes customized with music director with regard to music covered.

Workshop for Directors

Tips for troubleshooting common issues for clarinet players. PowerPoint presentation & Troubleshooting chart available.

Mary Alice Druhan has performed with the U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” Baton Rouge and Acadiana symphonies, Dallas Festival of Modern Music, Triforia Winds, DeuxEaux, Shreveport Symphony, Shreveport Opera, East Texas Symphony, Plano Symphony, Wichita Falls Symphony. Color of Sound chamber series, and others.

Dr. Druhan has built an active clarinet studio at Texas A&M University – Commerce since 2002 where the faculty and administration have nominated her for many awards including for the Regents Professor Award in 2019. She has received many awards including the 2011 James “Jim” Vornberg Award for Teaching, the 2010 Provost Award for Research, and the 2016 H.M. Lafferty Distinguished Faculty Award.

In 2011 she suffered a debilitating playing-related injury, inspiring her research into musician injury, prevention, and recovery. Her work in this area has been featured in The Clarinet and the SAI Pan Pipes. She presents lectures about musician injury and injury prevention for schools and conferences around the country.

Mary Alice Druhan is a Backun Musical Services Performing Artist and a Silverstein ProTeam Member.  Website   Email

Jeanie Murrow is a founding member of the Dallas Winds (1985 under Howard Dunn) and has performed on all of their CDs.  She grew up in Alamogordo, NM and earned her BME at New Mexico State University and her MM at Baylor University and she was a former student of Dr. Charles West and Dr. RIchard Shanley. Over the years Jeanie has penned numerous arrangements mainly for clarinet choir and woodwind quintet, including clarinet choir music “Fandango” by Frank Perkins, which was performed  by The Dallas Winds clarinet section at the 2010 International Clarinet Association ClarFest in Austin, Texas.  Her moving arrangement “Nimrod from Enigma Variations” (Elgar) was performed by the College Professor’s Clarinet Choir Concert at the 2016 ICA Clarfest, as well as performed on the critically acclaimed CD for Mark Masters “Clarinet Thunder” (2009), Mitchell Estrin, conductor, University of Florida.

Jeanie recently began dabbling in composing, mainly for solo piano and clarinet choir.  Most compositions have been written in memory of someone that positively affected her life, like “Last Silent Noel”, written in honor of my departed parents. The band and string orchestra versions (both arranged by David Lovrien) were premiered in 2019.

Jeanie recently penned her first piece for concert band during the pandemic,
Heroes in the Shadows, (dedicated to all frontline responders of COVID 19) premiered March 2021 by the University of Melbourne(Australia) Wind Symphony, Nicholas Enrico Williams conducting. socially distanced on stage as allowed by pandemic restrictions.

Evan Schnurr is an Austin-based clarinetist and private teacher who performs regularly as a member of the Dallas Winds. He holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory (BM) and the University of Texas at Austin (MM), and has previously been a substitute musician with the Temple Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Youngstown Symphony, and Firelands Symphony in Sandusky, Ohio. Evan’s primary teachers have included Jonathan Gunn, Richard Hawkins, and Charles Salinger.

Since moving to Texas from his hometown of Yardley, Pennsylvania, Evan has begun teaching a sizable private studio ranging in experience from beginner through advanced high school. Additionally, he serves as the Finance Director for music education startup Through the Staff, and has gained prior administrative experience at Austin Chamber Music Center and Austin Classical Guitar. Evan is also an active chamber and freelance performer in the area, and is set to premiere several new works by local composers this spring.

In his free time, Evan enjoys exploring local coffee shops and bakeries, thrifting, and attending all sorts of concerts! For more information or to set up a free trial lessons, please visit  evanschnurr.com!

Mickey has played with the Dallas Winds since Howard Dunn conducted, and Kim Campbell held the Bass Trombone position. With his companion Robin Owens the DW has been a “wonderful ride”. Their children grew up at the Meyerson, and the interaction with, and the influence of being around the amazing musicians, conductors, and staff has inspired both professionally and personally.

Mickey is from Plano, and has degrees from Baylor University, and East Texas State University. He taught high school band for 35 years prior to teaching clarinet and bass clarinet lessons now. Mickey has performed with the DW, Richardson Symphony, Waco Symphony, and various society dance bands and jazz ensembles, clarinet choirs, and other ensembles over the years. (including a Dixieland Band gig on a river boat in Waco). While a band director he taught many fantastic students and was honored to serve as the Texas Private School Music Educators Association president.

Mickey sings in and plays clarinet with the Transfiguration Episcopal Church, enjoys various hobbies, and loves teaching lessons and playing clarinet all day. Mickey and Robin have grown children: Calvin, who
lives in California with his Fiancée Dr. Robin Betz, and Madeleine who lives in Austin. Mickey was so fortunate to teach both “kids” in band, and like every musician parent’s dream they are consummate musicians and wonderful people.   Email

Robin has been performing with the Dallas Winds for over 25 years, playing mostly contra clarinet and occasionally saxophone, flute, and clarinet (piccolo for the Stars and Stripes event a few times). It has been particularly fun to perform next to her husband of 38 years, Mickey, who plays bass clarinet.

Robin taught band in the Dallas area for 34 years and recently retired. She loves conducting and became the conductor of the Richardson Community Band in May 2017. Her post retirement job is working at Five Star Partners, a tax and finance firm, as an office assistant; moreover, her boss is life-long friend John Sweeden, who plays baritone saxophone in the DW. Her new work schedule provides more time for RCB preparation, practicing, performing, and
arranging, which she loves.

Robin and her husband have grown “children”: Calvin, who lives in California with his fiancée, Dr. Robin Betz, and our grandkitties Merry and Pippin; and Madeleine, who lives in Austin with our granddog, Tonks.   Email

Don Fabian is principal saxophone and soloist with the Dallas Winds. He is also the music director and soprano saxophonist with the award-winning Texas Saxophone Quartet, first saxophone chamber music ensemble to win the prestigious Fischoff Chamber Music Competition in 1986. A graduate of the Crane School of Music, S.U.N.Y. at Potsdam, New York, he earned his bachelor’s degree in both performance and music education under the tutelage of renowned saxophone pedagogue Dr. James M. Stoltie. His master’s degree was completed in multiple woodwinds and saxophone performance at Michigan State University with saxophone virtuoso James Forger.

A fluid performer in all mediums of saxophone stylings, from the orchestra pit of the Dallas Opera and Dallas Summer Musicals to the stage of the Morton Meyerson Symphony Center, Fabian is an active performer and comprehensive teacher in the musical life of Dallas and its vibrant surrounding communities. Fabian is presently the Adjunct Associate Professor of Saxophone at Southern Methodist University. He also concurrently holds the position of personnel manager for the Dallas Winds.  Email

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Private Lessons

Lessons available for any age and any level, beginner through doctorate.

David Lovrien has been a member of the saxophone section since 1991 and also serves as the group’s Staff Arranger and Webmaster. He has performed on 15 Dallas Winds albums. He is a founding member of the Texas Saxophone Quartet, the first saxophone ensemble to win the prestigious Fischoff Chamber Music Competition in 1986. He is also a member of the Singapore Slingers (a 1920’s retro-jazz band) and 5 Second Rule (an Irish folk band).

David’s first compositions were published in 2000, and in 2007 he started Lovebird Music which publishes over 50 of his compositions and arrangements along with those of other emerging composers. His humorous 2007 holiday piece “Minor Alterations” has been wildly successful and is performed by hundreds of bands and orchestras around the world each Christmas.   Email

Roy Allen Jr. has been a member of the saxophone section since 1991 and has performed on nearly 20 recordings with the group, as well as many live concerts both on tenor and alto saxophones.

As a music educator for 30 years, Mr. Allen has prepared music students to reach the highest standards in the areas of solo, chamber and band competitions. Many of Mr. Allen’s students and former students have made and ranked top chairs in the Texas All-State Bands, and have won or placed in — The North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference (both in solo and chamber competitions), Houston Underground Saxophone Competition, Fischoff Chamber Competition, Coltman Competition and other solo and ensemble competitions at the local/state/national levels. Many of Mr. Allen’s former students have gone on to major in music, making the top college concert and jazz ensembles in the country and having successful careers in music. Along with preparing students at the highest level, Mr. Allen is also very active as a adjudicator and clinician at the local, state and national level…which include his involvement with the Dallas Winds Summer Band Camp and the Great Plains Saxophone Workshop (both are the largest summer programs of their areas in the country) — along with being co-founder of “Sax Day at Brookhaven College ” for all high school saxophone students in the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex who are serious about learning about the saxophone, competitions or preparing for college auditions.

As a performer, Mr. Allen has performed with the Waco, Garland, Las Colinas, East Texas, Mesquite and Dallas Symphony orchestras — as well as the Texas A&M at Commerce Wind Ensemble and Texas Woman’s University (TWU) Wind Symphony, The Music People Luv Band (musician and staff arranger) and he has performed with the Texas Saxophone Quartet, Dallas Winds Saxophone Quartet, Camerata Woodwind Quintet and TWU Faculty Woodwind Quintet/Trio chamber groups.

Mr. Allen is currently the Director of Instrumental Studies and Professor of Saxophone at Brookhaven College and Adjunct Professor of Saxophone at Texas Woman’s University. His professional organization affiliations are—the North American Saxophone Alliance, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Community College Band Director’s Association, Kappa Kappa Psi and Pi Kappa Lambda. Mr. Allen received both his bachelor and master degrees from Baylor University and is a former saxophone student of Dr. Michael Jacobson.   Email

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Private Lessons

Weekly lessons available via Zoom or FaceTime, through Brookhaven College or independently.

John Sweeden has been a member of the Dallas Winds saxophone section since 1991. John also plays baritone saxophone with the Texas Saxophone Quartet. A lifelong resident of Richardson, Texas, John has performed with various groups in the region, including the Richardson Symphony, Plano Symphony and Irving Symphony. As a member of the Texas Saxophone quartet, he has performed with the Baylor University Wind Ensemble, SMU Wind Ensemble, Texas A&M Symphonic Band, Oklahoma State University percussion ensemble and Richardson Community Band, among others.

John graduated Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas and had the good fortune to be influenced by many wonderful music teachers including Abe Castellano, Jerry Brumbaugh and Robert Floyd. John has studied saxophone with Mike Adamcik, Richard Shanley and David Hastings. John holds a Bachelor of Music Performance degree from Baylor University and a Master of Business Administration, also from Baylor University.

In his primary career, John is co-founder of Five Star Advisor Partners, LLC, a diversified financial services firm in Richardson, Texas providing investment, income tax preparation, and insurance for life, home, auto and business. To support the Dallas Winds, Five Star underwrites the attendance of more than 100 clients and their families each year at the Christmas at the Meyerson concert.

John served on the Richardson City Council from 1989 to 2001 and again from 2005 to 2007. Since 2007 he has represented the City of Richardson as a member of the board of directors for the North Texas Municipal Water district and served as board president in 2018-19. John lives in Richardson with his wife Kellie and they have three daughters: Hannah, Robin and Olivia.   Email