Grossmont Symphony Woodwind Quintet
The Grossmont Symphony Woodwind Quintet is the resident woodwind quintet of the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra at Grossmont College. Its mission is to serve San Diego 's East County community through performances of chamber music, in addition to performing at venues throughout Greater San Diego. As principal members of the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra's woodwind section, they also assist the music director of the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra in coaching members of its woodwind sections, in addition to mentoring their inside stand partners in rehearsals/performances. Its varied performing repertoire includes chamber music suitable for serious chamber music concerts, to educational performances, to lighter music for social events.
Kay Van Tassell, Flute
Kay Van Tassell, flute, began playing the flute at the age of nine. She attended
Westmont College in Santa Barbara, where she was a soloist with the Westmont College
Symphony Orchestra. She also attended San Diego State University, where she was principal
with the Wind Ensemble. She has also performed with the Tifereth Israel Community
Orchestra, the San Diego Lyric Opera, and in numerous churches throughout the San
Diego area. Kay has been principal flutist with the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra
since 1987. She has appeared as concerto soloist several times performing Telemann’s Concerto
for Flute and Recorder in E minor, Honegger’s Concerto da Camera, Poulenc’s Babar
the Elephant, Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp K. 299, Telemann’s Fantasia for
Unaccompanied Flute No. 8 in E minor and Kennan's Night Soliloquy. She resides in
La Mesa with her husband, Ken, and their fourteen-year-old daughter, Melody.
Mike Gaby, Oboe
Mike Gaby, oboe, is a native-born San Diegan. He began studying oboe at the age of
15, and attended San Diego State University (SDSU) where he studied under Peggy Michael,
whom he credits as his most influential teacher and mentor. Michael has performed
with the SDSU and USD Symphony Orchestras, the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, the San
Diego Opera Ensemble, the Tijuana Opera, the Pro-Musica Ensemble of Ensenada, and
various chamber music groups around Southern California and Mexico. He has held the
position of principal oboe of the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra for over 10 years and
has been featured as soloist several times, most recently in the American premiere
of Michael McGlynn’s Silver River. In addition to the oboe, Michael also plays all
four baroque recorders (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass), and has performed throughout
San Diego on these instruments.
Bob Barnhart, Clarinet
Bob Barnhart, clarinet, studied with Daniel Magnusson, Mel Warner and Kalman Bloch.
In 1968, Bob won the San Diego Musical Merit Competition, and the San Diego Symphony
Young Artists Competition, appearing as soloist with the San Diego Symphony in the
Mozart Clarinet Concerto. Also in that year, he won the La Jolla Civic Orchestra Young
Artists Competition, appearing as soloist with the LJCO performing the Debussy Premiere
Rhapsody for Clarinet and Orchestra. From 1975-1984, Bob performed with the San Diego
Symphony, primarily as its Eb Clarinetist. During its 1984 season, he was the principal
clarinet of the San Diego Symphony "Pops" orchestra. During this time, he also performed
with the San Diego Opera and San Diego Ballet orchestras. Bob has been the principal
clarinetist with the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Grossmont Symphony
Wind Quintet since 1998. Bob has appeared as a soloist with the GSO in 2001, performing
the "Spring" movement of Lawrence Ashmore's Four Seasons for Clarinet and Orchestra,
in 2005, performing the Mozart Clarinet Concerto and again in 2006, performing the
Copland Clarinet Concerto. This season he will be appearing a soloist with Rebecca
Basilio in Schubert's Der Hirt auf dem Felsen (The Shepherd on the Rock). Bob is also
actively involved in chamber music as a member of the San Diego Chamber Music Society.
Arnold Barron, Bassoon
Arnold Barron, bassoon, is a native of Southern California growing up in the Los Angeles
area. His musical career began at the age of 9 where he started playing the clarinet
in his elementary school orchestra. In Junior High at age 13, he was asked if he would
like to try learning to play the bassoon. Arnold continued with the bassoon through
high school and college. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree at California
Polytechnic University, Pomona and currently works in the area of marketing for a
local biotechnology company in North San Diego County. Throughout college and after,
Arnold has had the opportunity play bassoon with many musical organizations including
the orchestras of Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State San Bernardino,
the Los Angeles Korean Philharmonic Orchestra, the Downey Civic Light Opera, the Ontario
Civic Light Opera, and the Palomar Symphony Orchestra. Arnold has been the GSO’s principal
bassoonist since 2007.
Buddy Gibbs, French Horn
Buddy Gibbs, French horn, is a native of Houston Texas and arrived in San Diego in
1972 as a member of the U.S. Navy Band. After being honorably discharged, he attended
San Diego State University and also pursued a free-lance career playing Horn in such
groups as The San Diego Symphony, The San Diego Ballet and Opera, and numerous Broadway
shows as well as some recording work. He is currently principle Horn of the Grossmont
Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Horn section of The La Jolla Symphony