Meet Our Artistic Directors:
Dr. Elizabeth Robinson joined the faculty at SDSU in 2022, where she teaches flute and courses in music theory. She is an active soloist, orchestral, and chamber performer. Among her passions is the commissioning of new music and participating in exciting chamber ensembles.
Dr. Robinson has shared the stage with over a dozen orchestras and wind ensembles from coast to coast: in addition to her current position as the Marvin W. Maydew piccolo chair of the Topeka Symphony, she has held positions with the Heartland Opera, Salina Symphony, and Muncie Symphony (IN). She has performed both within the orchestra and as soloist with ensembles including the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, Springfield Symphony (MO), Kansas State University Wind Ensemble, Wichita Grand Opera, and Colorado's MahlerFest, among many others.
In an effort to expand the flute repertoire, Robinson co-founded the Flute New Music Consortium (FNMC), and currently serves the organization as Vice President. Formed in 2013, FNMC has commissioned new works from composers such as Zhou Long, Carter Pann, Valerie Coleman, Samuel Zyman, and Reena Esmail. Further, she coordinates the organization’s annual composition competition, and is proud of collaborations with several of its winning composers.
Her debut album, Aviary, was released on Aerocade Music in 2023.
Dr. Robinson has shared the stage with over a dozen orchestras and wind ensembles from coast to coast: in addition to her current position as the Marvin W. Maydew piccolo chair of the Topeka Symphony, she has held positions with the Heartland Opera, Salina Symphony, and Muncie Symphony (IN). She has performed both within the orchestra and as soloist with ensembles including the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, Springfield Symphony (MO), Kansas State University Wind Ensemble, Wichita Grand Opera, and Colorado's MahlerFest, among many others.
In an effort to expand the flute repertoire, Robinson co-founded the Flute New Music Consortium (FNMC), and currently serves the organization as Vice President. Formed in 2013, FNMC has commissioned new works from composers such as Zhou Long, Carter Pann, Valerie Coleman, Samuel Zyman, and Reena Esmail. Further, she coordinates the organization’s annual composition competition, and is proud of collaborations with several of its winning composers.
Her debut album, Aviary, was released on Aerocade Music in 2023.
Dr. Don Linn is nationally recognized as an active guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician. He has presented clinics and research at state conferences, regional CBDNA conferences, CBDNA athletic band conferences, and national CBDNA conferences. He has held faculty positions at some of the country's most prestigious programs, including the University of Oklahoma and Kansas State University. While Dr. Linn was an assistant director at Kansas State in 2015, the K-State Pride of Wildcat Land was awarded the Sudler Trophy, the highest honor a collegiate marching band could receive. Dr. Linn also served the Big 12 Band Directors Association as their secretary from 2010 – 2018.
Dr. Linn previously served as the Interim Associate Director of Bands at the University of Oklahoma, Director of Bands at Missouri Southern State University, Associate Director of Bands at Kansas State University, Director of Athletic Bands at Youngstown State University, and Director of Bands at Nottoway High School in Crewe, Virginia. He holds a doctorate in conducting from the University of Oklahoma, a master’s degree in conducting from Ball State University, and a bachelor’s degree in music education from Virginia Tech.
Dr. Linn previously served as the Interim Associate Director of Bands at the University of Oklahoma, Director of Bands at Missouri Southern State University, Associate Director of Bands at Kansas State University, Director of Athletic Bands at Youngstown State University, and Director of Bands at Nottoway High School in Crewe, Virginia. He holds a doctorate in conducting from the University of Oklahoma, a master’s degree in conducting from Ball State University, and a bachelor’s degree in music education from Virginia Tech.
Members for the Inaugural Season:
A native of Long Beach California, James Compton discovered the bassoon in the seventh grade. He received a Bachelors of Music from the University of Southern California and also studied at The Juilliard School in New York City. Prior to joining the Omaha Symphony, James was the Principal Bassoonist for the Oklahoma Symphony. As Principal Bassoonist of the Omaha Symphony James has been a featured soloist on several occasions. Jim is currently on the faculties of University of Nebraska and the University of Nebraska-Omaha and is also a founding member of the group Bassoons Across Nebraska. When not performing on his bassoon, Jim can be found riding his bicycle on the endless supply of gravel and dirt roads this part of the country has to offer.
Dr. Beverly Gibson is a clarinet instructor at the University of South Dakota, Northwestern College, Orange City, IA and Dordt University, Sioux Center, IA as well as a chamber music instructor for Camerata, a division of the SDSYO. She is currently the Bass clarinetist/Bb clarinetist with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, Principal clarinetist with the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra, and a chamber performer in the Curious Music Collective. She is an artist/clinician for the Buffet Crampon Corporation representing Buffet clarinets. Dr. Gibson is featured on a recording of French Canadian vocalist, Michel Chartier’s album recorded in Kent, England.
Dr. Sam Gowen is currently the Academic Advisor, Scholarship Coordinator, Recruiting Coordinator, and Horn Instructor at South Dakota State University’s School of Performing Arts. Prior to SDSU, Dr. Gowen was Horn Artist in Residence at Valdosta State University and performed with several orchestras in the southeast region, including Sinfonia Gulfcoast, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Valdosta Symphony Orchestra, Panama City Symphony Orchestra, and Northwest Florida Symphony, among others. Gowen earned her doctorate in Horn Performance at Florida State University, where she did research for her dissertation on modern evolutions of performance presentation. Her research interests are rooted in creating accessible, engaging, and welcoming environments for audiences with diverse backgrounds and varying levels of exposure to classical music repertoire and performance rituals. She completed her Master of Music in Horn Performance at Michigan State University and her Bachelor’s in Music Education and Horn Performance at The University of Georgia.
Stephanie Kocher is the Flute Instructor and Fine Arts Outreach Coordinator for The University of South Dakota, and is active as a private teacher, adjudicator, clinician, and performer. She holds Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education and Flute Performance from Washburn University and a Masters of Music in Flute Performance from Wichita State University. Private teachers include Peter Verhoyen, Dr. Frances Shelley, Elizabeth Singleton, and Ronn and Sylvia Boyd. In addition, she has performed in Master classes with Lois Bliss Herbine, Nicola Mazzanti, Jan Gippo, James Walker, Gary Schocker, and Michel Debost.
Kocher plays piccolo for the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra and flute with the SCSO Wind Quintet. She also regularly performs with the USD South Dakota Chamber Winds, and with the Kocher Duo, with husband C.J. Kocher on saxophone. She resides in Vermillion, SD with her husband C.J., and children Ivy and Lars.
Kocher plays piccolo for the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra and flute with the SCSO Wind Quintet. She also regularly performs with the USD South Dakota Chamber Winds, and with the Kocher Duo, with husband C.J. Kocher on saxophone. She resides in Vermillion, SD with her husband C.J., and children Ivy and Lars.
Dr. Amy Laursen is the Associate Professor of Horn and Theory at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, where she started teaching in the fall of 2017. She completed her DMA in Horn Performance in 2015 at the University of North Texas. While at UNT, she was heavily involved in the Texas Center for Performing Arts Health. Currently, Dr. Laursen performs with the USD Chamber Winds and USD Faculty Brass Quintet, orchestras in Sioux City (IA), Sioux Center (IA), and Billings (MT), various summer municipal bands in the area, and she plays natural horn with the Orchestra of New Spain in Dallas (TX). Additionally, she is the horn player in the low brass trio, Trio di Velluto, with her husband, Dr. Todd Cranson (tuba) and her good friend, Dr. Jamie Lipton (euphonium). The trio has commissioned new works for the ensemble and have performed at numerous regional and international conferences, including at the Brazilian Tuba and Euphonium Association National Conference held at the Escola de Música da UFPA in Belém, Brazil. Dr. Laursen and Dr. Cranson also recently put out Landscapes through Mark Records (56399-MCD) featuring music all written for the duo. Prior to teaching at USD, Dr. Laursen taught horn, theory, and music education courses at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, AR. Additionally, she taught elementary music, band, and orchestra in Gillette, WY, and enjoys her role at USD training future music educators.
Dr. Mark Stevens serves as Assistant Professor of Piano and Director of Keyboard Studies at South Dakota State University. Dr. Stevens’ experience as a pianist ranges from traditional piano repertoire to contemporary music, including living composers. As an advocate for 20th and 21st century music, he performs a diverse range of repertoire, with a special affinity for American composers. In recital, he engages audiences through thematic programming, juxtapositions of unique repertoire, and colorful insights about music, composers, and cultural context. Dr. Stevens regularly commissions composers to write solo piano works with a special focus on accessibility for advanced piano students.
An active and dedicated teacher for two decades, Dr. Stevens has repeatedly been awarded for the quality of his instruction. His students have won more than 20 prizes in competitions including the Music Teachers National Association and South Dakota Music Teachers Association competitions, the Seattle Young Artists Music Festival, the Washington State Music Teachers Association’s State Recitalist Competition, and others. He regularly shares masterclasses and workshops for universities, professional music teaching organizations, private studios, and music academies throughout the United States.
An active and dedicated teacher for two decades, Dr. Stevens has repeatedly been awarded for the quality of his instruction. His students have won more than 20 prizes in competitions including the Music Teachers National Association and South Dakota Music Teachers Association competitions, the Seattle Young Artists Music Festival, the Washington State Music Teachers Association’s State Recitalist Competition, and others. He regularly shares masterclasses and workshops for universities, professional music teaching organizations, private studios, and music academies throughout the United States.
Dr. Robin Michelle Sweeden is an oboist based out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Robin graduated from Baylor University with a Music Education degree and received her Masters and Doctoral degrees from the University of Oklahoma with Dan Schwartz and Lisa Harvey-Reed. Robin currently is an active performer and studio teacher in the Greater Oklahoma City area. Robin regularly performs with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, the Norman Philharmonic, and is an active solo artist around the state of Oklahoma City. Robin currently teaches at Southern Nazarene University, Rose State College, and the University of Central Oklahoma and is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the American Federation of Musicians, and The International Double Reed Society.
Originally from Holland, Michigan, Martin J. Van Klompenberg currently teaches bassoon and chamber music at the Challey School of Music at North Dakota State University. From 2013 – 2022, he served as a member of the United States Army Band program, performing with the 101st Airborne Division “Air Assault” Band (Fort Campbell, KY), the 282nd Army Band (Fort Jackson, SC), and the 323rd Army Band “Fort Sam’s Own” (Fort Sam Houston/San Antonio, TX). Prior to joining the ranks of military musicians, he attended the University of Arizona, where he obtained the Doctorate of Musical Arts degree, studying with William Dietz. He also earned degrees from Arizona State University and Western Michigan University, studying with Albie Micklich and Wendy Rose, respectively. He has also studied composition with award-winning composer Jenni Brandon.
Dr. Michael Walsh is Professor of Clarinet at South Dakota State University where he also teaches Music History and Music Entrepreneurship. Walsh received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Miami, FL. He holds the distinction as being the first student to earn the DMA degree in Clarinet Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Kansas under Dr. Larry Maxey. Walsh is a member of the Miami Clarinet Quartet which has commissioned numerous works for the ensemble and recently recorded their first album of Music by Women Composers. As a bass clarinetist with the quartet and as a soloist, he has performed at the Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium, International Clarinet Association’s Clarinetfest, the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors (NACWPI) national conferences and the World Saxophone Congress. He was elected President of NACWPI in 2014 and has had the pleasure of directing their national conferences in 2014 and 2015.
Dr. Jennifer Wohlenhaus Bloomberg is the principal oboist of the Des Moines Symphony, a position she has held for over 20 years. She performs frequently with many ensembles in the Des Moines/Central Iowa area such as the Polaris Wind Quintet, the Des Moines Choral Society, Des Moines Metro Opera, Des Moines Performing Arts and the Des Moines Metro Concert Band. Dr. Wohlenhaus Bloomberg holds a DMA in Oboe from the University of Iowa, a MM in Oboe Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a BM in both Applied Music and Music with elective studies in business from Drake University. Her oboe teachers have included Mark Weiger, Jay Light and John de Lancie. In addition to performing, Dr. Wohlenhaus Bloomberg teaches oboe, bassoon, music theory and aural skills at Drake University. She also maintains a large private lesson studio, drawing students from Des Moines and the surrounding area. Former students of Dr. Wohlenhaus Bloomberg now serve as music educators, collegiate faculty and hold orchestral positions across the nation.
