SA
SAN ANTONIO HARMONIE ENSEMBLE
MUSICIANS
Personnel
OBOES
Erin Mallard | Principal Oboe
Librarian
Erin Mallard is proud to have called San Antonio her home since 2014. She is a principal member of SA Harmonie and Symphony Viva, free-lances regularly with the San Antonio Philharmonic and other regional orchestras, and even plays a bit of baroque oboe with Sonido Barroco San Antonio. She is the oboe professor at UTSA - Go Runners! - and also maintains a private studio, as well as operating a thriving online reed business. Most recently, she presented a recital of new music at the 53rd International Double Reed Society conference! When she isn't playing, teaching, or making reeds, Erin can be found sipping coffee, reading or crafting, and spending time with her amazing husband and their three cats.
Leo Benavides | 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
Don Bierschenk | Principal 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 and community 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. Don has enjoyed a distinguished career in the educational sheet music industry. He was co-owner and vice president of RBC Sheet Music in San Antonio for 28 years, and most recently served as Regional Manager for RBC-JW Pepper Music for eight years. In 2021 he was awarded the Texas Bandmasters Association Industry Award, given for invaluable contributions to the education of young people through the band medium in Texas. Don retired from the sheet music industry in 2024, and is still an active performer, adjudicator and clinician. He has also arranged numerous selections for woodwinds, and several of his arrangements for clarinet ensemble 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.
Stephen C. Moore | Clarinet
Stephen Moore is an IT professional who happens to have a serious passion for all things clarinet.
He is the second clarinetist of Symphony Viva, the Eb clarinetist of the Heart of Texas Concert Band and the Prickly Pear Clarinet Ensemble, the latter of which has performed at several internationally-attended conferences. Recent solo appearances include the concertos of Weber and Mozart with local bands and orchestras. Stephen is equally passionate about chamber music and programs an annual summer recital. During the day, Stephen is a network engineer for Rackspace, involved with datacenter infrastructure design and migration. Stephen grew up in the El Paso area and performed with the El Paso Winds and the Las Cruces Symphony. He studied information systems and clarinet performance at New Mexico State University and his principal teachers were Laroy Borchert, Larry Mentzer, and Bradford Behn. Stephen is a Behn performing artist.
BASSOONS
Sarah Wildey-Richmond | Principal Bassoon
Social Media Coordinator
Dr. Sarah Wildey-Richmond teaches bassoon at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, UTSA, and TLU. 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 | Bassoon *On-leave
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.
Katie Martz | Bassoon *2024-2025
Originally from western Maryland, Katie studied with Maryland Symphony Orchestra bassoonist Scott Cassada throughout high school and into college, where she attended Shepherd University. While at Shepherd, Katie played in the wind ensemble, the preparatory orchestra, chamber ensembles, and she sang in the chamber choir, played bari sax in the jazz ensemble, and marched drum line in the Ram Band. In 2004, Katie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Performance. Soon after a move to Texas, Katie taught 6th and 7th grade English Language Arts and Reading to students receiving special education and English as a Second Language services. When her teaching schedule would allow, Katie played bassoon in community ensembles including Starlight Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Incarnate Word. In 2020, Katie left the public education classroom to focus on her musical career full-time. Since her return to the bassoon, Katie has studied bassoon and reed making with Sabrina Stovall (bassoonist of Adelante Winds) and Sharon Kuster (former principal of the San Antonio Symphony). As an active orchestral player, Katie plays principal bassoon with the Symphony of the Hills Orchestra and often performs with the Orchestra of the Incarnate Word, and Alamo City Symphony Viva. Katie is the owner of Outer Loop Bassoon, a music studio based in Floresville, TX whose mission is to provide affordable private music instruction and handmade bassoon reeds to young musicians located outside of San Antonio's Loop 1604. In addition to teaching, reed-making, and playing in orchestras, Katie is a marching instructor for the Mighty Pirate Band in Poth, TX, and she is co-founder of the River City Winds ensemble. Extending her educational background to her music pedagogy, Katie believes that when given structure, modeling, and by setting attainable goals, all individuals can learn, grow, and become independent thinkers.
HORNS
Sean Holmes | Principal Horn
Dr. Sean Holmes is a freelance Horn player and teacher in the San Antonio and New Braunfels Area. Dr. Holmes currently holds the position of 3rd Horn with the Symphony of the Hills in Kerrville as well as Horn in the SAHarmonie Chamber Ensemble and performs regularly with orchestras throughout the region such as The Central Texas Philharmonic, The Mid-Texas Symphony, The Waco Symphony, and The Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra. Dr. Holmes also currently serves on the music faculty at TLU, Trinity University, and UIW, teaching students from across the San Antonio and New Braunfels area. Sean earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor University in 2015 studying Horn under Jeffrey Powers. As a member of The Baylor University Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, Sean played in concert halls throughout the US as featured guests at CBDNA, TMEA, and the Midwest Clinic.
Brittany White | Horn *2024-2025
Brittany White, horn, is based in San Antonio, TX . She currently performs with Adelante Winds and maintains a large studio of middle school and high school horn students. Previous engagements include Opera Project Columbus, Springer Opera House, Newark-Granville Symphony, Westerville Symphony, Worthington Chamber Orchestra, New Albany Symphony and the Mississippi Wind Symphony. She received her DMA in Horn Performance from The Ohio State University, her Master of Music from Columbus State University in Georgia, and her Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Jeff Rowland | Horn *2024-2025
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 Bulverde Middle School in Comal ISD. Previously, she served at Driscoll Middle School in North East ISD. 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 boys.
Stephanie Hulsey | Flute
An active flutist, piccoloist, and instructor throughout the greater San Antonio area, Ms. Stephanie Hulsey travels to local campuses for lessons and masterclasses in addition to her positions as Lecturer of Flute at Texas Lutheran University and University of the Incarnate Word. During the summer, she is the flute instructor for the Texas State Concert Camp and Texas Lutheran Summer Music Academy. Ms. Hulsey holds bachelor’s degrees from McNeese State University (2013) in Music Education and Music Performance and a master’s in music degree from Texas State University (2016). A highlight of her career is performing in Bulgaria for the Musicartissimo music festival in 2015. Throughout her career, Ms. Hulsey has performed for numerous musicals, operas, and at music conventions, such as NFA, TMEA, and TBA. From Sound of Music to Buoso’s Ghost and most recently, Ragtime, musical theatre is her favorite genre although she enjoys premiering newly composed works for Austin Children’s Choir, Composer’s Alliance of San Antonio, and Silver Voices Flute Choir, to name a few. Ms. Hulsey is a frequently requested performer for ensembles from San Antonio to Austin and consistently plays with SA Harmonie (1st prize winner of The American Prize in Band/Wind Ensemble Performance in 2023), the South Texas Symphonic Orchestra, and the Brazos Breeze Flute Choir while repairing band instruments at Allegro Band Services, LLC.
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.