Double Reed Day

Jaren Atherholt, oboe

Jaren Atherholt is the newly appointed Assistant Professor of Oboe at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and Principal Oboist of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. She previously served as principal oboist of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra for eleven seasons. A native of Alaska, Jaren has performed to stellar reviews as a featured concerto soloist and has been guest principal oboist with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Detroit Symphony, as well as guest associate principal oboist with the Pittsburgh and Atlanta Symphonies. International engagements include principal oboe with the International Chamber Orchestra of Puerto Rico and Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería in Mexico City. Jaren spent four summers at the Marlboro Music Festival and currently performs each summer with the Grand Teton Music Festival. She has served on the faculty of John Mack Oboe Camp, Interlochen Arts Camp, the Wintergreen Music Academy, and the Vianden International Music School. Jaren plays Loree oboes.

Ryan Yamashiro, bassoon

Ryan Yamashiro is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music, in Cleveland, Ohio, where he received a Master of Music Degree in 2019 studying with Barrick Stees. He received his Bachelor’s Degree of Art in Music Performance in the spring of 2017 from UCLA where he studied with John Steinmetz. Ryan has played with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Symphony, Billings Symphony Orchestra, and Battle Creek Symphony. He was a chamber music fellow at the Kent Blossom Music Festival in 2018 and in 2017 performed as a concerto soloist with the UCLA Philharmonia Orchestra. Ryan has been engaged as a guest artist at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville College of Music and keeps his own private bassoon studio. When not playing the bassoon, Ryan enjoys roasting coffee, playing chess, and computer programming.

Emi Kagawa, piano

Emi Kagawa is an internationally recognized soloist, collaborative artist, and clinician whose performances are noted for their bold artistry, sensitivity, introspective depth, and a deeply expressive and illuminating musical voice. She has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Italy, and Japan, earning acclaim from the New York Sun, which describes her as “an artist both interesting and bold,” and the Salt Lake Tribune, which likens her performances to “a 1,000-piece puzzle, with each piece a masterpiece.”

Kagawa has appeared as a soloist at major venues including Weill Recital Hall, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, Steinway Hall, and Symphony Space. She has performed with orchestras including the Missouri Symphony Orchestra, Lakeside Symphony Orchestra, and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, where she currently serves as Principal Keyboard.

An award-winning pianist, Kagawa received top prizes at the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition at Juilliard School and the Nancy Clark International Piano Competition. Her performances have been featured on WQXR and WITF.

Kagawa formerly served as co-director of MANI Brooklyn Chamber Music and has taught at institutions including New York University, Lee University, Bryan College, Saint Joseph’s University, and the New York Youth Symphony. She regularly presents masterclasses and workshops internationally on performance, sound production, collaborative musicianship, and working effectively with pianists

Jing-Fang Huang, piano

Taiwanese pianist Jing-Fang Huang is a collaborative pianist, vocal coach, and educator based in Knoxville, Tennessee. She currently serves as Staff Pianist at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she collaborates with faculty and students and serves as a repetiteur for the UT Opera Theatre. Additionally, she is an Adjunct Piano Professor at Pellissippi State Community College.

An active performer on the international stage, Dr. Huang has appeared at prestigious venues including Tokyo’s Suntory Hall, Singapore’s Esplanade Concert Hall, Boston’s Jordan Hall, and the National Concert Hall of Taiwan. A versatile collaborator, she performs frequently with renowned faculty and guest artists; recent highlights include recitals with baritone Stephen Salters and soprano Cecily Nall, as well as performances with Knoxville Symphony Orchestra musicians I-Pei Lin, Adam Ayers, and Devan Jaques. She was also a featured guest artist alongside Elizabeth Freimuth and Adam Unsworth at the Southeastern Horn Conference.

Dr. Huang’s extensive resume includes staff and fellowship positions at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, Boston University, and the Bowdoin Music Festival. She has also served as a collaborative pianist for the North American Saxophone Alliance, NATS, and the Interlochen Arts Camp.

She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Collaborative Piano from Boston University, where she studied with Sheila Kibbe. She earned her Master of Music from the University of Tennessee under the guidance of Dr. Chih-Long Hu, and her Bachelor of Arts from Soochow University, where she studied with Dr. Elise Yun Duncan Henry, raised in Savage, Minnesota, is the principal bassoonist with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. He has played as a substitute bassoonist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra. In school, Duncan has toured the midwest, east coast, and Norway. He also attended the Marlboro, National Repertory Orchestra, and Norfolk Chamber Music summer festivals.

Duncan Henry, bassoon

Duncan Henry, raised in Savage, Minnesota, is the principal bassoonist with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. He has played as a substitute bassoonist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra. In school, Duncan has toured the midwest, east coast, and Norway. He also attended the Marlboro, National Repertory Orchestra, and Norfolk Chamber Music summer festivals.

As a performer, Duncan has transcribed and performed J.S. Bach’s second cello suite for bassoon, performed in Carnegie Hall, and also performed jazz and pop music on the saxophone including numerous original pieces at venues ranging from county fairs to weddings. As a composer, he has written songs, a tone poem, and chamber works that have seen premiere.

Duncan received his master’s degree in bassoon performance at the University of Minnesota studying with Fei Xie. He previously obtained an Artist Certificate from the Aaron Copland School of Music studying with Frank Morelli and a bachelor’s degree studying with Mark Kelley and Thea Groth at St. Olaf College. Duncan has also received formative instruction from J. Christopher Marshall and Alice Anderson.

When he isn’t playing music, Duncan enjoys lifting weights, running, and cooking.

Matthew Barrett, oboe

Hailing from Knoxville, TN, oboist Matthew Barrett enjoys a diverse and varied career. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in music performance at the University of Tennessee studying with Jaren Atherholt. Matthew has performed as principal oboist of the UTK Symphony and Opera Orchestras, Lee University Orchestra, and the Knoxville Sinfonietta. Equally comfortable as a soloist, Matthew was recently a finalist in the UTK concerto competition as a sophomore, and was also a cash prize winner of Knoxville’s Music Study Club Competition.

Active in his local community, Matthew has been sought out to perform at neighboring educational institutes, such as Lee University and Hardin Valley Academy, along with many churches throughout the region. He has participated in the Hidden Valley Masterclass with Elaine Douvas and Rocky Ridge Music Festival with Peter Cooper, among other summer experiences. Past performances include touring to Dallas, TX with the UTK Wind Ensemble and performing for Grammy award winning Akropolis Reed Quintet.

Passionate about the industry at large, Matthew is also pursuing studies in music business, and has interned with nonprofit organizations nationwide including Lyrica Baroque and NOLA Chamber Fest.

Beyond the reed desk, Matthew enjoys running, weight training, and spending time with friends and family outdoors.