School of Music

The Camerata Woodwind Quintet - Members

Gardner

Brisa de Paula
Office: 202 Browne Hall
Email: B-Depaula@wiu.edu

In addition to her appointment as Assistant Professor of Bassoon at Western Illinois University, Dr. Brisa de Paula is also a member of The Camerata Woodwind Quintet. She previously served as Adjunct Instructor of Bassoon in the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) at the University of Cincinnati, teaching alongside the legendary bassoonist and pedagogue, William Winstead.

Dr. de Paula has substantial backgrounds in orchestral performance, chamber music, and as a recitalist. She performs regularly throughout the United States with pianist Warren T. Goodman. Their live and unedited performances are available on YouTube: https://youtube.com/brisadepaula
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Gardner

Jena Gardner
Office: 126A Browne Hall 
Email: JE-Gardner2@wiu.edu

Jena Gardner, DMA, is the Assistant Professor of Horn at Western Illinois University. In addition to teaching, she is an active soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player throughout the state of Illinois and the United States. Dr. Gardner has performed extensively around the world including tours in Europe, Mexico, Japan, and the United States. She has been a guest section member with the Chicago Lyric Opera, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Intercontemporain, the Lucerne Festival Academy Orchestra, Steamboat Springs Festival Orchestra horn sections and was acting 2nd and 4th horn of the Louisiana Philharmonic orchestra for the 2012 and 2013 seasons respectively.

Dr. Gardner is a passionate chamber musician and can be heard performing with the faculty ensembles at WIU: the Camerata Woodwind Quintet and the Lamoine Brass Quintet.
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Ginsberg

Eric Ginsberg
Office:  Studio F, Browne Hall 
Email: EL-Ginsberg@wiu.edu 

Eric Ginsberg has been Professor of Clarinet and Clarinetist in the Camerata Woodwind Quintet, in residence at Western Illinois University, since 1996. As a member of the Camerata Woodwind Quintet he participated in the recording for Crystal Records of Jacques Hetú’s Quintette, opus 13; Anthony Iannaccone’s Woodwind Quintet No. 2, Scenes after Hart Crane; John Steinmetz’s Quintet. In addition, he recorded James Stevenson’s The Devil’s Tale for Ravello Records with the Western Illinois University Faculty Chamber Players He is also a faculty member at the Brevard Music Center in Brevard, North Carolina, and performs with the Peoria Symphony and the Knox-Galesburg Symphony.
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Emily Hart

Emily Hart
Office: 128 Browne Hall 
Email:  EE-Hart@wiu.edu 

Emily Hart is an alumna of Western Illinois University and an Illinois native, Oboist Emily Hart has performed in a variety of innovative ensembles around the globe. As an orchestral musician she has performed with the Rochester Chamber Orchestra in Rochester, NY, the Royal Conservatory Orchestra in Toronto, Ontario, and a variety of ensembles at the Eastman School of Music, including the Eastman Philharmonia and the Eastman Chamber Orchestra.
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John McMurtery, Flute;

McMurtery

John McMurtery
Office: Studio D, Browne Hall 
Email: J-McMurtery@wiu.edu 

John McMurtery, DMA, is a Professor of Flute at Western Illinois University and member of the Camerata Woodwind Quintet, John McMurtery is flutist of the New York City Opera Orchestra and principal flutist of the Peoria Symphony. He has served as guest principal flute with the Chicago Symphony, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and the Detroit Symphony. He served as acting piccolo with the Oregon Symphony and held principal flute chairs with the Opera Orchestra of New York and Manhattan Chamber Orchestra.
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