TONIGHT’S PERFORMERS
Garrett Hudson, flute
Garrett Hudson is a founding member of WindSync. The Canadian flutist’s roots lie in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he made his solo debut with the Winnipeg Symphony at the age of 16. During his training, Garrett performed with the National Academy Orchestra of Canada and l’Orchestre de la Francophonie in Montreal. He earned degrees from the University of British Columbia, studying under Scottish flutist Lorna McGhee, and Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where he studied with renowned flute pedagogue Leone Buyse. A sensitive communicator both on stage and off, Garrett has coached woodwind students at the Eastman School of Music, Northwestern University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Texas. He lives in Houston, Texas, where he maintains a teaching studio at the beginner through professional levels. Garrett is often found behind the wheel of the minivan while WindSync is on tour and is a coffee and wine enthusiast.
Emily Tsai, oboe
A lifelong musician, Emily Tsai began her musical studies at age four on the violin and added the oboe at age ten. Based in Washington, DC, she performs with a broad range of groups including the National Philharmonic, Amadeus Orchestra, and Maryland Lyric Opera. She is principal oboist of the Garden State Philharmonic and Adjunct Professor of Oboe at St. Mary’s College (MD). Emily has been an artist in residence at the Alba Music Festival in Alba, Italy and a teaching artist at the PRIZM Festival in Memphis, Tennessee, which connects and promotes musicians of diverse backgrounds. Emily holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and University of Maryland, and her primary teachers include Mark Hill, Richard Killmer, and Malcolm Smith. She also earned a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Rochester. Emily loves spoiling her cats, watching video games, and spending time outdoors.
Elias Rodriguez, clarinet
Elias Rodriguez joined WindSync in 2021 after completing a 3-year residency at La Fondation des États-Unis in Paris, France, where he performed as a clarinet soloist for the U.S. Embassy France, served as a guest artist with Ensemble Calliopée, and studied with Patrick Messina and Jean-Marc Volta of the Orchestre National de France. A native of Dallas, Texas, Elias worked locally as a public school band director before embarking on his performing career. His training includes a degree in music education from Baylor University and graduate-level study in clarinet performance at the University of Michigan, Bard College, and École Normale de Musique de Paris. Stateside, Elias has appeared as a soloist with The Orchestra Now and on NPR’s classical music radio show From the Top. An animal lover, Elias once worked at the Dallas Zoo and maintains an Instagram account for his family’s chihuahuas.
Kara LaMoure, bassoon
Originally from Dallas, Texas, Kara LaMoure is a founding member of the Breaking Winds Bassoon Quartet, a comedic crossover group known for its web presence and connection with young musicians that has appeared at Beijing International Bassoon Festival, at the International Double Reed Society conference, and with community bands across the United States. Kara performed previously with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and she can be heard on the original soundtrack to The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. A dedicated teaching artist, she has coached youth orchestras in Switzerland, Honduras, Mexico, and Brazil. Kara holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with John Hunt, and Northwestern University, where she studied with Christopher Millard. Between performances, Kara works on creative projects, recently focusing on drawing and digital photography and always adding to her prolific portfolio of arrangements for chamber winds.
Anni Hochhalter, horn
Born in California and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Anni became interested in chamber music and innovation in the arts after touring with ensembles across North America, Europe and Asia. Anni is principal horn of the McCall Music Festival in McCall, Idaho, and she performs on vocals, electronics, and horn with the band Late Aster. She studied horn at the University of Southern California with leading studio and orchestral musicians Rick Todd, James Thatcher, and Kristy Morrell, with additional summer training at Chautauqua Music Festival and Texas Music Festival. Anni is a former winner of the Yen Liang Young Artist Competition, performing Richard Strauss’ Horn Concerto No. 1 with the Diablo Symphony. She is a graduate of Stanford University’s Executive Program in Social Entrepreneurship, and she is currently executive director and musician chair of WindSync. Based in San Francisco, California, Anni enjoys trail running and backpacking in her spare time.
Andrew Staupe, piano
Pianist Andrew Staupe has appeared as a soloist with many of the top orchestras throughout the United States and in Europe, including the Baltimore Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Houston Symphony, and the Minnesota Orchestra. As a chamber musician, Andrew has jammed with legendary vocalist Bobby McFerrin, played Tangos with the Assad Brothers, and collaborated with numerous other distinguished instrumentalists and singers. He has performed solo recitals at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and Rachmaninov Hall in Moscow, and other notable performances include concerts at Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall in New York City, the Kennedy Center, and the Library of Congress. Deeply committed to teaching, Andrew is an Assistant Professor of Piano at the University of Houston. A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, he is Artistic Director of the Young Artist World Piano Festival in Minnesota. Outside the practice room, Andrew nurtures eclectic interests including dinosaurs, ancient Rome, and B movies.
Garrett Hudson, flute
Garrett Hudson is a founding member of WindSync. The Canadian flutist’s roots lie in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he made his solo debut with the Winnipeg Symphony at the age of 16. During his training, Garrett performed with the National Academy Orchestra of Canada and l’Orchestre de la Francophonie in Montreal. He earned degrees from the University of British Columbia, studying under Scottish flutist Lorna McGhee, and Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where he studied with renowned flute pedagogue Leone Buyse. A sensitive communicator both on stage and off, Garrett has coached woodwind students at the Eastman School of Music, Northwestern University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Texas. He lives in Houston, Texas, where he maintains a teaching studio at the beginner through professional levels. Garrett is often found behind the wheel of the minivan while WindSync is on tour and is a coffee and wine enthusiast.
Emily Tsai, oboe
A lifelong musician, Emily Tsai began her musical studies at age four on the violin and added the oboe at age ten. Based in Washington, DC, she performs with a broad range of groups including the National Philharmonic, Amadeus Orchestra, and Maryland Lyric Opera. She is principal oboist of the Garden State Philharmonic and Adjunct Professor of Oboe at St. Mary’s College (MD). Emily has been an artist in residence at the Alba Music Festival in Alba, Italy and a teaching artist at the PRIZM Festival in Memphis, Tennessee, which connects and promotes musicians of diverse backgrounds. Emily holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and University of Maryland, and her primary teachers include Mark Hill, Richard Killmer, and Malcolm Smith. She also earned a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Rochester. Emily loves spoiling her cats, watching video games, and spending time outdoors.
Elias Rodriguez, clarinet
Elias Rodriguez joined WindSync in 2021 after completing a 3-year residency at La Fondation des États-Unis in Paris, France, where he performed as a clarinet soloist for the U.S. Embassy France, served as a guest artist with Ensemble Calliopée, and studied with Patrick Messina and Jean-Marc Volta of the Orchestre National de France. A native of Dallas, Texas, Elias worked locally as a public school band director before embarking on his performing career. His training includes a degree in music education from Baylor University and graduate-level study in clarinet performance at the University of Michigan, Bard College, and École Normale de Musique de Paris. Stateside, Elias has appeared as a soloist with The Orchestra Now and on NPR’s classical music radio show From the Top. An animal lover, Elias once worked at the Dallas Zoo and maintains an Instagram account for his family’s chihuahuas.
Kara LaMoure, bassoon
Originally from Dallas, Texas, Kara LaMoure is a founding member of the Breaking Winds Bassoon Quartet, a comedic crossover group known for its web presence and connection with young musicians that has appeared at Beijing International Bassoon Festival, at the International Double Reed Society conference, and with community bands across the United States. Kara performed previously with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and she can be heard on the original soundtrack to The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. A dedicated teaching artist, she has coached youth orchestras in Switzerland, Honduras, Mexico, and Brazil. Kara holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with John Hunt, and Northwestern University, where she studied with Christopher Millard. Between performances, Kara works on creative projects, recently focusing on drawing and digital photography and always adding to her prolific portfolio of arrangements for chamber winds.
Anni Hochhalter, horn
Born in California and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Anni became interested in chamber music and innovation in the arts after touring with ensembles across North America, Europe and Asia. Anni is principal horn of the McCall Music Festival in McCall, Idaho, and she performs on vocals, electronics, and horn with the band Late Aster. She studied horn at the University of Southern California with leading studio and orchestral musicians Rick Todd, James Thatcher, and Kristy Morrell, with additional summer training at Chautauqua Music Festival and Texas Music Festival. Anni is a former winner of the Yen Liang Young Artist Competition, performing Richard Strauss’ Horn Concerto No. 1 with the Diablo Symphony. She is a graduate of Stanford University’s Executive Program in Social Entrepreneurship, and she is currently executive director and musician chair of WindSync. Based in San Francisco, California, Anni enjoys trail running and backpacking in her spare time.
Andrew Staupe, piano
Pianist Andrew Staupe has appeared as a soloist with many of the top orchestras throughout the United States and in Europe, including the Baltimore Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Houston Symphony, and the Minnesota Orchestra. As a chamber musician, Andrew has jammed with legendary vocalist Bobby McFerrin, played Tangos with the Assad Brothers, and collaborated with numerous other distinguished instrumentalists and singers. He has performed solo recitals at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and Rachmaninov Hall in Moscow, and other notable performances include concerts at Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall in New York City, the Kennedy Center, and the Library of Congress. Deeply committed to teaching, Andrew is an Assistant Professor of Piano at the University of Houston. A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, he is Artistic Director of the Young Artist World Piano Festival in Minnesota. Outside the practice room, Andrew nurtures eclectic interests including dinosaurs, ancient Rome, and B movies.