Catherine Dyer
Catherine Joanie Dyer is a saxophonist originally from Harper’s Ferry WV. She received her bachelor’s degree in instrumental and jazz performance from Shepherd University where she studied under the direction of Jeremy P. Koch and Dr. Kurtis Adams. She is currently in pursuit of her master’s in performance at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee under the direction of Dr. Nicki Roman.
Catherine is an avid performer in the eastern panhandle performing with the Charles Washington Orchestra, Hagerstown Municipal band, and was a frequent sub for local big bands such as the Martinsburg Jazz Orchestra. She has also done session work through NexGen Records. In the Milwaukee area, she’s currently a multiple woodwinds instructor at Brass Bell Music. In addition, she teaches general music for the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music as well as maintains a private studio.
Amy Butler
Amy Butler plays both soprano and bass clarinet and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts and then Masters of Music at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, taking lessons from Principal clarinetist of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Todd Levy. Butler is a member of the Milwaukee Philharmonic and a frequent substitute musician for local German bands Blaskapelle Milwaukee and Alpenbläser. She also has performed with other local ensembles such as the East Winds Chamber Ensemble, Milwaukee Chamber players, and other freelance work. Butler joined Cosmo Reeds in 2022 as the bass clarinetist.
Lauren LaFond
Lauren LaFond graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee in 2020 with undergraduate degrees in Clarinet Performance and Music Education and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Clarinet Performance. Lauren works as Educational Experience Coordinator for Wisconsin Music Ventures and as a private woodwind lessons teacher at White House of Music. As a clarinetist, she has performed with many ensembles; most notably, the Milwaukee Philharmonic, Present Music, her own chamber music group - Canary Reeds, the Cosmo Reed Quintet, and the Lake Geneva Symphony Orchestra.
As a teacher, she has taught private woodwind lessons at White House of Music, been a long-term substitute at Lake Denoon Middle School, taught clarinet lessons at the Milwaukee High School of the Arts, and conducted master classes at the UW-Milwaukee Honors Band Festival. Lauren has some other notable musical experience in cleaning and small repair through the White House of Music and film score recording for “Scotch Tension” which premiered in the 2020 Milwaukee Film Festival.
Rosalie Avery
Rosalie Avery is a performer and educator located in the greater Milwaukee area. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in bassoon performance from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee where she studied with Beth Giacobassi. She is currently pursuing her master’s in music performance at UWM under the tutelage of Rudi Heinrich. As an educator, she is a multiple woodwind instructor at White House of Music and Milwaukee Public Schools. Additionally, she teaches bassoon lessons and methods at UWM. Rosalie has also served as an Americorps Artistyear Teaching artist.
Rosalie is an active performer in groups like the Milwaukee Philharmonic orchestra and the Cosmo Reed Quintet. She has also performed with the Waukesha Area Chamber Orchestra and Symphony in the Valley. Additionally, Rosalie has participated in the Madeline Island Chamber Music clinic. Rosalie has participated in masterclasses with Timothy McGovern, Frank Morelli, Leonard Hindell, Catherine Chen, Ted Soluri, and Barrick Stees.
Samantha Carr
Samantha Carr is an oboist originally from the Metro Detroit area. She is an active freelancer in the Milwaukee area and maintains a private studio. Samantha holds a Bachelor in Music from Bowling Green State University and completed her master’s in oboe performance at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she is currently pursuing a master’s in chamber music and is the oboe teaching assistant/head band librarian. Her primary teachers include Nermis Mieses, Katherine Young Steele, and Geoffrey Johnson. She has attended summer programs such as Music Academy International Trentino Music Festival in Italy and Eastern Music Festival, where she studied with Randall Ellis.
Samantha is an avid oboe/english horn reed seller. All of her reeds are custom-made to order exclusively by Samantha. Her reeds can be found online through Jende Industries’ Artisan Mall as ‘Carr Exclusive Reeds’.