Woodwind students at the OU School of Music have the exceptional opportunity of studying with full-time professors specializing in the full complement of woodwind instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and saxophone. These highly-acclaimed faculty/artists are all active in the fields of performance and education, and students benefit from close personal instruction with these extraordinary faculty members through private instruction, weekly studio classes and master classes, and faculty-sponsored performance ensembles. In addition, the Woodwind Area offers an active chamber music program to its students including like-instrument ensembles such as the OU clarinet and flute ensembles, saxophone quartets, and Sooner Bassooners as well as woodwind quintets.
Graduates of the OU Woodwind Area have achieved great success and can be found continuing study in the finest graduate institutions and performing and teaching at universities, elementary and secondary schools, and professional performing groups across the country.
The Woodwind Area is committed to exposing students to outstanding performers in their field. International artists have come to perform and work with students at events hosted by the OU School of Music including the International Double Reed Society Convention, the Oklahoma Flute Society Flute Fair, and the Clarinet Symposium.
The University of Oklahoma faculty woodwind quintet, The Oklahoma Woodwind Quintet, has been delighting audiences since 1975. they have concertized internationally including a successful debut in the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in 1985. They have received critical acclaim for their performances at the Classical Music Festival in Eisenstadt, Austria and the International Double Reed Society Convention in Manchester, England.
The annual Wade Oboe Scholarship is available to any student majoring in music with oboe as their principal instrument. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded by audition and application using criteria of excellence in performance, scholarship, and leadership. Funds for this scholarship are made possible through the generous donation of Larry and Mary Jane Wade, in honor of their daughter Elizabeth.
Office: Catlett Music Center 208
Email: rackmann@ou.edu
Phone: (405) 325-7466
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.
Email: myles.boothroyd@ou.edu
Office: Catlett Music Center 218
Website: mylesboothroyd.com
Myles Boothroyd is a performing saxophonist, teacher, and music scholar. At home in the various realms of classical, jazz, and contemporary music, he presents concert repertoire that crosses the boundaries of nations, cultures, and musical traditions. Boothroyd serves as Assistant Professor of Saxophone at the University of Oklahoma and has been a member of both the Wisconsin-based Generation Quartet and the award-winning East End Quartet. Additionally, his soprano saxophone playing with the Traverse City Saxophone Quartet is featured on the 2018 live album by Jeff Hass, Jazz at Sunset: Celebrating 25 Years.
As a soloist and chamber musician, Boothroyd has contributed to the creation of numerous new works for saxophone, including compositions by Martin Bresnick, Olivia Kieffer, Graham Lynch, Michael Markowski, Joel Martinson, and Mischa Zupko. His list of world premieres includes Symphony Cocteau by Graham Lynch (2018) and Triptych Fantasy by Joel Martinson (2019), the latter of which was performed with Doug Cleveland at the 2019 Convention of the Organ Historical Society in Dallas, Texas.
Boothroyd is active in the international saxophone community as a performer and administrator. He served as Program Chair for the 2024 North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Biennial Conference and as a program committee member for the 2023 NASA Conference. He previously earned top national prizes in the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Solo and Chamber Music Competitions, the NASA Collegiate Solo Competition, and the Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition.
Along with maintaining an active performing career, Boothroyd distinguishes himself as a researcher and scholar. He is Editor of The Saxophone Symposium, a peer-reviewed journal and the premier publication of saxophone literature, performance, and pedagogy in North America. His articles have been published in Nota Bene and in The Eastman Case Studies, and he has shared original research at conferences in Chicago, Cincinnati, Honolulu, Lansing, and Montreal.
Boothroyd formerly served as Assistant Professor of Saxophone at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he was also appointed Associate Director of the Very Young Composers of Central Wisconsin. Before then, he taught as Adjunct Professor of Saxophone at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York. Boothroyd holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (Saxophone), a Master of Music (Saxophone), and a Master of Arts (Music Theory Pedagogy) from the Eastman School of Music. He also holds the Eastman Arts Leadership Certificate, Eastman Performer’s Certificate, and the University of Rochester’s Edward Peck Curtis Award for excellence in teaching by a graduate student. Boothroyd received his Bachelor of Music Education from Central Michigan University. His primary teachers have been John Nichol and Chien-Kwan Lin, and he has also studied in lessons and masterclasses with Vincent David, Lars Mlekusch, Doug O’Connor, Taimur Sullivan, and James Umble.
Office: Catlett Music Center 138K
Email: jonathan.nichol@ou.edu
Phone: (405) 325-7883
Jonathan Nichol is an active performing saxophonist who champions new music and has presented concerts throughout the United States, Bosnia, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Serbia, Slovenia, and Thailand. He has premiered pieces by renowned composers including Marc Mellits, Charles Ruggiero, Forrest Pierce, Paquito D’Rivera, Daniel Wohl, Marvin Lamb, Jeffrey Loeffert, Igor Karaça, Tina Tallon, and Drew Baker. Jonathan was a solo-artist semi-finalist in the 2009 Concert Artist Guild Competition and a finalist with the award-winning h2 quartet in the 2012 Concert Artist Guild Competition. Jonathan is also an accomplished orchestral soloist, having performed concerti with the Central Michigan University Symphony Orchestra, Grand Valley State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Michigan State University Symphony Orchestra, Oklahoma State University Wind Ensemble, University of Oklahoma Symphonic Band, University of Oklahoma Symphony Orchestra, Wichita State Symphony, and Wichita State University Symphonic Winds. Additionally, he has been prominently featured with the Grand Rapids Symphony, Flint Symphony, Lansing Symphony, Norman Philharmonic, Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra, and the West Michigan Symphony.
Jonathan is a founding member of the h2 quartet, recipients of the prestigious Gold Medal at the 2007 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and First Prize Award recipients at the inaugural North American Saxophone Alliance Chamber Music Competition (2008). The h2 quartet is a dynamic recording ensemble, releasing five albums on the Blue Griffin Label: Generations (2008), Times and Spaces (2010), Groove Machine (2012), Hard Line (2015), and Enrapture (2016). Each of these recordings has received critical acclaim in industry publications and Groove Machine was selected by the American Record Guide as one of the best chamber music recordings of 2012. Jonathan has also recorded albums with the Boyd Street Brass Band, Billband, and the h2/4 duo with saxophonist Jeffrey Loeffert. Sparkle, a piece from Billband’s album Towards Daybreak, features Jonathan on soprano saxophone and was selected by NPR Music as one of the top 100 songs of 2013.
An active jazz musician, Jonathan Nichol has performed with Phil Woods, Randy Brecker, David Liebman, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, the Lansing Symphony Jazz Band, the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, and The Four Tops. He leads his own jazz group, the Nichol Quartet, and is a member of Boyd Street Brass.
Jonathan Nichol is Professor of Saxophone and Director of the School of Music at the University of Oklahoma. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree (2010) and a Master of Music degree (2007) from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Music Education degree (2005) from Central Michigan University. Jonathan’s primary teachers include John Nichol, Joseph Lulloff, Robbie Smith, Diego Rivera, and Rodney Whitaker. He is proud to be a Yamaha Performing Artist and a Vandoren Performing Artist.
Office: Catlett Music Center 207
Email: stirk@ou.edu
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.
Office: Catlett Music Center 206
Email: vwatts@ou.edu
VALERIE WATTS is professor of flute at the University of Oklahoma, School of Music, and principal flute with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra. Her appointment at the University of Oklahoma includes membership of its resident faculty quintet, The Oklahoma Woodwind Quintet. During the summers, Dr. Watts has taught at the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute (1995-2006) and continues to perform as principal flute with the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra since 1998. A finalist for the 1993 Festivales Internacionales de Flautistas Enterprises, Dr. Watts has been the featured performer at festivals abroad (Classic Music Seminar, Eisentstadt, Austria; Natal, Brazil; Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada and American Music Festival, Geneva, Switzerland) and performed solo and chamber music engagements as well in the United States (California, New Hampshire, Louisiana, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, and South Carolina). She was the artist-in-residence at Xu Beihong, School of the Arts, Remni University in Beijing, China (October 2006). In 2001, she was featured on a concert promoting music by Oklahoman composers performing Michael Hennagin’s Sonata for Flute and Piano at the National Flute Association convention in Dallas, Texas. In 2012, she performed again at the NFA convention in Las Vegas, Nevada to honor her mentor Bonita Boyd, recipient of the NFA Lifetime Achievement Award. Most recently, she performed as solo flutist Concerto for flute and Strings, op. 137 by Jack Frederick Kilpatrick (a Native American and Oklahoman composer) with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. An enthusiastic student of early music performance practice, Dr. Watts was granted a fellowship to attend the 1994 Bach Aria Festival and Institute at Stony Brook, NY. She has recorded with CBS Masterworks, Integra and W.W. Norton labels. Education: bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Music and MM and DMA degrees, including the Performer’s Certificate, from the Eastman School of Music.
Interview for Wind Symphony solo artist feature, by Sonia Villanueva
Email: shawn.welk@ou.edu
Office: Catlett Music Center 214
Website: oboeshawn.com
Shawn Welk is the Assistant Professor of Oboe at the University of Oklahoma and Principal Oboe of the Williamsburg Symphony in Williamsburg, Virginia. Before his appointment at OU, Dr. Welk served fourteen years as Associate Principal Oboe and Principal English Horn of the Richmond Symphony in Richmond, VA, and seven years as Co-Principal Oboe of the “President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra in Washington, D.C.
During his years with the “President’s Own,” Dr. Welk performed concerts in the White House, Washington D.C. metro area, overseas, and across the United States as concerto soloist, tour soloist, chamber player, and principal musician. His solo appearances with the band and chamber orchestra included performances of John Harbison’s Concerto for Oboe, Clarinet and Strings, Frank Martin’s Trois Danses for Oboe, Harp and Strings, Jules Demersseman's William Tell Fantasy, and Samuel Barber's Capricorn Concerto. In 2003 he performed J.S. Bach’s Concerto for Oboe and Violin at the White House for President George H. W. Bush and visiting heads of state.
With the Richmond Symphony, Dr. Welk served as soloist, chamber musician, and educational program leader, designing innovative music education shows for elementary and middle school students, commissioning new chamber works, and arranging music for the Richmond Symphony Woodwind Quartet. In 2015 he performed on the RSO Masterworks series as English horn soloist in The Swan of Tuonela by Jean Sibelius.
In the summer of 2008, he was appointed Principal Oboist of the New York Symphonic Ensemble, performing annual summer concert tours across Japan and in 2016 was appointed Principal Oboist of the New Hampshire Music Festival in Plymouth, NH. For the 2013–14 season, he served as Acting Principal Oboe of The Florida Orchestra in Tampa, FL. Dr. Welk has also performed with the Baltimore Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Kennedy Center Opera, Tulsa Philharmonic, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Aspen Festival Orchestra, and the Staunton Music Festival. An active chamber musician, Dr. Welk is a core member of D.C.’s acclaimed Fessenden Ensemble and executive director of Richmond’s innovative and award-winning Atlantic Chamber Ensemble.
A passionate educator, Dr. Welk has served on the faculties of the Virginia Commonwealth University, the Catholic University of America, and the University of Richmond, and has presented masterclasses and recitals in Japan, China, and across the United States. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Oklahoma, a Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, and a Doctor of Music degree from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. His teachers include Linda Strommen, Richard Killmer, Sally Bennett, and John de Lancie.
