University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK)
Rodney Ackmann is the Irene and Julius J. Rothbaum Presidential Professor of Excellence in the Arts at the University of Oklahoma where he also performs as a member of the Oklahoma Wind Quintet and is Director of the renowned Sooner Bassooners. Additionally, he serves as Principal Bassoonist of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and performs as a member of the Brightmusic Chamber Ensemble. Mr. Ackmann previously served as Principal Bassoonist of the Tulsa Philharmonic and Tulsa Opera Orchestra for 22 seasons. Other performance affiliations have included the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Solisti New York, Kansas City Symphony, Odyssey and Nova Chamber Music Series, and the Musica nel Chiostro, Spoleto and Assisi Music Festivals in Italy.

As guest soloist, Ackmann has appeared with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Musica Regala, Oklahoma City Philharmonic and numerous times with the Tulsa Philharmonic. He has also performed as soloist in the People's Republic of China at the Forbidden City Concert Hall, Beijing, and before an audience of 8,000 at Chongqing University. In 2015, he was one of only seven Americans, among 123 musicians invited from 43 countries, to perform with the 24/04 World Orchestra in Yerevan, Armenia He has recorded for Chandos, Mark Records, and Enharmonic, and has been heard on National Public Radio’s (NPR) “Performance Today”.

Mr. Ackmann has performed numerous solo and collaborative recitals at six recent conferences of the International Double Reed Society (IDRS), both in the United States and abroad. In 2011, 2017 and 2022, he led highly acclaimed performances of the University of Missouri Bassoon Ensemble and the Sooner Bassooners, respectively, at the prestigious Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, accompanying soloists from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He has also presented pedagogical clinics as well as performed at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic and state music educators’ conferences in Texas, Michigan, Florida, Nevada and Missouri. Mr. Ackmann served as a juror for the final round of the 2012 Meg Quigley Vivaldi International Competition in Stockton, California.

Prior to joining the OU faculty, he served as Professor of Bassoon at the University of Missouri School of Music, and for seven summers as Visiting Assistant Professor of Bassoon at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Mr. Ackmann's students have been featured on NPR’s “From The Top”, and won numerous awards in the Music Teachers National Association Competition, in both solo and chamber music categories. His students have also performed in Master Classes for annual conferences of the IDRS and the Midwest Double Reed Society (MDRS).

Mr. Ackmann holds the Bachelor of Music Education, Master of Music and Performer's Certificate from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where he studied with Leonard Sharrow and Sidney Rosenberg.

Sarasota Orchestra (Sarasota, FL)

Bassoon Graduate, University of Missouri, Kansas City Conservatory of Music (Kansas City, MO)

University of North Texas (Denton, TX)

Oboist Jung Choi enjoys a versatile career as a recitalist, educator, adjudicator, soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician. She was the Associate Principal Oboist for the Korean Symphony Orchestra in Seoul, Korea and the Principal Oboist for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra in Springfield, MO. She taught oboe at the Seoul National University and the Missouri State University. As a chamber musician, she performs actively as a member of ensemble Sunyul based in Seoul, Korea and is a founding member of contemporary ensemble M.I.C in Dallas. Choi also enjoys commissioning solo oboe music, most recently she premiered an oboe concerto “Silence” that was composed by composer Sungji Hong. Her oboe playing was heard internationally including Seoul, Thailand, Japan, France, Czech Republic, and Germany to name a few. She is currently serving as the Assistant Professor of Oboe at the University of North Texas and the Principal oboist for the Richardson Symphony Orchestra.

Freelance Oboe Teacher (Owasso, OK)

University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK)

Dr. Suzanne Tirk is Associate Professor of Clarinet and the Assistant Director of the School of Music in Recruitment and Engagement at the University of Oklahoma. A dynamic performer and teacher, Dr. Tirk has established a national and international reputation with numerous performance and masterclass presentations throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia. As a member of Duo Iona and the Oak Trio, Dr. Tirk has been dedicated to the commissioning and performance of works for clarinet and trumpet, and clarinet, trumpet, and trombone, respectively. She has served as principal clarinet with the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and Norman Philharmonic Orchestra, and has performed with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and Classical Music Festival Orchestra. Having suffered from an overuse injury early in her career, Dr. Tirk’s research specialties revolve around mental practice techniques and the specific positioning and motion of the hands/fingers/arms in clarinetists suffering from overuse injuries.

In addition to the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Tirk has served on the faculties of the Interharmony International Music Festival (Arcidosso, Italy), Wichita State University, and Bemidji State University. Her students have been highly successful, holding university professorships and K-12 music positions, maintaining private studios, auditioning into symphony orchestras, military bands, and chamber ensembles, and working in the field of music business. During her tenure at Wichita State University, Dr. Tirk received the College of Fine Arts ‘Excellence in Teaching Award’ and performed with the ensemble in residence, Lieurance Woodwind Quintet. She can be heard on the recording of the Lieurance Quintet, Music from the Americas, released by Summit Records in 2011.

Active in several professional organizations, Dr. Tirk holds memberships with the International Clarinet Association, the College Music Society, the Performing Arts Medicine Association, the International Alliance for Women in Music, the National Association for Music Education, and the Oklahoma Music Educators Association. Dr. Tirk has written an article for The Instrumentalist magazine on clarinet fundamentals, and has presented clinics for the Midwest Clinic: An International Band and Orchestra Clinic, NAfME, the Oklahoma Music Teachers Association, the Montana Music Educators Association, the Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference, the Kansas Music Educators Association, the Kansas Bandmasters Association, the Senseney Music Total Band Director Workshop, and the Wichita Metropolitan Music Teachers Association.

Dr. Tirk holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, and a Master of Music degree and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University. Her teachers have included Elsa Ludewig Verdehr, Charles Neidich, Theodore Oien, Colin Lawson, Fan Lei, and Richard Faria. Dr. Tirk is proud to serve as a Henri Selmer Paris Artist, performing on the Muse Bb and A clarinet.

University of Tulsa (Tulsa, OK)

David Carter is Applied Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Tulsa, where he teaches clarinet and music history, and serves as Principal Clarinetist of both the Tulsa Symphony and the Tulsa Opera Orchestra. Each summer he serves on the artist faculty of the Red Lodge Music Festival in Red Lodge, Montana.

 An active performer and educator, Carter has appeared with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, the Belém Festival Orchestra (Brazil), the Orquesta Sinfónica de la UANL (Mexico), and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and has led master classes and performances in Brazil, China, Puerto Rico, and the United States.

 Carter is a proud Selmer Paris Artist, performing on Privilege clarinets. He lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma with his wife, clarinetist Dr. Angela Carter, their children Adella and Simon, and two labrador retrievers. The dogs in particular are unimpressed by his résumé.

Bixby HS (Bixby, OK)

Brandon M. Collins is the Associate Director of Bands at Bixby Public Schools, where he serves as the conductor of the High School Symphonic Winds. Additionally, Mr. Collins leads the visual caption for the Pride of Bixby Marching Band, as well as assisting in the brass caption. At Bixby Middle School, Mr. Collins co-teaches 7th Grade Blue, and he teaches Beginning Brass at both Central and West Elementary. Mr. Collins also serves as the Applied Music instructor, where students learn various skills that prepare them for the world of professional instrumental arts.

Mr. Collins has earned numerous superior ratings and sweepstakes at OSSAA District and State Contests for marching band, concert band, and sight-reading performances, and he has served as the NCDA high school chair for 2017-2018 and GCBDA President for 2024-2025. His students have received numerous superior ratings for both solos and ensembles at Solo and Ensemble Contest, and his private clarinet studio includes All-District and All-State students from all over Oklahoma. He has served as a member of the Tulsa Praise Orchestra, Starlight Band, and as the Director of the Celebrations Choir and Frontline Singers for Tulsa Praise Orchestra.

His professional affiliations include Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Oklahoma Bandmasters Association, and Oklahoma Music Educators Association.

Edmond Santa Fe HS (Edmond, OK)

Milik Coffer is the Assistant Band Director at Edmond Santa Fe High School,  Summit Middle School and Heartland Middle School in Edmond, Oklahoma. Mr. Coffer is a graduate of MacArthur High School ('13) and the University of Oklahoma (BME '18). He is currently in his sixth year of public education. His teaching duties include beginning clarinet, flute, and saxophone at the middle school level, and instructing the Edmond Santa Fe High School 9th grade Band, Saxophone Choirs, Clarinet Choirs, and Flute Choir. Under the direction of Mr.Coffer, the Edmond Santa Fe 9th Grade band and Woodwind Chamber Ensembles have been consistent recipients of Superior Ratings at OSSAA District and State Contests. Additionally, Mr. Coffer was  selected as an OKMEA Outstanding Young Music Educator in 2024

In addition to his daily teaching schedule, Mr. Coffer operates a private clarinet studio, which has produced multiple regional honor band and  All-State players over the years. 

Mr. Coffer serves as the treasurer and clinic coordinator for Central Oklahoma Bandmasters Association (CODA), and is a member of  Oklahoma Bandmasters Association (OBA),  Oklahoma Music Educators Association (OkMEA), and International Clarinet Association (ICA)

Clarinet Specialist (Owasso, OK)

Sapulpa HS  (Sapulpa, OK)

Mary Lollis is currently in her fourth year at Sapulpa Public Schools where she teaches band to all ages and all abilities. She previously taught thirteen years in the Tulsa Union Band program as well as two years in Edmond and four years in Jenks Public Schools. Mrs. Lollis taught applied clarinet and woodwind methods at Northeastern State University and while in Arizona, taught band at a charter school in Chandler Arizona for grades four through twelve.

Her playing career spans from playing saxophone and clarinet on a Carnival Cruise line ship, Celebration, to playing in musicals, operas, orchestras, concert bands, and big bands. Locally, she has performed with the Starlight Band, Signature Symphony, Tulsa Light Opera Orchestra, Celebrity Attraction Productions, Tulsa Ballet Orchestra, the Council Oak Trio, and the Tulsa Clarinet Quartet. Mary played second clarinet with the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra from 2006 - 2018 and the Tulsa Opera Orchestra from 2001 - 2018. She continues playing throughout the community whenever her schedule allows.

Mary received her Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Masters of Musical Arts in Clarinet Performance from Arizona State University where she studied with Dr. Robert Spring. She has two children, Jack and Amelia, and lives in Tulsa with her husband Brent where they are enjoying their “empty nest” season of life.

Associate Band Director, Hutto HS (Hutto, TX)

University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR)

Cristina Ballatori has performed across the United States, Europe, England, and Latin America as a recitalist, soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. Recent performance highlights include guest appearances at the Festivales Internacionales de Flautistas in Lima, Peru and World Flutes Festival in Mendoza, Argentina, concerts in venues such as the Atelier Concert Series in Paris, France, and artist residencies in Spain, Costa Rica, and Mexico. As a chamber musician, Ballatori is a member of the Semplice Duo with pianist Kevin Chance and the Lyrique Quintette. Ballatori regularly appears as a guest artist and has been a featured performer, clinician, and adjudicator at many festivals, universities, and conferences including those of the National Flute Association, Music Teachers National Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Chicago Flute Festival and Texas Flute Festival among others. Ballatori is the recipient of numerous awards and grants including the University of Texas System’s Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award. A sought-after and dedicated teacher, her students have been named winners and finalists in local, state, regional, and national competitions, including those sponsored by the National Flute Association and Texas Association of Music Schools, and have been accepted into top summer festivals and graduate programs. Dr. Ballatori is the newly appointed Assistant Professor of Flute at the University of Arkansas. She previously served as Associate Professor of Flute at both the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Her major teachers include Alexa Still, Peter Lloyd, and Katherine Kemler. Ballatori is a Burkart Artist. www.cristinaballatori.com

Owasso HS (Owasso, OK)

Mustang HS (Mustang, OK)

McAlester HS (McAlester, OK)

Owasso Private Teacher ( Owasso, OK)

Owasso Private Teacher ( Owasso, OK)

University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR)

UCLA Doctoral graduate studies (Los Angeles, CA)

Bixby HS (Bixby, OK)

Brent Baldwin is Assistant Director of Bands at Bixby Public Schools and serves as coordinator of jazz studies. His teaching duties at Bixby High School include assisting the Pride of Bixby Marching Band, leading the Bixby High School Jazz Ensemble I, conducting the Bixby High School Symphonic Bands and teaching the High School Saxophone Choir, High School Flute Choir. At Bixby Middle School, Mr. Baldwin assists with the 8th Grade Band, Middle School Jazz Bands, and beginning woodwinds at East Intermediate and West Intermediate. In addition to his teaching responsibilities at Bixby, Mr. Baldwin has also served as an instructor for Zephyrus Arts Institute and is active as a private saxophone instructor and performer in the Tulsa area. Prior to his teaching at Bixby, Mr. Baldwin taught for Sapulpa Public Schools.

Collinsville HS (Collinsville, OK)

Verdigris HS (Verdigris, OK)

Florida State University graduate studies (Tallahassee, FL)

Owasso HS (Owasso, OK)