Woodwinds and Multiple Woodwinds

Photo of Woodwinds Stage Ensemble

Woodwinds and Multiple Woodwinds

Woodwinds

woodwinds 2 men play

Woodwinds- NJCU offers outstanding training on clarinet, flute, oboe, saxophone, and bassoon. Students receive thorough preparation for future careers as well-rounded soloists, chamber musicians, ensemble members, and inspiring teachers.

NJCU not only offers one of the finest woodwind and multiple woodwind faculties in the tri-state area, but also has wonderful scholarship opportunities for students who are both outstanding musicians and academic students. We are happy to offer free trial lessons with our faculty members, a private consultation and tour of our facilities, and a review of all of the exciting opportunities we have to offer!

Multiple Woodwinds- Over the past twenty years, the Multiple Woodwind program has grown into one of the most respected and renowned woodwind intensive degrees in the United States. Founded in the 1990s, the program has had tremendous success, with alumni gaining employment as full-time performers, teachers and touring musicians. The Multiple Woodwind faculty represent some of NYC's most in-demand performers. 

NJCU students work with numerous guest clinicians each academic semester. Graduate assistantships are available and awarded based on the needs of the music department and availability through the university

If you are thinking about majoring in music education, performance, or business, please contact us!

WOODWIND AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

  • BA Music Performance/ BM Music Education
    Please prepare two contrasting etudes and a solo piece of your choice.
  • MM Multiple Woodwinds
    You will be auditioning on your primary instrument and two secondary instruments. On your primary instrument please prepare a solo of your choice. On two secondary instruments prepare a solo or etude that best represents your abilities. Both jazz and classical styles may be included.
  • MM Classical Performance
    Please prepare two contrasting etudes showing your level of technicality and musical ability; a complete concerto from the standard repertoire; At least three contrasting orchestral excerpts.

Contact Us

Dave Noland, Coordinator of Woodwind Studies
201-200-2026

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Faculty

TODD GROVES

As a NYC commercial musician, Todd Groves has been a member of the Broadway pit orchestras for Aladdin, Motown the Musical, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Follies, Catch Me If You Can, Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Ragtime, White Christmas, Sunday in the Park with George and Grey Gardens. Todd has been in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular orchestra since 2009, and other NY performances include: On Your Toes, Little Me, Damn Yankees, The Wiz, Anyone Can Whistle, Merrily We Roll Along and Fiorello at City Center; Happiness at Lincoln Center; Yank!; Edward Scissorhands and Play Without Words at BAM; See What I Wanna See at Public Theater, Mother Courage and Her Children for Shakespeare in the Park, and Broadway on Broadway live in Times Square.

Todd can be heard on the Broadway cast recordings for the above shows, has appeared or been heard on the Late Show with David Letterman, the Tony Awards, the Emmy Awards, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. Other recordings include R Kelly, Boyz II Men, Lucky Stiff (film), The Snow Geese (incidental music), Victoria Clark, Philip Chaffin, Carols for a Cure, Duo with Rob Brosh, Kayle Brecher, Jane Norman, MTI Junior, Lars Halle, Joshua Kobak, Minas, Marlon Spike, NJSQ, Eric Kearns, Raw Deal, NFL Films, and many independent films. He has appeared as guest soloist with The Wind Symphony of Southern New Jersey, the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey, and the University of the Arts Big Band.

ANDREA HERR HEADSHOT

Bassoonist Andrea Herr's orchestral engagements have included performances with the Little Orchestra Society, New York City Opera, the New Jersey Symphony and the American Symphony. Professor Herr held Principal Bassoon positions in Spain with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia and Opera Teatro Galicia. Noted performances include the American Premiere of Prima Dona by Rufus Wainwright and Premieres of new chamber music works by Lalo Schifrin, Joan Tower and Keith Jarrett. Additionally, Ms. Herr has played for many New York Broadway productions, the Lincoln Center Festival, Paris Opera Ballet, Bach Aria Festival and the Bronx Arts Ensemble. Recently, she traveled to India with members of the Metropolitan Opera to perform with Music for Life International. She has recorded for PBS Television, Radio Nacional Espana, Pantheon Records and for numerous television and radio commercials. Herr received her Bachelor of Music from the New England Conservatory, Master of Music from Manhattan School of Music and Professional Studies at the Juilliard School. Professor of Bassoon at Kean University since 2003, Ms. Herr has also taught and given master classes at Drew University, William Paterson University, New Jersey City University and Juilliard Pre-College.

DAVID NOLAND HEADSHOT

*Dave Noland is a freelance saxophonist, woodwind specialist, and music educator. Dave currently maintains an active career as a performer and educator within the versatile music scene of New York City. As a saxophonist, he has performed with various jazz and classical ensembles including the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, New Jersey Symphony, Long Island Philharmonic, Brooklyn Philharmonic, and the New York Philharmonic. He has also performed with various acts including Michael Feinstein, Chita Rivera, and Patti Lupone. Dave has also led his own ensembles and has been featured as a soloist at various jazz festivals, including the New Jersey Jazz Festival and the San Angelo Cactus Jazz Series.

As a multiple woodwind player, Dave has been a member of many Broadway orchestras. His Broadway credits include Come Fly Away, Follies, Leap of Faith, Annie, If/Then, and Gigi. In 2010, Dave was a featured soloist and assistant conductor with Twyla Tharpe's Come Fly Away.

*Multiple Woodwind Faculty

mark thrasher headshot

Mark Thrasher has been a woodwind doubler in the New York freelance scene for the last 30 years. Born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Mark was member of many Rock and R&B groups including The Suspects and The Wilmont Band. He attended the University of Michigan, studying with renowned saxophone virtuoso Donald Sinta and noted clarinet professor John Moeller. Mark has traveled the world with many Broadway shows including A Chorus Line, Music Man, 42nd Street and Dreamgirls. He also did a summer residency in Milan Italy, playing bass clarinet in the world premiere of Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Samstag aus Licht at the La Scala Opera House. He has performed, recorded and toured with artists as diverse as the Metropolitan Opera, NYC Ballet, New York Pops, St Luke’s Chamber Ensemble, Philadelphia Orchestra, Tony Awards Orchestra, Audra McDonald and Barbara Streisand. He is a veteran of over 20 Broadway shows including Crazy For You, Parade, Cats, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Newsies and Addams Family and is currently playing in the orchestra of Disney’s Aladdin. Mark is also the conductor of the Spring Creek Youth Symphony, a Brooklyn based student ensemble founded in 1992. He is currently teaching at PS 346, IS 364 and New Jersey City University.

Faculty Performance Videos

Looming on the Horizon: NJCU Multiple Woodwind Faculty Quartet

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I Hear a Rhapsody for Saxophone Quartet: NJCU Faculty Saxophone Quartet

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