Monica Ellis performs with the wind quintet, Imani Winds. Ms. Ellis received her Bachelor's Degree in Bassoon Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory under the tutelage of George Sakakeeny, a Master's Degree at Juilard School, and attended the Orchestral Performance Program at Manhattan School of Music, studying with Frank Morelli at both institutions.

John Heard, Professor Emeritus, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, has a career as a performer, teacher and administrator. He has held appointments as chairman and professor in the music departments of California State University, Fresno; the University of Rhode Island;  and Miami University. John has also taught bassoon at the North Carolina School of the Arts.

Arnold Irchai was born into a musical family.  His father worked at the Kirov Opera and Ballet Theater as a violinist for more than forty years.  His mother was a prominent piano teacher.  Dr. Irchai began studying bassoon at the Leningrad Music School for Gifted Children and continued his studies at the State Leningrad Conservatory, USSR.  At the Conservatory he received his masters and doctoral degrees.

Albie Micklich is currently Associate Professor of Bassoon at Arizona State University and co-principal bassoon with ProMusica Chamber Orchestra in Columbus, OH. Prior his appointment at ASU, he was on the faculties of University of Missouri-Columbia, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Michigan State University and University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Gareth Newman is a pupil of Charles Cracknell, who was Barbirolli's first bassoon in the post-war Halle Orchestra. He has had orchestral jobs in Lisbon, Portugal; Liverpool, England and London. At present he is Sub-Principal Bassoon of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and has been Professor of Bassoon at the Royal Academy of Music since 1994. Gareth has played guest Principal with all of Britain's major orchestras, and has taught and played all over the world.

Lecolion Washington, Jr. is the Associate Professor of Bassoon at the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music and bassoonist of the Memphis Woodwind Quintet. Washington enjoys the versatility that he has as a performer. As a chamber musician, Washington has performed with principal players from orchestras all over the world including the New York Philharmonic, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Mozarteum, the Leipzig Gewaundhaus and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

Robert Williams has been the Principal Bassoonist for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra since 1974. He also plays in the Cut Time Players, the Neo-Bubonic Bassoon Quartet, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Bassoon Quartet, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Woodwind Quartet, and the Grand Teton Music Festival.