2025 Woodwind Summit

Flute

“Movement is the foundation of the art of music-making.” For flutist and educator Vanessa 

Mulvey, this belief has shaped both her teaching and performing. Her multi-faceted approach began with Body Mapping and has since expanded to embrace influences as varied as Pilates, flying trapeze, and Parkour. These experiences help her guide musicians to unlock expression, build confidence, and cultivate sustainable, healthy playing habits. 

After becoming a Licensed Body Mapping Educator, Vanessa sought innovative ways to explore movement from both functional and experiential perspectives. Her studies included traditional modalities such as Feldenkrais and the Alexander Technique, as well as less conventional sources. A transformative shift happened in her third flying trapeze class when her fear of heights gave way to the exhilaration of flying and being caught. This encounter revealed the profound potential of learning about movement outside the practice room, with direct implications for performance and artistry. 

Vanessa teaches Body Mapping-based classes at the New England Conservatory of Music and the Longy School of Music of Bard College, where her work empowers students with an embodied understanding of movement for music-making. Her popular classes equip musicians with tools to enhance technique, expand expression, strengthen stage presence, and foster authentic connections with audiences. 

A sought-after clinician, Vanessa has led workshops at institutions and festivals including the Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory of Music, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, PAMA International Symposium, Shepherd School of Music, Peabody Institute, Via Academy, University of Michigan, and Varna International Music Academy. Her whole body approach to music-making helps musicians move past technical and expressive limitations, overcome plateaus, and perform without pain. 

She holds flute performance degrees from the Crane School of Music and the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and additional credentials as a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Functional Strength Coach, Parkour A.D.A.P.T. Level 1 Coach, Core Movement Integration Level 1 practitioner, and Postural Restoration Institute® trainee. In 2022, she edited the flute edition of Mountain Peak Music’s Big Book of Sight Reading Duets series. Her writing has been featured in Flute Talk, CelloBello, and the Playing Well Anatomy and Movement Series created by Serap Bastepe of the Peabody Conservatory. She has also received multiple faculty development grants supporting her research and outreach. During Fall 2025 she will be creating a video library of movement preps and resets for NEC’s community.  

Flute

Flutist and artist-teacher Laura Lentz is known for her expressive playing, innovative teaching, and vibrant curiosity. She is the founding flutist and Artistic Director for the new music ensemble fivebyfive, and has commissioned, premiered, and recorded dozens of works, championing music by today’s most forward-thinking composers. As a soloist, several works have been written for or dedicated to her, including three works from Dutch composer JacobTV. Her performances have also been broadcast on Performance Today. Lentz appears regularly as a soloist, clinician, and guest artist at major festivals, universities, and concert venues across the U.S. and abroad. In addition to maintaining a large private flute studio, she teaches a career-building course for artists at Nazareth University. Lentz is also the author of Modal Flute Warmup (Conway Publications). 

Oboe

 Performing artist and music educator Mark Sophia is 35 years old and is from Horseheads, NY. He has graduated from the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY in 2012 with a B.M. in music performance, and the Manhattan School of Music with an M.M. in music performance in 2014. Mark also studied Music Education at Columbia Teacher’s College where he earned an Ed.M. in Music Education. He has been a New York City freelancer for thirteen years and has played with a great variety of professional groups including the New York City Ballet, many Broadway shows, and The Orchestra of St. Luke’s. From September 2018 up until the pandemic shutdown, Mark has played Oboe and English horn in over 400 shows on the North American Broadway tour of Miss Saigon. Mark is currently performing full time on the North American Broadway tour of Les Miserables. 

Oboe

Kevin Gifford is a multi-faceted philanthropy professional and arts administrator with specialties in major gift fundraising, estate and planned giving, and board management. He currently serves as the Director of Development for Indiana University Auditorium, an historic 3,200-seat performing arts venue on the Indiana University flagship campus in Bloomington. There, he leads fundraising programs to support full seasons of national touring productions, community engagement initiatives, and capital and venue support. He has also held fund development roles with cultural institutions including Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, and Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. Kevin holds the credential of Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and a Certificate in Planned Giving Management. He received an M.S. in Arts Administration from Drexel University and a B.M. in Music Education with a Certificate in Performance (oboe) from the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam. In his free time, you can find him dog walking, painting, hiking, traveling, and training for the next marathon.

Clarinet

Elizabeth Hanlon has been Adjunct Professor of Clarinet at the State University of New York at Fredonia since 2011, and at Canisius College since 2013. She joined the faculty at Fredonia after serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and earning a Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance at Wichita State University. While studying at WSU, she held the Konrad Wolff & Isle Bing Chamber Music Fellowship. Professor Hanlon earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Clarinet Performance and an additional degree in Music Business from the State University of New York at Potsdam’s Crane School of Music, and graduated summa cum laude. An active musician in the region, She performs with the Buffalo Chamber Players, Erie Philharmonic, and the Western New York Chamber Orchestra. In addition to her work with established ensembles, she also produces unique, singular concerts in the area at venues such as Artpark in Lewiston, NY, and Pausa Art House in Buffalo. In these concerts, a central focus is to present works from contemporary composers. While studying at Wichita State University, she performed with the Wichita Symphony, and participated in two chamber groups that won first prize in the prestigious Wolff-Bing Chamber Music Competition in both 2009 and 2010. One of these groups, Trio Frenetique, also won first prize in the Friends Cello Day Competition in 2008. Additional chamber music competition appearances include advancement to the semi-finals at the NaIzger Young Artist Competition in 2009, and a performance at the 9th Street Philharmonic Orchestra Young Artist Competition in Wichita. Professor Hanlon works extensively as a woodwind and brass repair technician. She also enjoys hiking, cooking, spinning, and has participated in several half marathons. 

Clarinet

Sam Forrester graduated from the Crane School of Music in 2019 with dual bachelor degrees in Music Education and Clarinet Performance. He started his career as an educator in Afton NY, teaching band to grades 6-12 before moving to the Hudson Valley, where he now teaches band to grades 6-8 at Marlboro Middle School. Alongside his life as an educator, Sam continues to perform in musical pits, jazz bands, and his local community band, the Southern Dutchess Concert Band. When not teaching or performing, he likes to spend his time playing D&D and teaching tricks to his cats, Tiny and Tim. Sam’s primary clarinet instructor was Dr. Christine Hoerning. 

String Bass

Kieran J. Hanlon is Associate Professor of Double Bass and Jazz at The State University of New York at Fredonia. In addition to his teaching, Kieran is a first call performer in both the classical and jazz idioms, and enjoys a diverse performing career in both genres (among others). Kieran performs on both acoustic and electric basses. He completed a Master of Music Degree in Double Bass Performance at the Eastman School of Music with Professor of Double Bass James VanDemark. He also completed Eastman’s Orchestral Studies Program, in which he worked as a playing intern for two seasons with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Kieran’s undergraduate studies were completed at The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance where he studied classical repertoire with Professors Diana Gannett and Stephen Molina and jazz with Professor Robert Hurst. He holds a B.M. in Double Bass Performance and a B.F.A. in Jazz Studies, Bass from Michigan. He also won third place in the Orchestral Competition at the International Society of Bassists 2013 Convention in Rochester, NY. An active orchestral performer, he serves as Principal Bass of the Erie Philharmonic, Section Bassist in the Chautauqua Symphony, and works as a substitute double bassist with the Cleveland Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, and the Rochester Philharmonic. He has toured to Carnegie Hall with the Buffalo Philharmonic, and recorded Reinhold Gliere’s Symphony No. 3 “Il’ya Muromets” with the orchestra for the Naxos label. Outside of the music world, Kieran enjoys spending time with his wife Liz (clarinet faculty at Fredonia), daughter Eva, their greyhound Jay, working on his house and vehicles, biking, hiking, spending time near Lake Erie, and quality time in fellowship with good friends and colleagues.