About

Clair Cangialosi (She/Her):

Dr. Clair Cangialosi enjoys an active career as a performer and educator in the Northern Virginia area, most recently with the Matchsticks Bassoon Quartet and the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra.

Clair has worked with woodwind students in grades 4-12 as well as at the university level in private lesson and masterclass settings. She is passionate about supporting current and future music educators in the development of their double reed pedagogy. In addition to her private studio, Clair has taught music theory and ear training at Shenandoah Conservatory, and is on the faculty of the Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy in Winchester VA. In July 2025, she joined the team at Hodge Products Inc. as the Bassoon and Digital Content Specialist.

Dr. Cangialosi currently serves her profession as a member of the IDRS Pedagogy Committee. Her article, “Resonant, Rich, and Ringing: Defining the Singing Bassoon Sound,” was published in the December 2024 edition of The Double Reed Journal, and her recent transcription, Twenty-five vocalises for bassoon and piano is available from Trevco Music.

Clair holds a Bachelor’s degree in music education (’17), Professional Performance Certificate (’18), and Master’s degree in bassoon performance (’20) from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She earned her DMA in bassoon performance from Shenandoah University in May 2024. She has studied bassoon with Janet Grice, Stephen Walt, Remy Taghavi, and Ryan Romine as well as voice with Byron Jones.

Fun Fact: Clair does yoga every day!

E Senn (They/Them):

Bassoonist Ed Senn is an artist who feels at home in a multitude of genres-- new music, chamber, orchestral, opera, and theatre-- they play it all. 

Ed is also a dedicated educator, winning outstanding teaching awards from the University of Arizona in their work as a Music Theory instructor, and currently is an Adjunct Professor at South Carolina State University teaching bassoon and music appreciation. 

They have played a variety of music in almost every region of the US and are expanding to playing in the European Union. Ed focuses on commissioning of new music by historically underrepresented composers and works for the developing bassoon player. 

When not playing the bassoon, you can find them playing with their two cats Spammy and Poppyseed with their wife, Krista. 

James B. Scott (They/them):

James Scott is a performer, collaborator, teacher, and composer involved in many facets of the music world. James is an active performer in the Northern Colorado region and beyond, holding the principal bassoon position of The Littleton Symphony Orchestra. 

As a bassoonist/contrabassoonist, they advocate for more inclusion of chamber music and new music as viable respected forms of music. One of their biggest goals as a performer is to help bring to the forefront the music of traditionally underrepresented groups and give their talents the recognition they deserve. Especially those who are non-binary or neurodivergent, as they can best speak to those experiences. 

James has been composing for most of their musical journey, composing some of their earliest works in 2013. Early on, their music was inspired by Japanese video game music and traditional Hawaiian songs as their musical journey began as a military transplant living on the island of Oahu. Today, you can still find these influences present in their music in their use of modes and musical forms. You can find James' music available through Imagine Music Publishing and Trevco Music Publishing. 

In their free time, James enjoys spending time with their two tortishell cats Vanessa & Monkey, and baking for their partner Telly.

James holds a Master's degree in performance from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Music Performance degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Their primary instructors include Ann Kosanavic-Brown, Dr. Remy Taghavi, and Dr. Cayla Bellamy.

Fun fact: In high school James was in a punk-rock cover band on bassoon/ukulele! 

Stephanie Tripp (She/Her): 

She is currently in the second year of her Masters of Music performance degree at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. She holds a Bachelors of Music degree from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, NC. 

Stephanie is an advocate for accessible music education, and showcasing the works of underrepresented composers. 

When she is not playing the bassoon, Stephanie enjoys traveling, baking, caring for her plants spending time with her friends, family, and cat Scarlet

Fun fact: Stephanie is an avid Formula 1 fan and car enthusiast!