MUSICIANS
Personnel
OBOES
Erin Webber | Principal Oboe
Erin Webber is an oboe and English horn specialist in San Antonio, TX. She is principal oboist with Symphony Viva, South Texas Symphonic Orchestra, and the San Antonio Sinfonietta, and is a founding member of SAHarmonie. She is the instructor of oboe at the University of the Incarnate Word, as well as teaching a full studio of middle and high school students. She operates a thriving small business, Erin’s Oboe Reeds. During the summer, Erin teaches reed making and coaches chamber music through the Bocal Majority summer camp program. She earned her Master’s in Music Performance at Arizona State University, studying with Martin Schuring and her Bachelor’s in Music Performance at Western Kentucky University, studying with Dr. Michele Fiala. Erin is a published composer and has two compositions available through TrevCo-Varner Music under her maiden name of Goad: Overheard on a Saltmarsh and The Journey. Erin lives in San Antonio with her husband, Chad, along with a bunny, three cats, a fish, and a bearded dragon.
Leo Benavides | Second Oboe
Leo Benavides is a registered nurse in San Antonio and graduate of the the UT Health Science Center. Although his career is in nursing, he has been an active musician throughout his studies and in recent years. He was a part of the Mezcolanza Reed Quintet which had the opportunity to attend the Chamber Music Institute at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His experience with the Mezcolanza Reed Quintet is what gave way to his enjoyment of chamber music, as it is collaborative and diverse. He is excited and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of SAHarmonie and share the joy of music with others.
CLARINETS
Kathleen Jones | Principal Clarinet
Kathleen Jones, Principal Clarinet, has a passion for music and is excited to share it! She holds a Music Education Degree from the University of Oklahoma and has been performing and teaching for over forty years. Her teachers include: Larry Mentzer - San Antonio Symphony, David Etheridge - University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Philharmonic, and Arthur Johnson - Oklahoma City Symphony. Kathleen performs and has performed with many groups throughout South Texas such as: Alamo City Opera, Ballet San Antonio, Blasmusik Texas, Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, George Winters Chamber Orchestra, Hermann Sons German Band, King William Winds, Kunstler Klarinetten, Mid-Texas Symphony, San Antonio Municipal Band, San Antonio Symphony, San Antonio Wind Symphony and the Victoria Symphony Orchestra. Her expertise on clarinets of all sizes makes her a sought after free-lancer. Besides her studio at UIW, she maintains a busy private lesson studio – Mrs. Jones Clarinet Studio. Kathleen has a deep desire to share her love of music and the clarinet with students and listeners of all ages and is thrilled to be part of SAHarmonie.
Don Bierschenk | Second Clarinet
Don Bierschenk has been an active performer for over forty years. He currently serves as principal Clarinet for the San Antonio Wind Symphony and has performed with numerous other South Texas musical groups, including the San Antonio Municipal Band, King William Winds, San Antonio Symphony, Austin Symphony, Mozart Festival Texas Orchestra, and numerous other chamber groups. While obtaining a music education degree from the University of Texas, he was a four-year member of the UT Longhorn Band as well as the UT Wind Ensemble. He currently serves as Regional Manager for RBC-Pepper Sheet Music in San Antonio. In addition, Don has also arranged numerous selections for woodwinds, and has served as clinician and woodwind adjudicator throughout the United States, as well as in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Great Britain. Several of his arrangements for clarinet ensembles are currently on the UIL Prescribed Music List. Don is also co-author of the Essential Elements series of band method books and supplementary materials.
BASSOONS
Sarah Wildey-Richmond | Principal Bassoon
Dr. Sarah Wildey-Richmond teaches bassoon at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Additionally, she maintains a large double reed studio of high school and middle school students in San Antonio. An avid orchestral musician, Dr. Wildey holds the contrabassoon chair with the Amarillo Symphony, a position she has held since 2013, and performs regularly with other orchestral groups throughout the state of Texas, including the San Antonio Symphony. Originally from Upstate New York, Dr. Wildey received her DMA from The University of Iowa under the tutelage of Benjamin Coelho. She also holds degrees from Indiana University and York College of Pennsylvania. Outside of music, Dr. Wildey is passionate about animal rescue, baking and cooking, and knitting. She currently lives in San Antonio with her husband, Will, and far too many foster animals.
Meridith Wright | Second Bassoon
Meridith Wright is an educator, reed maker and freelance musician based in San Antonio, Texas. Meridith maintains a large private studio in the San Antonio area of bassoon students of all levels, beginner through high school. Originally from Houston, Meridith began playing bassoon in her sixth grade band program, and later joined the Houston Youth Symphony which inspired an interest in orchestral playing, chamber music and a serious pursuit in playing bassoon. She first studied bassoon with University of Houston faculty Cheryl Huddleston, and graduated from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. She then received the full tuition Barbara and David Jacobs scholarship to study with Kathleen McLean at Indiana University, where she earned her Bachelor of Music degree. After the completion of her undergraduate studies, Meridith continued on to pursue a graduate degree under fellowship at the University of Texas at Austin and completed a Master's Degree in performance under the direction of Kristin Wolfe Jensen. As an orchestral musician, Meridith has performed with the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra, the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, Round Rock Symphony and most recently the Mid Texas Symphony, San Antonio Sinfonietta, and Symphony Viva of San Antonio.
HORNS
Sean Holmes | Horn
Sean Holmes is Assistant Professor of Horn at Texas Lutheran University. Sean earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Baylor University, studying Horn under Jeffrey Powers. Prior to his position at TLU, Sean was living and working in Los Angeles while attending the University of Southern California earning both a Master and Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Horn Performance. During this time, Dr. Holmes studied Horn under Dr. Kristy Morrell and Mr. Steve Becknell. Sean is currently 3rd/Associate Principal Horn of the San Luis Obispo Symphony, and performs regularly with the Symphony of the Hills, the Santa Barbara Symphony, Downey Symphony, and Burbank Philharmonic. His Chamber groups have presented concerts and masterclasses across the nation and abroad, including a 2019 tour through Denmark and Sweden.
LaNetra Carther | Horn
Ms. Carther is a professional French horn player, and has been highly involved with her craft for 31 years. She attended Indiana State University where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Music in 2004, and continued her studies at Baylor University, where she received her Master’s degree in Music Performance in 2006. Originally from Gary, Indiana, she resides in San Antonio, Texas, where she continues performing as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician and freelancer. She attended and participated in the 2016 Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival in Manhattan, New York; the 2018 Fresh Inc. Chamber Music Festival in Kenosha, Wisconsin; 2018 Quinteto Latino’s “Seminario” in Menlo Park, California; and the Summer Music Program in 2018 and 2019 at the Banff Centre for Creative Arts in Banff, Alberta, where she was a 2019 recipient of the Banff Artists’ Award. Ms. Carther is a private instructor for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students from all backgrounds. She is also previously the hornist for Adelante Winds; a professional, non-profit, multicultural woodwind quintet based in San Antonio that performs works by composers of color, young composers, as well as female composers.
PLUS
Danielle Aicher | Flute
Danielle Aicher grew up in San Antonio and is a proud alumna of Bradley Middle School and Reagan High School. Inspired by her teachers and strong band programs, she went on to earn her Bachelor of Music Education degree with summa cum laude honors from the University of Houston Moores School of Music. Danielle studied instrumental methods with John Benzer and served as Principal Flutist in the University of Houston Wind Ensemble under the direction of Tom Bennett. She studied flute with Dr. Kimberly Clark and performed in the university’s Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Opera Orchestra, Ballet Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra, Spirit of Houston Cougar Marching Band, Graduate Woodwind Quintet, AURA: Contemporary Ensemble, and Flute Choir. Danielle began her career as a middle school band director in Lewisville ISD and is now the Director of Bands at Driscoll Middle School in North East ISD. She teaches the beginning woodwind and percussion classes and conducts the advanced bands, which consistently earn “Sweepstakes” at UIL contests. The Driscoll Honors Band was a 2016 TMEA State Honor Band finalist, and the Driscoll Middle School Band received the 2017 Exemplary Band Program Award from the Texas Bandmasters Association. Danielle also teaches young flute students and performs at the San Antonio Floot Fire summer workshops. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor adventures with her husband and two little boys.
Stephanie Hulsey | Flute
An active flutist and instructor throughout the greater San Antonio, Ms. Stephanie Hulsey visits numerous campuses for lessons and masterclasses daily in addition to her position as Lecturer of Flute at University of the Incarnate Word. Ms. Hulsey holds bachelor’s degrees from McNeese State University (2013) in Music Education and Music Performance and a Master in Music degree from Texas State University (2016). A highlight of her career is performing in Bulgaria for the Musicartissimo music festival in 2015! Currently, Ms. Hulsey performs regularly with SA Harmonie, the San Antonio Wind Symphony, and the Brazos Breeze Flute Choir while teaching a full load of students and acting as the San Antonio Representative for RMT Music, LLC. Ms. Hulsey has a passion for flute repair and cooking while also enjoying spending free time with her partner, dogs, and friends.
VACANT | Horn
BIO FORTHCOMING
George Fahlund | String Bass
Bassist, Educator, native Texan. Mr. Fahlund, was born and raised in Austin, Texas. He started playing double bass in 1982 at the age of seven as a student in the University of Texas String Project. Mr. Fahlund relocated to San Antonio after marrying his amazing wife in 2020, and is excited to call the Alamo City his new home. Mr. Fahlund regularly performs with such groups as the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Mid-Texas Symphony Orchestra, Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, Waco Symphony Orchestra, and Austin Opera. He can also be found playing both string bass and electric bass in the pit orchestras of Zachary Scott Theatre, Austin Playhouse and Zilker Theatre Productions. Mr. Fahlund is a proud alumnus of the University of Texas at Austin, where he was privileged to study Lower Strings with both Dr. David Neubert and Mrs. Phyllis Young. In his almost thirty plus years as a professional musician, Mr. Fahlund has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with such artists as Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Hilary Hahn, Andrea Bocelli, Barbara Conrad, Bobby McFerrin, The Celtic Women, Diana Krall, Elvis Costello, Lyle Lovett, and Willie Nelson.