Lauren Moldenhauer (she/her) grew up in Singapore and came to Chicago to earn her B.M. in Flute Performance at Northwestern University where she studied with Walfrid Kujala, a long-time piccoloist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She earned her M.M. in Flute Performance at Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, where she also worked for the Dayton C. Miller Flute Collection at the Library of Congress. Currently, Lauren is the Flutist and Co-founder of Symphony847, Principal Flute of the Lake County Symphony Orchestra, and Flutist with Lake Forest Civic Orchestra. In addition to her performing career, Lauren is an active teacher with a successful private studio and a specialist in nonprofit arts management. She is also an avid graphic designer and digital marketing professional working at Northwestern University’s Alumni Relations and Development. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys jogging and learning more about fine wines and cocktails with friends. For more information about Lauren, please visit: https://laurenmoldenhauer.com.
Claire Bravo Cutting (she/her) is primarily a woodwind repair technician, and runs her own repair business in Skokie, IL. She studied instrument repair in Red Wing, MN. Before that, her oboe performance studies included The Boston Conservatory, studying with Robert Sheena, and Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA), studying with Peggy Michel. Claire currently plays English horn/2nd oboe with the Evanston Symphony Orchestra. In addition to music, she enjoys spending time with her husband, his two kids, and their two English mastiffs, Gaia and Táru. For more information about Claire, please visit http://www.cuttingedge.repair.
Westley Art Hodges (he/they) is originally from New Orleans and has been in Chicago for the past six years. They studied clarinet performance under Dr. Andrea Cheeseman at Delta State University and also has an A.A. in Music Education and a B.A. in Liberal Studies with a minor in Women and Gender Studies. Currently, Westley is the Director of Music Ministries at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Evanston and teaches privately in their studio. They are also the clarinet section leader for the Lakeside Pride Symphonic Band and the Director of Lakeside Pride’s Clarinet Choir. Outside of music, they enjoy spending time with their husband, Joseph, and their cat, Sid. For more information about Westley, please visit: http://www.westleyhodges.com.
Walter van Gieson (he/him) hails from Mount Clemens, MI, and has been in Chicago for the past eight years. Walter holds degrees in Bassoon performance from Central Michigan University (B.M.) and the University of Texas at Arlington (M.M.). He regularly subs with the Evanston Symphony Orchestra, and also plays rugby with the Chicago Dragons RFC.
Connor Cowart (he/him) is a horn player and jazz pianist from Bentonville Arkansas, currently studying economics and horn performance at Northwestern University under the guidance of Gail Williams and Joseph Boen. He currently works as a pianist at Good News Community Church in Chicago Illinois. In his free time he enjoys fitness, weight training, and composition.
Amethyst Winds 