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West Point Woodwind Quintet
The West Point Woodwind Quintet of the United States Military Academy Band is made up of members of the Concert Band. The group performs at many different events, such as military social functions, school presentations and formal recitals. The West Point Woodwind Quintet has supported the United States Recruiting Command with tours of high schools and colleges to promote Army bands and audition prospective candidates. These tours have taken the quintet to Connecticut, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, New Jersey and Florida. In support of military requirements, the quintet has entertained the United States Corps of Cadets and performed for many visiting dignitaries and heads of state. These performances have included annual receptions hosted by the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, Presidential receptions in New York City, and the 40th Anniversary of the United Nations. Outside the realm of the military, residents of local communities have regularly enjoyed the quintet on recitals as part of the Academy Band's chamber music series. The West Point Woodwind Quintet has been a staple ensemble for many years, and continues to be an important musical emissary of the Academy Band and the United States Army. MASTER SERGEANT GLENN WEST - BASSOON, is from Spokane, WA and joined the Academy Band in September, 2004. Glenn's previous military service includes duty with the 323rd Army Band in San Antonio, TX, the USARUER Band and Chorus in Heidelberg, Germany and the Air National Guard Band of the Northwest in Spokane, WA. A graduate of the University of Minnesota with a Master of Music degree, Glenn studied bassoon with Dr. Wendal Jones (Spokane Symphony), Charles Ullery (St. Paul Chamber Orchestra) and Sharon Kuster (San Antonio Symphony). He has performed with the San Antonio Symphony, La Orquesta Sinfónica De La Universidad de Guanajuato, Mexico, the Spokane Symphony and the Winter's Chamber Orchestra as well as chamber music with the Mozart Octet of Spokane, WA and the Faculty Woodwind Quintets at the University of Texas, San Antonio and Washington State University. SERGEANT FIRST CLASS SAM KAESTNER - CLARINET attended the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University where he received instruction from Baltimore Symphony bass clarinetist Edward Palanker and Anthony Gigliotti, former Philadelphia Orchestra principal clarinetist. After his 2000 Peabody graduation with honors, Kaestner went to Northwestern University for graduate work. His Northwestern experience included study with Chicago Symphony bass clarinetist, J. Lawrie Bloom, where he also was a finalist in the graduate concerto competition. In 2002, Kaestner received a masters degree with honors. In addition to his strength as a classical clarinetist, SFC Kaestner also plays jazz. While at Peabody, Kaestner studied jazz with former Miles Davis saxophonist Gary Thomas. SFC Kaestner is a founding member of the Academy Clarinet Quartet and a member of the West Point Woodwind Quintet. He is currently studying with Metropolitan Opera Orchestra bass clarinetist James Ognibene and with John Manasse. STAFF SERGEANT JOSHUA PHILLIPS - HORN, is originally from Newfoundland, New Jersey and joined the U.S. Military Academy Concert Band in February of 2006. Staff Sgt. Phillips holds a Bachelor of Music with an Outside Field (B.M.O.) in Multimedia Design from Ithaca College and finished his graduate studies at Northwestern University in the Spring of 2005. He has studied with Jerry Peel, Alex Shuhan, William Barnewitz and Gail Williams. Staff Sgt. Phillips has been a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra. He has also appeared with the International Contemporary Ensemble and Rhythm and Brass. STAFF SERGEANT DIANA POWERS - FLUTE, is from Shelby, Ohio, and joined the Academy Band in July of 2006. She previously served as principal flute with The United States Army Field Band at Fort Meade, Maryland. She appeared as flute and piccolo soloist with the Field Band on five national concert tours and was featured at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, the Ohio Music Educators Association Conference and the National Flute Association Convention in Washington, D.C. SSG Powers has performed with the Annapolis Symphony, Baltimore Lyric Opera Orchestra and the Choral Arts Society of Washington, and has been the piccolo soloist of Keith Brion’s New Sousa Band since 1997. A prize-winner in the Central Ohio Flute Association Young Artist Competition, National Flute Association Masterclass Competition, Pappoutsakis Flute Competition and numerous concerto competitions, she received music degrees from The Ohio State University and the Longy School of Music, studying with Katherine Borst Jones and Robert Willoughby. STAFF SERGEANT CAREY WINANS - OBOE, is originally from Haxtun, Colorado. She received her Bachelor of Music in performance from the University of Northern Colorado in 2003, where she studied with Peter Cooper. She completed her Masters of Music in 2005 at the University of Southern California under Allan Vogel. She served as English hornist for the Central City Opera Company from 2003-2005 before joining the band in 2005. She has performed with the Colorado Symphony, Ft. Collins Symphony Orchestra, and the American Youth Symphony, and performs regularly throughout the United States.
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