Dennis Michel is the recently retired second bassoonist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and was an ensemble artist with the Chicago Chamber Musicians. He served as Artist Teacher of Bassoon at The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Prior to establishing his career in Chicago, he was principal bassoonist of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra for 16 years and was a founding member of the Arioso Wind Quintet. Mr. Michel has appeared at Tanglewood, the Grand Teton Festival, the Bard College Festival, San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival, and Summerfest La Jolla. Mr. Michel is a graduate of Yale University, as a student of Arthur Weisberg. As a Fulbright Scholar, he studied with Milan Turkovich at the Hochschule für Musik and performed with the Vienna State Opera. Mr. Michel has served on the faculties of Northwestern University, The University of Southern California, The University of California at San Diego, and San Diego State University, and has been a Music Academy teaching artist since 1988.

Timothy Day was appointed principal flute of the San Francisco Symphony in 2006 and occupies the symphony’s Caroline H. Hume Chair. Previously, he served as principal flute with the Baltimore Symphony for 12 seasons.

Mr. Day has served as acting principal flute for the Minnesota Orchestra and the Boston Symphony. In addition to participating in festivals in Moab, Mohonk, and Montreal, he has been a featured soloist during San Diego’s Mainly Mozart Festival and has appeared many times as part of the San Francisco Symphony Chamber Music Series.

A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory, where he studied with Robert Willoughby. Mr. Day taught at the Peabody Conservatory for ten years, and since 1987, he has been on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He also has served as a wind coach with the New World Symphony.

Mr. Day has been a member of the Music Academy faculty since 1992.

Eugene Izotov is one of the leading wind players of his generation. His playing continues to receive wide acclaim for its "luminous beauty” (San Francisco Chronicle), “lyrical gold” (Chicago Tribune), and “fiery Russian temperament” (Boston Globe). Appointed by Michael Tilson Thomas in 2014, Eugene Izotov is the principal oboist of the San Francisco Symphony. He previously served as the principal oboist of the Chicago Symphony, appointed by Daniel Barenboim, principal oboist of the Metropolitan Opera, appointed by James Levine, and as guest principal oboist with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony and Los Angeles Philharmonic. Izotov is the first Russian-born musician in history to hold a principal wind position in any major American symphony orchestra. His numerous awards include top prizes at solo competitions in Saint Petersburg (1991), Moscow (1990), New York (1995), and at the Fernand Gillet International Competition (2001).

Izotov has appeared over 70 times as soloist with orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Pacific Music Festival Orchestra, and has collaborated with Bernard Haitink, Riccardo Muti, Valery Gergiev, James Levine, Nicholas McGegan, Edo De Waart, Ludovic Morlot, Ton Koopman, and Michael Tilson Thomas performing works by Mozart, Strauss, Marcello, Haydn, Martinu, Vivaldi, Carter, Hummel, Krommer and Bach. Eugene Izotov has recorded for Sony Classical, BMG, Boston Records, Elektra, SFSMedia, CSOResond, and was a featured soloist with the Chicago Symphony under the baton of John Williams on the Oscar-nominated recording for Steven Spielberg's film Lincoln. He has also recently been a guest soloist on NPR’s Live from Here with Chris Thile. A prolific chamber musician, Eugene Izotov has collaborated regularly with the MET Chamber Ensemble at Carnegie Hall, as well as with Yefim Bronfman, Pinchas Zukerman, Jamie Laredo, Yo Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax, André Watts, and the Tokyo String Quartet.

Eugene Izotov teaches at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and at The Colburn School. He has also served on the faculties of The Juilliard School, DePaul University, and Pacific Music Festival. He regularly presents master classes at conservatories across the nation and abroad, such as Aspen, Oberlin, New World Symphony, Boston University, Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, Vanderbilt, University of Michigan, Tanglewood, Verbier, Domaine Forget, and Interlochen. Eugene Izotov has served as an oboe mentor for the 2011 YouTube Symphony Orchestra during its residency at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, which included a live internet simulcast to over 30 million of worldwide viewers. In 2019 Eugene Izotov was invited by Valery Gergiev to serve on the first-ever woodwind jury of the Tchaikovsky International Competition. Izotov’s former students are enjoying careers in symphony orchestras of Chicago, San Francisco, Saint Louis, Montreal, Kansas City, Buffalo, San Diego, Lexington, Ontario, Atlanta, Osaka, Fort Worth, Jerusalem, and others.

Born in Moscow, Russia, Izotov studied at the Gnesin School of Music with Ivan Pushechnikov, Sergey Velikanov, and Alexander Izotov (his father). After immigrating to the United States, he studied at Boston University with Ralph Gomberg.

Richie Hawley ranks among the most distinguished clarinetists of his generation. As principal clarinet of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO), he impressed audiences around the world with his virtuosity and the velvety, sonorous tone that has become his trademark. The Cincinnati Enquirer has praised him for the “seamless flowing tone so many clarinetists long for and few can achieve.”

In 2011, Mr. Hawley left the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and moved to Houston, Texas to become the Professor of Clarinet at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music. Mr. Hawley appears on stages around the world regularly as a soloist, chamber musician and recitalist. During the summer he is in residence as the clarinet teaching and performing artists at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. Highlights of this year’s season include the premiere of Georgina Derbez’s Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra with the UNAM orchestra of Mexico and the debut duo album with Conor Hanick featuring the music of Higdon, Copland, Tower and Jalbert. Mr. Hawley made his debut at the Marlboro Music Festival in 1999 and toured with the legendary “Musicians from Marlboro” for the 50th anniversary performance at Carnegie Hall.

Mr. Hawley has garnered awards as both performer and educator. He won the Coleman-Barstow prize at the Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition in 1988 with Trio con Brio, and that same year was one of five musicians to receive the Gold Medal as a Presidential Scholar in the Arts from Ronald Reagan in a ceremony at the White House. He has received the Léni Fé Bland Foundation Career Grant twice, and was awarded the 2009 Glover Award for outstanding teaching at University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music.

Originally from Los Angeles, Mr. Hawley began his clarinet studies with Yehuda Gilad at the Colburn School of Performing Arts at age 9. He made his orchestral solo debut at age 13 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and at age 14 performed as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic. While a student of Donald Montanaro at the Curtis Institute of Music, Mr. Hawley appeared as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

As a D’Addario performing artist, Mr. Hawley performs exclusively on a reeds and mouthpieces that he helped to develop. He is also an artist for Buffet Crampon and performs on the Tosca model of clarinet.

He has been a member of the Music Academy faculty since 2005.

Since entering the world of professional music in 1972 as the associate principal bassoonist of the Minnesota Orchestra, Benjamin Kamins has enjoyed a wide-ranging career as an orchestral musician, chamber player, solo performer, and educator. In 1981 he was appointed Principal Bassoon of the Houston Symphony, a position he held until 2003.  He is currently the Lynette S. Autrey Professor of Bassoon at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.  In addition, he has served as a guest principal with other major symphony orchestras in Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Boston, and New York.

Mr. Kamins’ interests have also taken him into the world of historical performance where he performs on baroque bassoon.  He can be heard playing with many fine period instrument ensembles, especially Ars Lyrica Houston. In addition to his musical activities, Ben Kamins is a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique through Alexander Technique International.

An alumnus of the Music Academy ('68, '69), he has been an Academy faculty member since 1999.

GRAEME SUGDEN 26, born in Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida, completed his master's degree, studying with Thomas Robertello. He serves as Third Flute/Piccolo with the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra. He has performed as a substitute with the Detroit and Cincinnati Symphony orchestras, and regularly plays with the Indianapolis Symphony and Chamber orchestras.

WILLIAM FENGYANG JU 20, born in Liaoning, China, is earning his bachelor's degree at The Juilliard School, studying with Elaine Douvas. He won second place in the IDRS Norma Hooks Artist International Competition in 2024 and won the Music Center Spotlight Competition in 2021. He has performed as Principal Oboe with the Juilliard Orchestra.

GWEN GOBLE 24, born in Marietta, Georgia, has recently completed her graduate diploma at New England Conservatory (NEC), studying with John Ferrillo and Anne Marie Gabriele. She won the 2021 Colorado College Summer Music Festival Concerto Competition and has performed with the NEC Philharmonia and National Orchestral Institute Festival Orchestra.

ANDREI BANCOS 20, born in Cluj, Romania, is earning his bachelor's degree at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, studying with Yehuda Gilad. He previously attended Interlochen Arts Academy, Sarasota Music Festival, and the 2024 National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute.

ELIZA REIMOLD 22, born in Boxford, Massachusetts, is earning her master's degree at Rice University Shepherd School of Music, studying with Richie Hawley and Michael Wayne. She won the 2023 Eastman Honors Chamber Music Competition, and has performed as principal clarinet with Eastman Philharmonia and Round Top Orchestra.

CIAN BRYSON 21, born in White Rock, British Columbia, is earning his bachelor's degree at the University of Toronto, studying with Eric Hall and Jaakko Luoma. He has served as Guest Principal with the Tampere Philharmonic in April 2025 and as Substitute Bassoonist with the Finnish Radio Symphony during the 2024-2025 season.

KENNY FORD ('24) 22, born in Dearborn, Michigan, completed her bachelor's degree at Eastman School of Music, studying with George Sakakeeny. She was the 2024 Frances Walton Chamber Music Competition Silver Medalist, and Principal Bassoon with Eastman Philharmonia in Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring. She is a member of Mousai Quintet (2021-present).

SEAN YEE MCLENDON 25, born in Huntington Beach, California, earned his bachelor's degree at Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music. He won 1st place in the 2024 Konrad Wolff-Bing Ilse Chamber Music Competition. He serves as Second Horn with the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, Wichita Grand Opera, and Ballet Wichita.

DREW PATTERSON 23, born in Hesperia, California, is earning his bachelor's degree at San Francisco Conservatory of Music, studying with Kevin Rivard. He has performed as assistant principal horn with San Francisco Opera in The Handmaid's Tale under Karen Kamensek, and as Fourth Horn with San Francisco Ballet in The Nutcracker under Martin West.

JESSE SILVERBERG 22, born in Silver Spring, Maryland, has recently completed his bachelor's degree at Case Western Reserve University, studying with David Brockett and Sean Yancer. He won the 2023 Case Western Reserve University Concerto Competition and the 2024 Joan Terr Ronis Memorial Recital Prize, and has performed with the Akron Symphony.

YUEQI ZHANG 31, born in Nanjing, China, is earning his Doctor of Musical Arts at University of Texas, Austin, studying with Tamar Sanikidze. He won the 2020 Hong Kong International String Competition, Piano Trio Division. He has served as rehearsal pianist for Le nozze di Figaro, The Ghosts of Versailles, and La Traviata at Butler Opera Center.