Associate Instructor
Mingyuan Yang
Doctor of Music,
Student of William Ludwig
Mingyuan Yang was the First Prize winner at the International Double Reed Society (IDRS) Young Artist Bassoon Competition held at the University of Redlands, California in June 2013. Yang is a doctoral student at Indiana University where he currently studies with Prof. William Ludwig. He earned his Master of Music from Yale University where he studied with Prof. Frank Morelli and Bachelors of Music from Western Michigan University where he studied with Prof. Wendy Rose. He was one of the three winners in the WMU School of Music both 54th and 56th Annual Concerto Competition. His performance of Mozart bassoon concerto in B-flat major and Hummel bassoon concerto in F major with university orchestra were both broadcasted by National Public Radio Station (WMUK). He also performed Concerto in e minor by Vivaldi at IDRS conference 2013. He became a member of Pi Kappa Lambda (American Honor Society for Musicians) since April 2016.
As a bassoon teacher, he is the associate bassoon instructor at Indiana University. Meanwhile he teaches at Ben Davis High Shool and Lynhurst 7th & 8th Grade Center, Indianapolis. He also taught secondary bassoon lessons at Yale University school of music and worked at Yale Music in Schools Initiative as a teaching artist. As an orchestra player, Yang worked with many leading conductors including Peter Oundjian, Marin Alsop, David Robertson, Ignat Solzhenitsyn and many more. He currently hold the principal bassoon position at Dubuque Symphony Orchestra. Yang is one of the founding staffs in National Youth Orchestra – China. He worked with the orchestra for many years and he is the current orchestra manager of NYO China.
www.Mingbassoon.com
Graduate Students
Sara Erb
Doctor of Music, 
Student of William Ludwig
A bassoonist originally from Goshen, Indiana, Sara completed her Bachelor of Music degree at Butler University in Indianapolis in May 2016 as a student of Douglas Spaniol. Sara completed the Master of Music degree from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England in July 2018. At RNCM Sara studied with Graham Salvage, Gretha Tuls, Dave Chatwin, Stefano Canuti, and Peter Whelan. Sara was featured as a soloist in RNCM’s New Music Festival, performing Anthony Gilbert’s “Dark Singing, Dancing Light” for solo bassoon and strings in June 2018. Sara was also a member of the award-winning wind quintets Prima and Festivo Winds.
Sara has been a part of numerous professional recordings, including for the Kaleidoscope Orchestra (Manchester), the RNCM Wind Orchestra, and, most notably, a Naxos recording of Alfred Cellier’s opera “Dorothy” with maestro Richard Bonynge, the premiere recording of the work. She has played in masterclasses for bassoonists such as Bram van Sambeek, Ole Kristian T. Dahl, Matthew Wilkie, John Clouser, and the bassoonists of the Berlin Philharmonic. She holds a deep love for new music and has worked directly with composers like Thea Musgrave, Anthony Gilbert, Michael Schelle, and Hollywood composer Christopher Young. Sara is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, an international professional music fraternity, and is currently the Treasurer for the Bloomington, IN Alumnae chapter.
Sara is currently completing coursework for the Doctor of Music degree at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, with minors in Music Theory and Arts Administration. She is also working part-time in the Artistic department of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Sara enjoys coaching undergraduate chamber groups, teaching Reed classes, performing in symphony orchestras and in ballet/opera orchestras, and working with student composers on new works. She is currently working on a piano and percussion reduction of Donald Erb’s contrabassoon concerto, with a finish-date goal of summer 2022.
www.saraerb.com
Conor Bell
Doctor of Music, ABD
Student of William Ludwig
Conor Bell is an active performer, teacher and reed maker based in Bloomington, Indiana. Conor particularly enjoys finding pieces that haven’t been previously recorded, and expanding the bassoon's repertoire by arranging other instrument’s works for bassoon.
Conor is a doctoral candidate at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, having completed his doctoral coursework and qualifying exams. He is now working on his dissertation exploring the bassoon works of American composer David Maslanka. In addition to his major field coursework, Conor minored in both Music Theory and Arts Administration.
Conor served for two years as the Associate Instructor of Bassoon at Indiana University where he prepared freshmen and sophomore bassoon majors for their Upper Divisional exam by teaching supplementary lessons on fundamentals. He still teaches private lessons on bassoon and contrabassoon, as well as reed making. Conor is passionate about tailoring his instruction to each students’ needs and interests, and using fundamentals to address underlying problems while using music theory and history to unlock meaningful artistic expression. He has experience teaching all levels of experience, including beginners through advanced students and adult hobbyists.
As an orchestral musician, Conor is principal bassoon of the Owensboro Symphony in Kentucky. He is also a frequent substitute with various orchestras in Indiana.
conorbell-bassoon.com
Sara Fruehe
Doctor of Music, ABD
Student of William Ludwig
Sara Fruehe is a highly sought after bassoonist and pedagogue. Whether performing or teaching, Sara brings passion and determination to all of her projects and students.
Sara is an avid recitalist and solo performer. In March 2017 she gave the premiere performance of Kevin Wilt’s Incantare for solo bassoon. She was a featured musician of the Wheaton Municipal Band performing Carl Maria von Weber’s Bassoon Concerto in F Major, Op. 75. Sara has had the pleasure to share the recital stage with double reed artists such as John Clouser, Kathleen McLean, William, Ludwig, and Linda Strommen.
As an orchestral musician, Sara is currently the second bassoonist with Terre Haute Symphony (IN). Also performing regularly with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, Carmel Symphony (IN), and Battle Creek (MI) orchestras. She previously performed with the Kingsville Symphony (TX), Bloomington Camerata (IN), Northwest Symphony (IL) orchestras, and the Wheaton Municipal Band (IL). Sara has performed under the direction of many exceptional musicians such as Thomas Wilkins, Carl St. Clair, Grzegorz Nowak, David Effron, Arthur Fagen, Uriel Segal, Cliff Colnot, and Keith Lockhart.
A champion and advocate of chamber music, Sara has collaborated in a variety of chamber ensembles, but calls the woodwind quintet “home.” She currently performs with the Volante Winds wind quintet comprised of DM students based in Bloomington, IN. As of member of Volante Winds, she has been a semi-finalist at the Fischoff National Chamber Music and Plowman Chamber Music Competitions. Outside of the competition arena, Volante Winds has been a featured performer at the Mineral Point Chamber Music Festival (WI), WfIU Performance Today’s live radio recital broadcast, and guest perform with the Bloomington Windfall Modern Dance Company, IU New Music Ensemble, and IU Latin American Music Center Salón Latino Chamber Music Series. With the Volante Winds, Sara’s upcoming engagements include a residency at the Juneau Jazz and Classics Festival (AK), guest artist performances at the Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival (Korea), and featured performances at the American Music Festival and the Chamber Music Wilmington (NC).
Sara is a dedicated teacher who has been teaching and coaching for over a decade. In fall of 2016, Sara was Visiting Instructor of Bassoon and Chamber Winds at James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA). She is passionate about guiding students through creative musical development, while helping students to find their own musical voice. Sara’s private lesson students have gone on to major and minor in music, as well as become active patrons of the arts.
Sara is a candidate (ABD) for the Doctor of Music degree from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with minors in Music History & Literature and Arts Administration. Her final research project focuses on operatic bassoon excerpts. Sara earned her Master of Music from DePaul University and Bachelor of Music from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Her primary teachers include William Ludwig, William Buchman, Robert Barris, and Arthur Weisberg.
Outside of music, Sara enjoys hanging with her cat Louie, baking, reading, and photography.
www.sarafruehe.com
www.volantewinds.com
Andrew Gascon
Doctor of Music, Completed Coursework
Student of William Ludwig
Drew Gascon is from San Jose, California, and has been playing bassoon since 2004. He holds a bachelors degree with a double major in Music and Molecular and Cell Biology from UC Berkeley, and a masters in Bassoon Performance from the University of Central Missouri.
Drew has performed with the UC Berkeley Symphony and Summer Symphony, the Berkeley Chamber Orchestra, the UCM Faculty Quintet, the Lee's Summit Symphony, and as an offstage member in the London Philharmonia. He has been featured as a soloist during his bachelors and masters as a winner of each institution's respective concerto competition, performing the Weber Bassoon Concerto and the Elgar Romance. Drew's past teachers include David Granger, Marita Abner, Mathieu Harel, and Per Hannevold. He has also performed in master classes with Benjamin Kamins, William Ludwig, Nancy Goeres, and Michael Sweeney. In the past two summers, Drew has attended PRISMA in 2014 and the Aspen Music Festival and School in 2015.
Drew is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Music at Indiana University, studying with William Ludwig. His research interests include studying early music written for the dulcian and baroque bassoon, as well as the development of extended technique on modern bassoon.
Benjamin Bradshaw
Doctor of Music, Completed Coursework
Student of William Ludwig
Benjamin Bradshaw started playing the bassoon in the sixth grade. Since then he has performed in numerous bands, orchestras, and chamber groups. He appeared as a soloist with the Orchestra of Southern Utah twice as a winner of the Halverson Young Artists Competition. He also participated in the Canyon Arts Chamber Music Festival in Cedar City, Utah, where he had the opportunity to work with Leonard Hindell. He graduated summa cum laude from Southern Utah University with a Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Pure Mathematics. He then completed his Masters of Music in Bassoon Performance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. He now is pursuing a Doctorate of Music in Bassoon at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where he studies with William Ludwig.
Alfredo Bonilla
Master of Music 2nd Year
Student of William Ludwig
Braxton Porter
Master of Music 2nd Year
Student of William Ludwig
Mark
Master of Music, 2nd Year 
Mark Adair, a bassoonist and pedagogue from Wichita, KS, completed his Bachelor of Music and Music Education at the University of Missouri – Kansas City Conservatory as a student of Marita Abner. While in Kansas City, Mark was a sought-after musician and teacher, working as a guest clinician, private teacher, and district teacher for schools in both Kansas and Missouri. Additionally, he has performed with Jefferson City’s Southside Philharmonic (formerly Jefferson City Symphony), Northland Symphony, Lee’s Summit Symphony, Midwest Chamber Ensemble, Washburn University, and Baker University. His educational outreach work with the Kansas City Symphony brought performance experiences to thousands of children across the KC metro area. In 2017, Mark was awarded the Presser Foundation Undergraduate Scholar Award for his musical and educational achievements at UMKC. In 2018, Mark traveled with the Missouri Educator’s Association’s leadership team to lobby senators and representatives for increased aid and further support of music education in Washington D.C. In 2019, he won First Prize in the Collegiate Division of the Midwest Double Reed Society Annual Young Artists Competition. Mark is currently pursuing a Master of Music at Indiana University, studying with William Ludwig. He plans to continue pursuing his passion for performance and education to create musical experiences that inspire the love and learning of the musical arts for audiences of all backgrounds.
Undergraduate Students
Samuel Rhoton
Bachelor of Music, 3rd Year
Student of William Ludwig.
Originally from Salem Oregon, Samuel is a second-year bassoon performance student studying with William Ludwig as a Barbara and David Jacobs Scholar at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Samuel has performed with the Corvallis Symphony, Oregon Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, Tualatin Valley Symphony, Willamette Symphony, Portland Youth Philharmonic, and The National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America. Over the past years Sam has participated in the Rocky Ridge Music Center Young Artist Seminar, The Marrowstone Music Festival, and the Brevard Music Center. In the summer of 2017, Samuel served as a member of the National Youth Orchestra of America conducted by Maestra Marin Alsop. The tour began at Carnegie Hall then traveled to various locations in Mexico, Ecuador, and Colombia. Prior to Indiana University Samuel with Ann Kosanovic-Brown, and has had the opportunity to perform in masterclasses with John Klouser, Andrew Brady, Bram Van Sambeek and Kathleen Mclean. As well as taking lessons from Evan Kuhlmann, Carin Miller-Packwood, Monica Ellis, Daniel Matsukawa and Ben Kamins.
T.J. Vculek 
Bachelor of Music, 3rd year
Student of William Ludwig
T.J. Vculek, is a freshman, from Franklin, Indiana, studying with professor William Ludwig. At IU, he is planning to major in Music Performance and minor in chemistry. T.J. has previously studied with Mark Ortwein, assistant principal bassoonist of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. He has been principal bassoon of the Indianapolis Symphony Youth Orchestra (5 years), Side by Side with the Indianapolis Orchestra (2 years), Indiana All-State Honor Band (3 years), playing both bassoon and contrabassoon.
Aside from his classical origins, T.J. is also a bluegrass enthusiast and plays the banjo, guitar, and mandolin. Fun fact: T.J. won the Indiana State Fair Talent Competition playing the famous “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” on his banjo when he was eight years old.
Andrew Playford 
Music Minor, 3rd Year
Student of William Ludwig
Andrew is from Grand Rapids, Michigan and is a freshman ballet major apart of the Ludwig Bassoon Studio. He has played bassoon for seven years and played in the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony for four years. Additionally, he has played in the Michigan All-State Orchestra. Prior to the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony, he played in the St. Cecilia Concert Band and Philharmonic. He has studied with Ruth Wilson for the seven years he has played. When not in the practice room or ballet studio, he enjoys finding new kinds of music and eating.
Jacob Anderman
Bachelor of Music Education,
3rd Year
Student of Kathleen McLean
Jacob Anderman is currently studying bassoon performance and music education as a freshman at Indiana University with Kathleen McLean. Hailing from Worthington, Ohio, Jacob has performed in OMEA All State Band and Orchestra in 2016 and 2017, respectively, and has served multiple years in honors ensembles such as the Columbus Youth Symphonic Band and the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra throughout high school. In addition to bassoon, Jacob has had musical experience with alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone, English horn, and singing as a baritone.Jacob graduated from Thomas Worthington High School in May of 2017. He was awarded the John Philip Sousa Award in his senior year for his commitment to music as a lifelong passion. Along with fellow IU student and Thomas Worthington graduate Lisa Cary, Jacob has co-founded the Tri-M chapter of Thomas Worthington High School. During the summers, Jacob studies with Betsy Sturdevant, principal bassoonist of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and faculty at Capital University. Outside of music, Jacob’s interests include Spanish, comedy, and spending time with family and friends.
Andy Flurer 
Bachelor of Music,
3rd Year Student of William Ludwig
Luke Horton
Bachelor of Music Education, 3rd Year
Student of William Ludwig
Chase Fox
Double Major Bassoon Performance and Music Composition,
3rd YearStudent of Kathleen McLean
Grace Lerew
Bachelor of Music, 3rd Year
Student of Kathleen McLean
Benjamin Manganon
Bachelor of Music/Music Education, 3rd Year
Student of Kathleen McLean
Larsen McFadden
Bachelor of Music Education,
2nd Year Student of Kathleen McLean
From the city of Reno, NV, Larsen McFadden is a 2nd year Bachelors of Music Education and Music Performance student studying bassoon under Kathleen McLean, and minoring in Math. He started playing music as a 6th grade clarinetist, and; after trying many instruments in the band; found home in playing bassoon in 8th grade and began studying with Ben Benson.
Larsen was a proud member of the Damonte Ranch HS Band, being a member of the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, & pit orchestras. He played in Reno Youth Philharmonic Orchestras 3 years, Washoe County Honor Bands 6 years, & NMEA All-State Orchestra 2 years, as well as the Susanville (CA) & Carson City (NV) Symphonies. Larsen received superior rankings as a solo bassoonist in NMEA’s Solo & Ensemble Festival. In 2017, he performed the 1st movement of the Mozart Bassoon Concerto with Damonte’s Symphony Orchestra. Most recently, he won the 2018 Reno Pops Concerto Competition HS Division. Larsen attended Lake Tahoe Music Camp from 2013-17, & is attending the Marrowstone Music Festival in Seattle, WA as a counselor in 2019. Larsen McFadden performed in Damonte’s Marching Band and Winter Drumline for 4 years, and 2 years as section leader. He also played saxophone in various jazz groups & sang in his HS a capella choir and Washoe County HS Honor Choir. His senior year, he was awarded the John Philip Sousa Band Award.
Larsen has performed with the IU Marching Hundred, Concert Band, and most recently Concert Orchestra. Outside of performing, Larsen loves spending time with friends and family, going on nature walks with his dogs Pearl and Piper, drinking coffee with his dad, and visiting Lake Tahoe.
Lauren Hallonquist
Bachelor of Music Performance,
2nd Year Student of William Ludwig
Originally from Austin, Texas, Lauren Hallonquist is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance, as well as a certificate in Music Entrepreneurship. Prior to attending the Jacobs School of Music, she was principal bassoonist of the Vandegrift High School Wind Ensemble, which was the Texas Music Educators Association 6A Honor Band in 2018, and the runner-up for this competition in 2015 and 2016. She has attended such festivals as the Brevard Music Center Summer Institute in 2017, and the Interlochen Advanced Bassoon Institute in 2015 and 2016. Lauren has performed in masterclasses with Benjamin Kamins, George Sakakeeny, William Short, Eric Stomberg, Sue Barber, and Kathleen McLean. Since beginning her studies at the Jacobs School, she has performed with
University and Concert Orchestras, and in productions such as the Nutcracker and Bernstein’s Mass. Primary teachers include William Ludwig and Julia Windle Littleton.
John Kaiser
Bachelor of Music Performance,
2nd Year Student of William Ludwig
John Kaiser is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Music in Bassoon Performance under William Ludwig as a Barbara and David Jacobs Scholar at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.Prior to studying at Jacobs, John studied under Dr. Jennifer Auerbach and performed in many ensembles throughout North Texas. He was the principal bassoon of the 2017 TMEA All-State 5A Symphonic Band as well as the second chair bassoon of the 2018 TMEA All-State Symphony Orchestra. John also held the position of principal bassoonist of the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra from 2016-2018. He has attended the Brevard Music Center Summer Institute and Festival as well as the Advanced Double Reed Institute of Texas where he studied with Sue Barber, Billy Short, and Ted Soluri. In 2018 John was a featured soloist on the NPR program “From the Top” with Christopher O’Riley, and he was awarded the John Philip Sousa Band Award from his time at Rick Reedy High School in Frisco, Texas.At Jacobs, John has played contrabassoon in the Philharmonic and Concert orchestras and studies baroque bassoon with Dr. Keith Collins. In addition to a performance degree John plans to minor in Historical Performance and German. Outside of playing the bassoon John’s interests include early music, hiking, fishing, embroidery, and Germanic studies.
Blanton Boso
Bachelor of Music Performance,
First year student of Kathleen McLean
From Louisville, Kentucky, Blanton Boso is a first year student pursuing a Bachelors of Music in Bassoon Performance. He took up the Bassoon sophomore year of high school where he began his studies at the Youth Performing Arts School. Since then, Blanton was Principle Bassoonist of the YPAS band, Louisville’s All-County Band and Orchestra as well as principal of the Louisville Youth Orchestra and KMEA All-State Symphony Orchestra for 2 years. He has attended various music festivals such as the Butler Woodwind Camp and the Interlochen Summer Arts Program studying with teachers including Eric Stromberg, Patricia Rogers, Dr. Doug Spaniol, Henry Skolnick and more. Blanton’s latest debut was winning the YPAS Band Concerto competition performing Andante and Rondo by Carl Maria von Weber. Since beginning his studies at the Jacobs School of Music, Blanton has performed as Principal Bassoonist of the Symphony Orchestra and as a masterclass performer with Peter Kolkay.