Great Notes Ensemble was founded in April, 1996 in Long Beach, California, as a venue for five soloistic principal woodwinds to develop unique playing styles in the context of a small ensemble. (top row, l to r) Christin Phelps Webb, bassoon, is originally from Vienna, Virginia. A graduate of Indiana University, she received her Master of Music degree from The Peabody Conservatory, and also attended the University of Southern California. Michelle Matsumune¬†is on maternity leave and will be replaced by Keiko Okamoto (not pictured). Keiko¬†was born in Japan, where she studied flute at the Nihon University.¬†After performing for several years with the prestigious Imperial Band of Japan, she came to the US to study jazz at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.¬†Now Ms. Okamoto is a virtuosic classical, jazz, and latin jazz flutist.¬†She is the first and only flutist to play with the Mariachi Divas, LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s favorite band. Ms. Okamoto can be heard on soundtracks for many movies and TV commercials.¬†She can also be heard live in concerts and jazz clubs throughout southern California.. Harold Aschmann, French horn, started playing horn at tens years of age. Presently he plays with the Great Notes Wind Quintet as well as with the Sierra Horn Quartet. Tom Williams, oboe, began playing in Long Beach at age nine, studying under John Ellis and Peter Christ, and played principal oboe under Fred Ohlendorf in seventh grade. Tom has played with the Long Beach Community Symphony, the Orange Coast Community Symphony, the CSULB Symphony, and the Long Beach City College Chamber Orchestra and Wind Ensembles. (bottom row) Heather Millette, clarinet, studied clarinet at the Oberlin Conservatory and received her masters in Music Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Galina Barskaya, pianist, will not be performing at LCAD.
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