FLUTES

Elijah J. Thomas (he/him) is a Black Philadelphia-born, Harlem-based flutist, multi-instrumentalist, educator, creative producer, and composer/experimentalist. His learning of improvisation, composition and music education he chiefly credits to Reggie Workman, Tim Warfield, Jr., Walter Bell,  Dr. Cynthia Folio, Kevin Rodgers, Dr. Allison Reynolds, and Dr. Rollo Dilworth. He has held numerous teaching positions and has four recorded projects: enuff music, vols. i and ii, Our Search, and Three Contemplations for Jason Moran. Elijah proudly serves as Jazz Program Manager for the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music (BKCM), as an Assistant Line Producer for the world-renowned Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (LCPA), and as Musical Director of the non-profit performance-based organization Honk NYC!, whose mission is to “make events that reclaim, reuse, and redefine public space and connect communities through music-making, pageantry, audience participation, and education.”

OBOE/ENGLISH HORN

Ariana Varvaro is a New York City–based adventurous oboist and English hornist dedicated to expanding the possibilities of her instruments through improvisation. Drawing from jazz, groove, classical, extended techniques, electronics, and a variety of genres, she is continuously crafting a unique musical voice. 

She is currently pursuing her masters in contemporary oboe performance at the Manhattan School of Music, studying with oboist Keve Wilson. She earned her bachelors in classical oboe performance from the Frost School of Music in 2021. Ariana is in TACTUS, MSM’s leading contemporary ensemble, and is the first oboist to ever be accepted into the school’s contemporary performance program. 

Ariana is deeply involved in the NYC music community and has performed in funk, R&B, jazz, and bluegrass groups, as well as many jam sessions across the city. She has studied privately with jazz trombonist Ryan Keberle and saxophonist Nicole Glover, expanding her melodic and harmonic understanding of music continuing to grow as a musician and person! 

BASSOON

NYC-based performer and composer, Austin Wegener, strives in all aspects of his music making to create exciting, refreshing, and meaningful experiences; be it through music of the Renaissance or tomorrow. His primary instrument is the bassoon: baroque, modern, classical, and dulcians. He has found that the many iterations of the bassoon speak most to his own musical voice, a voice that encompasses not only historical performance and modern orchestral performance but also free improvisation and jazz. 

As a composer, Austin's music takes from his upbringing as a jazz musician, his familiarity with Western European Classical music, and his interests outside of music, principally the visual arts. Some of his greatest influences include the works of Charles Mingus and Igor Stravinsky. 

Beyond this, he loves the Brazilian style and genre of Choro and is an amateur pandeiro player. He also is a vehement cocktail enthusiast, something he often finds has strong intersections with music, as well as other art forms.

CLARINETS

Skyler Hagner (he/him) is a woodwind player, composer, and educator based in Inwood NYC. His original work explores the intersection of composition and improvisation, with an emphasis on creative mid and large sized ensembles. He has arranged and/or composed for many artists, including: Kurt Rosenwinkel, Steve Nelson, and The United States Airforce Band of Europe, as well as for films such as Babygirl (A24), among others. His work has been supported by South Arts, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, LMCC, and NoMAA. A passionate and active educator, he has taught courses and workshops at numerous institutions and currently serves as the Assistant Musical Director of the non-profit performance-based organization Honk NYC!.