Ensemble Instructors
Mr. Robert Dolwick
Mr. Robert Dolwick is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Erie Jr. Philharmonic Orchestra as well as the Director of the Brass Ensemble. Mr. Dolwick earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in music Education at the University of Kentucky and a Master's Degree in Music, Trumpet Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He has played with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera of New York and the Chautauqua Orchestra, and played the principal cornet from 1970 - 1993 with the Blossom Festival Band under the direction of Leonard Smith. In addition, he is the founder of the Presque Isle Brass and a freelance trumpeter and trumpet clinician in the tri-state area. He also maintains a private studio teaching brass students. He is a trumpet instructor at Allegheny College and Edinboro University of PA, and was also a professor at Mercyhurst College, Cleveland Institute of Music Prep Department and the Villa Angela Academy of Cleveland, Ohio. He also holds the distinction of being the guest conductor of the District Orchestra which was held at McDowell Intermediate High School in January, 2001.
Bradley Amidon
has been a Percussion Instructor/Assistant Marching Band Director for McDowell High School since 1989. He received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Edinboro University and an
MFA in Percussion Performance from the State University of New York in Buffalo. He has also served on the faculties of Mercyhurst College and the Villa Maria College of Buffalo. He has performed with the Erie Philharmonic since 1982 and the Dave Stevens Big Band since 1997, as well as performing with other groups and organizations.
LeAnne Wistrom
, principal flute of the Erie Philharmonic since 1979, is a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and holds performance degrees from the Indiana University School of Music, Bloomington,
IN. Ms. Wistrom is a member of the Luzerne Chamber Players in residence at the Luzerne Music Center, Lake Luzerne,
NY. As a chamber musician, she has collaborated with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York City Ballet Orchesra and other East Coast artists in concerts from New York to Florida. Wistrom has performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic and as principal flutist of the Toledo Symphony, the Alcron Syhmphony and the American Wind Symphony. Locally, she has performed as conerto soloist with the Erie Philharmonic and Eie Chamber Orchestra, in recital on the Luther Memorial series, in frequent concerts with the Edinboro Chamber Players, with the Lyric Winds and the London Trio, and is principal flutist of the Lake Erie Ballet Orchestra. A faculty member at Edinboro University of PA and owner of an active private studio, Ms. Wistrom has been visiting faculty at the Crane School of Music,
SUNY Potsdam; at Mansfield University of PA and the University of Akron. Her pedagogical skill has been recognized by the Pennsylvania Music Teacher's Association, who named her their "Teacher of the Year." Ms. Wistrom has toured and recorded with the Cambini Wind Quintet and recorded with the Edinboro Woodwind Quintet. She resides in Erie and enjoys outdoor sports, including skiing.
Howard Lyon
grew up in Middleburgh, New York, attended college at Michigan State University in E. Lansing, and studied physics, math and music. He played in the Lansing, Kalamazoo, Jackson, Battle Creek and Traverse City symphonies before moving to Erie during the 1969 - 1970 season, and has played in the Erie Philharmonic ever since. He plays also in the Perry String Quartet, and has been concertmaster of the Erie Chamber Orchestra since it started. He teaches part time at Edinboro University of PA and has done so for over twenty years. He is one of the first ensemble coaches of the Erie Junior Philharmonic and tries hard to convince students to make music themselves in small groups.
Jennifer Jansen
first came to the area to attend
SUNY Fredonia. While at Fredonia, she started playing with the Fredonia Chamber Players, the Erie Philharmonic, and the Erie Chamber Orchestra, as well as teaching privately. After graduation she remained in the area, building teaching studios in Fredonia, Jamestown, and later in Erie, as well as continuing to play with the area orchestras. She has taught as an adjunct faculty member at Allegheny College in Meadville and at Jamestown Community College. She has also been music librarian for the Erie Philharmonic. She has led the Prelude Strings for 4 years. Currently, she spends her spare time, when not playing or teaching, working part-time for the Program Office at Chautauqua Institution. She deals with the production and contract side of symphonic, chamber, and popular concerts. In the summer, she is the House Manager for the Chautauqua Amphitheater.
