The Ensemble
Silverwood Clarinet Choir was founded in 2006 and performs throughout the Central New York area. The professional clarinet ensemble plays music that is both entertaining and challenging. Public educational discussions are sometimes held at libraries and other locations correlated with the concerts. Nine members are music educators in Onondaga, Madison and Oswego counties, New York. The group is a clarinet choir consisting of an Eb Soprano Clarinet, Bb Soprano Clarinets, Alto Clarinet, Bass Clarinets and a Bb Contrabass Clarinet. Being a professional group, all members rotate section parts. The Eb, Alto, Bass and Contrabass clarinetists all perform on soprano clarinet also.
John Friedrichs, Conductor
Since 1984, John Friedrichs has held the position of Bass Clarinet and Assistant First Chair Clarinet with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. Originally from Southern California, he performed with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and did occasional studio recordings. Friedrichs attended the Eastman School of Music earning a degree in Music Performance as well as a Performer’s Certificate. In 1994, Friedrichs performed the Copland Clarinet Concerto with the SSO. In addition to Friedrichs’s current duties with the SSO, he also performs with the Society for New Music, the Glimmerglass Opera Orchestra as well as with the Buffalo and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestras having performed twice with this orchestra at the Bravo Music Festival in Vail CO.
Holly Bossert
Holly Bossert graduated from Ithaca College and the University of Michigan with degrees in music education, music performance and an emphasis on conducting. Mrs. Bossert has been teaching band for the past 30 years in the North Syracuse School District, which is also the district in which she grew up. Actively performing on clarinet and sax in the Central New York area, she also enjoys opportunities to judge and conduct at local school music festivals.
Melanie Bulawa
Melanie Bulawa is the Eb clarinet (the baby) player in Silverwood. She currently teaches 6th grade band and woodwind instrumental lessons in the Fayetteville-Manlius School District. Ms. Bulawa has worked in the Fayetteville-Manlius School District since 2003, and during the same time, she also taught instrumental lessons in the West Genesee School District and worked with both the Jordan Elbridge Marching Band and the West Genesee Marching Band. Outside of public school, she regularly teaches privately and plays in the Central Winds Music Educators Wind Ensemble. Ms. Bulawa is a graduate of Ithaca College with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education & Music Performance. She received her Master’s degree in Music Education from Syracuse University.
Justin Ezzo
Justin Ezzo is the percussionist in the Silverwood Choir. Justin completed both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. Among other groups, he has performed with the Orchestra of Northern New York, Central Winds, Northern Symphonic Winds, and regularly performs in pit ensembles for local musicals. Justin instructs the Central Square Marching Band front ensemble as well as their Winter Percussion Ensemble. Currently, he is an elementary and middle school band director in the Baldwinsville Central School District.
Kathleen Freer
Kathleen Freer is a founding member of the clarinet choir. She has played clarinet since the age of 7. She received a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Illinois and a Masters in Performance from Northwestern University where she studied with Jerry Stowell and Walter Wollage of the Chicago Symphony. She completed additional work in music education at Syracuse University and received a CAS in administration from SUNY Oswego. Previous to moving to NY, she taught at North Park College and the College of Mt. St. Joseph. In NY, Mrs. Freer taught music for OCM BOCES and had administrative duties as team leader. Mrs. Freer uses music to motivate, challenge, and develop creative skills for students with special needs.. She is currently enjoying playing with the choir as well as the Central Winds, the Five Tones Quintet and the Phoenix Community Band.
Kenneth Freer
Kenneth Freer is a businessman who owns a security company in Syracuse and has always enjoyed playing clarinet. He studied with Jerry Stowell (clarinetist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra). His performing career includes playing in the University of Illinois Bands and Marching Illini during college, the North Shore Concert Band in Chicago for ten years and playing professionally for the summer concert series in the parks in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Freer enjoys plays with the clarinet choir and the Phoenix Community Band.
Terryann Gerber
Terryann Gerber teaches 6/7 General Music and 6th Grade chorus in the Baldwinsville Central School District and 9-12 vocal and instrumental music at Bishop Ludden High School 2 years before that. She teaches private clarinet lessons and adjudicates NYSSMA Solo Festivals, conducting all county choruses, summer music programs and is a church cantor. Ms Gerber has a Masters of Music Performance from Syracuse University,and a Bachelor of Music Education (Crane School of Music/SUNY Potsdam). She is also a member of the Central Winds.
Therese Matteson
Therese Matteson received her Bachelor’s degree in Music from Ithaca College in 2003 where she studied clarinet with Dr. Richard Faria. Her musical interests include 20th century technique and late 19th and 20th century music history. She helped to build the Karel Husa Archives at Ithaca under the supervision of Dr. Mark Radice. She was also one of the first undergraduates to give a lecture recital at Ithaca College. Therese plays Bb, Eb, and Contrabass Clarinet with the ensemble. Therese’s second love is animals. She is currently studying to become a veterinary technician through San Juan College and works as a veterinary assistant in Syracuse.
Wally Merriam
Wally Merriam is an ophthalmologist in Syracuse who began playing clarinet in fourth grade. In high school, he studied with Louis Bartolone, who was the first clarinet player in the West Point Military Band. After college and medical school he did not play clarinet but took piano lessons. He resumed playing clarinet about 10 years ago and is currently a member of the Central Winds Music Educators Wind Ensemble and the Silverwood Clarinet Choir and the Phoenix Community Band.
Linda Spinella
Linda Spinella is a Crane School graduate with a Master's degree from Syracuse University. She has been teaching instrumental music for 30 years and playing professionally equally as long. Ms. Spinella is currently teaching at Onondaga Central School. Ms. Spinella also plays with the Central Winds Music Educators Wind Ensemble and the Phoenix Community Band.
Terri Tallman
Terri Tallman is a graduate of Fredonia State and has a Masters degree in music from Long Island University. She taught on Long Island, as well as in the West Genesee School District and Fayetteville-Manlius School District. Ms.Tallman plays in the Central Winds Music Educators Wind Ensemble. Ms Tallman also plays oboe in the Onondaga Symphony Orchestra and the Five Tones Quintet.