Erika Clippinger, a native of Silver Springs, Florida, is a third-year DMA student and Teaching Assistant for the bassoon studio. Prior to Michigan State, Erika received a Master of Arts in Bassoon Performance from The University of Central Florida, a Master of Music from Oklahoma City University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Stetson University. Her primary teachers include Mr. Michael Kroth, Dr. Yoon Joo Hwang, Dr. Anna Henson, and Dr. Ashley Heintzen. Erika plays on a Bell bassoon.
An avid researcher, Erika has spent her academic time outside of bassoon focusing on Korean traditional and popular music, Korean music education, and language. She is also a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, and has performed with the Orlando Philharmonic (FL), The Villages Philharmonic (FL), Brevard Symphony Orchestra (FL), Battle Creek Symphony (MI). She toured briefly with Andrea Bocelli for his 2021 Believe World tour, as well as with Celtic Woman in 2023 for a portion of the southern leg of their Christmas Symphony tour. Erika hopes to teach at the collegiate level in the future.
Erica Haas is a bassoonist from Emmaus, PA. Most recently, she enjoyed performing with the Central Pennsylvania Symphony for their 2023-2024 season, as well as freelancing throughout Pennsylvania. Previously, Erica has served as substitute principal bassoon with the Tyler Civic Orchestra (TX), Mesquite Symphony (TX), and Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to playing, Erica is a full-time reedmaker, doctoral student at MSU, and private teacher. She earned her master's degree in Performance from the University of North Texas, and her bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Delaware. Her primary teachers are Mr. Michael Kroth, Dr. Darrel Hale, and Ms. Lynn Moncilovich.
Dylan Myers is working toward his DMA in bassoon performance at Michigan State University. He is an early music specialist in historically informed performance practices of the Late Medieval through Baroque eras and investigating historiography of early wind instrument pedagogy. His research interests include the development of early woodwinds, the influences of rhetoric in the arts, and new music for both modern and historical bassoons alike, as well as linguistics and the roles of spoken language in wind instrument pedagogy. While at MSU, Dylan works in the Career Education Office (Running Start) as the Communications, Research, and Events Intern, and with the Development Office as a steward for the special collections of musical instruments and artwork housed at the College of Music. He was a finalist in the Running Start Competition (2023) for his grant proposal "New Music for Historical Bassoon: Composition Commission and Recording Project." He continues to commission new music both independently and through consortiums.
Sierra Watson is a DMA student from Cincinnati, Ohio. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance from Ball State University in 2021, and her Master of Music in Bassoon Performance from Michigan State University in 2023. While at Ball State, she was the winner of the 2019-2020 Undergraduate Concerto Competition. As the winner, she got to play the first movement of the Weber Bassoon Concerto with the Ball State Symphony Orchestra and ALMOST got to play a solo recital at Mukogawa Women’s University in Nishinomiya, Japan (it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). During her time at Michigan State, she has been a member of the Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Winds, and the Goat Rodeo Reed Quintet. She plays on a Fox 601 bassoon.
Sierra was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2024. In spite of this devastating diagnosis, she is still an active member of the MSU Bassoon Studio. When she's not playing bassoon or fighting cancer, you can find her working at Ulta Beauty, eating at local restaurants, or playing with her four bunnies: Peter, Flynn, Dolly, and Greg. In the future, Sierra hopes to perform professionally in orchestras and chamber groups, maintain a private studio, and help other cancer patients cope with their diagnoses through the healing power of music.
Madeline Wilks is comfortable performing with both an orchestral and solo repertoire background. She has performed a variety of genre across the United States, Europe, and Canada. In 2022 she was a recording artist for PBS's "Now Hear This" program on Aaron Copland, filmed in Colorado. She began classical training on the bassoon in the 7th grade, studying privately with Anthony Georgeson, Associate Principal of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. She has completed both a Bachelor of Music degree in Bassoon Performance at Michigan State University under the tutelage of Michael Kroth and a Graduate Degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music under the direction of John Clouser. She is currently working towards her Doctorate of Musical Arts at Michigan State University.
Madeline has a passion for the accessibility of music in the public education system. She completed an educational residency program with local middle and high schools, working with students K-12. She has been on various judging panels for schools, including Solo and Ensemble in Cuyahoga County in 2023. She also lead sectionals and performed with the bassoonists in the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra for over 4 consecutive seasons. This passion for education extends into her teaching private bassoon lessons for over 10 years.
As an entrepreneur, Madeline has been working with local music stores to sell and distribute handmade reeds. She has sold over 300 reeds in the last 2 years and currently works with Meridian Winds in East Lansing to sell "Spartan Reeds". She has also commissioned and premiered over 13 new works, collaborating directly with composers to expand the repertoire for bassoon and to highlight underrepresented communities. Madeline is also second bassoon with the Dearborn Symphony (MI).
When not playing bassoon, Madeline can be found at home with a good book and her loyal cats Ham and Turkey.
Gabby Richmond is a fourth-year undergraduate Music Education major from Williamston, MI. Along with “bassooning,” she is Band President and Alto Saxophone Section Leader in the Spartan Marching Band and a member of Kappa Kappa Psi. Gabby has a strong passion for equity in music education, leadership and community-building, and effective double reed education. When she’s not at the music building, she enjoys taking barre classes, riding roller coasters, listening to Taylor Swift, watching Gilmore Girls, and spending time with her friends, family, and cat named Persephone.
Hi! My name is Katherine Dahn, and I am from Tecumseh Michigan. I am a Bassoon Performance Major who is also getting a science degree in Neuroscience. Growing up, my family surrounded me with the arts so it was no surprise when I fell in love with music at an early age. Along with being able to play the bassoon, I also play piano and have been taking lessons since first grade. I am super excited to be a part of this program and hope to make many people (including myself) just a bit happier with a little music!
Hi I'm Katelynn Miller! I am in my second year of undergrad majoring in Music Education and am from Roseville, Michigan. When not playing bassoon, I am playing alto saxophone in the Spartan Marching Band! I am also the Recording Secretary in Kappa Kappa Psi. Outside of music, I love hanging out with my friends and playing with my two cats.
The studio and creating music with everyone are very important to me and I am so grateful to be a part of this program!