Troupe
| The Wild Basin Winds quintet was founded in 1996 by five talented musicians who have performed together in orchestras around the globe for almost two decades. As accomplished performers, college professors and lively compatriots they are delighted to be offering polished and imaginative concerts and educational presentations to audiences everywhere.
Audiences worldwide have enjoyed the perfomances of the Wild Basin Winds, including the world premiere of Donald Grantham's Wild Basin Music in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2000 and their Kennedy Center debut in 2003. They have traveled extensively from coast to coast performing a variety of concerts and teaching masterclasses at various venues and universities. Beginning in 2004 the Wild Basin Winds will be joining the faculty at the Festival di Musica da Camera in Italy where they will teach and perform as woodwind quintet in residence. The Wild Basin Winds are on the Texas Commission of the Arts and the MidAmerica Arts Alliance Touring Rosters and are available for formal concerts, education presentations, and special events. |
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French Horn
Tom Hale is principal horn of the Austin Symphony and the Austin Lyric Opera. He has been a member of the Bear Valley Music Festival and the Spoleto (Italy) Festival Orchestra since 1987 and has appeared at the Spoleto Festival U.S.A. as both performer and conductor. Tom has served on the faculties of Southwest Texas State University and the University of Texas, and currently teaches at Southwestern University in Georgetown. He is a founding member of the Pinnacle Brass Quintet and a frequent guest artist with the Chamber Soloists of Austin. Tom was educated at Texas Tech University (B.M., M.M.) and the University of Texas (D.M.A.).
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Mathew Krejci Flute
Mathew Krejci flute, teaches at the Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, and is Principal Flute of the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra and Bear Valley Music Festival. Active in chamber music, he has performed with the contemporary music ensemble Music Now in a concert at the Los Angeles Museum of Art and is the President of the Board of the Chamber Music Society of Sacramento. His woodwind quintet, the Ariel Woodwind Quintet.
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Stephen Girko Clarinet
Stephen Girko is currently principal clarinetist with the Austin Symphony. Prior to this he was appointed as principal clarinetist with the San Antonio Symphony for the 1999-2000 season. Prior to that, he was the principal clarinetist with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra from 1975 through 1998. He made his debut appearance with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra by performing the Clarinet Concerto of Aaron Copland, with the composer conducting. Since then Mr. Girko has appeared as soloist performing the concertos of Mozart, Nielsen, & Weber, as well as the Introduction, Theme & Variations of Rossini & the Premiere Rhapsodie of Debussy.
Stephen Girko was born in New York City. He attended the State University College of New York at Potsdam, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in music education in 1965. The following year, he received his Master of Music degree in performance from The Manhattan School of Music. After a year of teaching, Mr. Girko fulfilled his military obligation by performing with the United States Military Academy Band at West Point, N.Y. While at West Point, he also played principal clarinet with both the Albany Symphony Orchestra and the Hudson Valley Philharmonic Orchestra. Upon leaving the military, Stephen was appointed principal clarinetist with the Oklahoma City Symphony, a position he held for four years. He subsequently served as associate principal clarinetist with the Houston Symphony Orchestra for a year before coming to Dallas. Mr. Girko has also enjoyed an active career as a teacher, having taught at Oklahoma University for four years as well as Southern Methodist University for 18 years. His students are represented in orchestras and colleges throughout the United States. Mr. Girko is a frequent soloist and clinician at various clarinet symposia, as well as having been a member of Music in the Mountains, a summer chamber orchestra festival held in southwestern Colorado and The Carmel Bach Festival. Mr. Girko is presently on the faculty of San Antonio College and The University Of The Incarnate Word. He also maintains a private studio at home. Mr. Girko, a skilled cook, owns and operates a small catering company called “EAT MY PIZZA!” Steve takes to his client's home the ingredients with which to make New York style pizzas as well as an incredibly delicious salad. After the guests have observed his culinary skills and have filled themselves with the fruits of his labor, he will then entertain them by performing both classical and popular music on his clarinet. |
Oboe
Ian Davidson is Associate Principal Oboe of the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Assistant Principal Oboe of the Austin Lyric Opera Orchestra and Solo English Horn of the Bear Valley Music Festival. Other engagements include stints as Principal Oboe of the Dallas Bach Orchestra and the Austin Sinfonietta as well as Assistant Principal Oboe / Utility Oboe of the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra and Co-Principal Oboe of the Dallas Chamber Orchestra. Concerto appearances include the Dallas Bach Orchestra, the Austin Chamber Orchestra, the Austin Sinfonietta, Dallas Chamber Orchestra, the Laredo Philharmonic, and Chamber Soloists of Austin. International recitals and residencies include the Moscow Conservatory of Music, Hong Kong Baptist University, Festivale da Musica Camera di Italy, the University of Silesia, Trinity College of Music, and the Institute of Culture in St. Petersburg. Dr. Davidson holds degrees from DePauw University and the University of Texas and is Associate Professor of Music at Texas State University, where he teaches oboe and humanities and is a recent winner of the Presidential Award for Outstanding Scholarly and Creative Activities. |
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Bassoon
Daris Word Hale--one bassoon, 11 orchestras, 7 countries, 47 world premieres, TV, film, commercials, DVD's, CD's; life long learner with one heart, one soul, one loving husband, two sweet kids, hundreds of brilliant students, or rather teachers; 7 billion friends; always manifesting music and art. Her hat is currently hanging at Texas State University.
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