Ariel Detwiler runs a thriving private bassoon studio in Bloomington, MN and serves on the music faculty at Augsburg University in Minneapolis. Ariel is the owner of ACDC Reeds, a bassoon reed-making business that provides bassoon and contrabassoon reeds to bassoonists around the world. As a freelancer, Ariel performs regularly with orchestras, bands, and chamber groups throughout Minnesota. Ariel is the creator of the Loon Bassoon Workshop.

Dr. Detwiler holds three degrees in Bassoon Performance: a DMA from the University of Minnesota, an MM from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, and a BM from DePauw University. Her primary teachers have been Norbert Nielubowski, William Ludwig and Kara Stolle, respectvely.

The Breaking Winds Bassoon Quartet is an artist-run creative project by bassoonists Brittany Harrington-Smith, Yuki Katayama, Kara LaMoure, and Lauren Yu Ziemba. Their repertoire disregards genre, with favorites from the worlds of classical, pop, jazz, soundtrack, and folk music adapted for the ensemble by its members. Known for their stage antics, the BWBQ use choreography, accessory instruments, props, and skits to add theatrical elements to their performances. The ensemble’s mission is threefold: to navigate the intersection of classical music, pop culture, and comedy, to expand the scope of bassoon performance, and to create meaningful bonds with audiences. Now in their 7th season, the Breaking Winds maintain a dynamic schedule of performances at community venues, festivals, and schools throughout the world.

As a Minnesota-based bassoonist and contrabassoonist, Dr. Emma K. Plehal currently performs all over the Midwest. She is third bassoon/contrabassoon in the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and principal bassoon of the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra. She has recently performed as a substitute or extra musician with the Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, Des Moines Symphony, Des Moines Metro Opera, Orchestra Iowa, and Duluth Superior Symphony. She has also performed at the Lakes Area Music Festival annually since 2013 and is a founding member of the Solerna Wind Quintet.

Dr. Plehal received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in bassoon performance from the University of Minnesota, studying with Norbert Nielubowski. Her graduate research centered around a study involving musicians who live with type 1 diabetes. She also earned her master’s degree at the University of Minnesota, studying with Charles Ullery, and her undergraduate degree at Furman University, studying with Ann Shoemaker.

Eric Anderson graduated with a degree in musical instrument repair in 2005 from Minnesota State College SE tech. He has been repairing wind instruments since, with a primary focus in Bassoon and Oboe. As a member of NAPBIRT, he continues to further the education of his career, by attending annual conferences and sharing knowledge and techniques amongst other technicians in the craft. His support of music on a local and national level is a driving factor for both his professional and personal life. Eric is currently an in-demand bassoon repair technician at Midwest Musical Imports in Minneapolis.