SUMMER SONGS: AN OUTDOOR CONCERT

Recent solo performances include the Ibert Flute Concerto with Southwest Michigan Symphony and J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 (Flute 2) with Kalamazoo Symphony. Kathryne has also performed as a soloist with Michigan State University Symphony, University of Tennessee Symphony, and Monroe (LA) Symphony. An award winner in the MTNA Young Artist Woodwind Competition, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Young Artist Competition, and Ervin Monroe Young Artist Competition, Kathryne has also performed at the Texas Music Festival, Hot Springs Music Festival, Pierre Monteux Music Festival, and Aurora Chamber Music Festival (Trollhättan, Sweden).

Kathryne completed her Doctorate of Musical Arts at Michigan State University, where she subsequently served as a fixed-term Instructor of Flute, followed by several years teaching flute and music theory at Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek. Research interests include the works of flute works of Edgard Varèse and Chou-Wen-Chung, as well as the intersection of vocal and flute pedagogy, which she has presented in workshop format at the National Flute Association Annual Convention. A passionate proponent of the piccolo, she most recently presented a piccolo workshop at MSU in February 2025.

Kathryne also earned degrees from the University of Tennessee, the Royal Academy of Music, and Louisiana State University. Major teachers include Richard Sherman, Shelley Binder, Clare Southworth, Michael Cox, Patricia Morris, Katherine Kemler, and Patti Adams.

She was an associate member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and held a substitute position for the New World Symphony Orchestra. She has performed as a guest with various orchestras including Adrian Symphony, Lansing Symphony, Miami Symphony, Osaka Philharmonic, Palm Beach Opera, and Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestras.

As a soloist, Ms. Furuoya has performed Mozart’s Oboe Concerto in C Major, KV. 314 with the Alma Chamber Orchestra. She has been awarded second prize of the Yokohama International Music Competition, third prize for the Japan Oboe Association Competition, and the Fine Arts Award in Oboe from the Interlochen Center for the Arts.

Ms. Furuoya is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts at Michigan State University and has enjoyed her opportunities as a graduate assistant to teach undergraduate classes and lessons. She received a Master of Music from Lynn University Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music from New England Conservatory of Music. Her primary teachers include Jan Eberle, Nermis Mieses, Joseph Robinson, Takahisa Shinmatsu, Akiko Tsuboi, and Keisuke Wakao.

Dr. Hicks established their own private clarinet studio in 2016 and has maintained a high level of students ranging from middle school through the university level. As an educator, they prioritize performing without pain, committing to researching methods to both limit and manage injuries to the wrists and jaw in clarinetists.

An avid chamber musician, Dr. Hicks is a founding member of the AoE Reed Trio and has functioned as band leader for three Eastern European Folk music groups over the last decade, recording several albums and touring over Michigan and Oklahoma. They have also executed a variety of recitals with reed quintet, clarinet and saxophone duo, and woodwind quintet.

Aside from performing at live venues, Dr. Hicks has created and upheld a virtual presence on a variety of social media from Instagram, to TikTok, and Twitch, showcasing music from several genres including classical, romantic, video game, klezmer, and more. They are a firm believer of reaching audiences in modern ways to keep them invested in the continued existence and success of instrumental music. Dr. Hicks earned a Bachelor of Music Performance degree from Central Michigan University, a Master of Music degree from the University of Oklahoma, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from Michigan State University. Their primary teachers include Dr. Kennen White, Dr. Suzanne Tirk, and Dr. Mingzhe Wang. In their off time, Dr. Hicks enjoys running, boxing, and playing the piano.

Beyond the stage, Dr. Januário is a dedicated scholar at the intersection of performance and research. As an associate researcher at McGill University’s Input Devices and Music Interaction Laboratory (IDMIL) and a member of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (CIRMMT) in Montréal, Canada, his work investigates the interplay between postural mechanics and sound in bassoon performance. Dr. Januário has taught bassoon and music-related courses at Middle Tennessee State University, West Virginia University, and the University of Caxias do Sul (Brazil). He has lectured on Brazilian music and culture, woodwind methods, and chamber music at secondary and higher education institutions in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Québec (Canada).

Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Dr. Januário began his bassoon studies with the French bassoonist Noël Devos. He earned his B.M. in Bassoon Performance and a minor in orchestral conducting from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, where he studied with Aloysio Fagerlande (bassoon) and Ernani Aguiar (conducting). He was mentored by acclaimed bassoonists such as Milan Turkovic, Fabio Cury, and Alexandre Silvério. He further developed his conducting skills through international masterclasses with Kurt Masur, Anton Nanut, Victor Hugo Toro, Andreas Weiss, and Guillermo Scarabino. Dr. Januário completed his Master’s and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Bassoon Performance with secondary emphases in Performance Pedagogy and Instrumental Conducting at West Virginia University. His principal professors were Lynn Hileman (bassoon), Scott Tobias, Mitchell Arnold, and Kym Scott (conducting).

Brewer owns and operates a full-time private music studio, teaching weekly lessons to horn players in grades fifth-twelfth. She also holds the Instructor of Horn position at Saginaw Valley State University where she teaches horn studio lessons and masterclasses. During the summer, she is the Horn Faculty for Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. In 2025, Brewer created the Midland Horn Choir Club where she offered the ensemble participation to high schoolers, SVSU students, and horn players in the area. Their performance featured a collection of pieces, including arrangements made by Brewer. Prior to SVSU, Brewer served as the interim Professor of Horn at Central Michigan University, and was a guest lecturer at University of Iowa, Northern Iowa University, and Iowa State University. In 2024, Brewer was featured as a performing artist on xPropelr’s Dreaming Freedom track which was nominated for a Grammy® through the “The Harry Belafonte Best Song For Social Change Award”.

Along with teaching and performing, Brewer enjoys composing pieces inspired by nature. In 2025 she won an award through the American Prize, 2nd place for the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for her piece River House on the Prairie. This same piece won the Judith Lang Zaimont prize through The International Alliance of Women in Music’s 2023 search for new music. This piece was a direct result of an artist residency at Whiterock Conservancy in Coon Rapids, IA, supported by the non-profit AgArts.

Brewer received her Master of Music degree with an emphasis in early music from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Central Michigan University. Her primary teachers and mentors were Dr. Bruce Bonnell and Rick Seraphinoff, both for modern and natural horn. Annie has also had the privilege of playing in masterclasses and coachings for Michelle Stebleton, Eric Terwilliger, Dale Clevenger, Jeff Nelsen, Corbin Wagner, Andrew Pelletier, James Campbell (woodwind quintet), as well as the Cleveland Orchestra Horn Section.

In Brewer’s free time she is finding new bookstores with her husband Rick, throwing pottery, and playing with her cat Marjoram.