ICA Clarinet Enthusiast Committee Bios 2023

Michelle Anderson

Michelle Anderson is a professional clarinetist in Vancouver BC who play regularly with the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, Lionsgate Sinfonia, the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble and West Coast Chamber Music. She is a clarinet instructor at the University of British Columbia School of Music. She enjoys coaching student groups and regularly leads clarinet workshops in local schools and with local youth orchestras. Michelle is the founder of Clarinet Mentors (www.clarinetmastery.com), an online-based educational company that helps thousands of clarinetists worldwide to play the clarinet more easily. She is the co-author, along with Deborah Andrus of the upcoming publication from Hal Leonard, DIY Clarinet. Her YouTube channel has several  educational videos to help student clarinetists worldwide (www.Youtube.com/clarinetmentors). She is a Clarinet Artist for Backun Musical Services, Légère Reeds and Silverstein Works.

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Deborah Andrus

Equal parts entrepreneur, educator and clarinetist, Deborah Andrus believes that what is required to face a musical challenge is a solid plan and a supportive mentor. She is founder of Clarinet Guide LLC, a resource used by students of all levels and abilities to set clear goals and to creatively solve their clarinet challenges. Lauded for her “inspirational teaching”, Dr. Andrus is the clarinet professor at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. As a clarinetist, she is a member of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, the SATORI Chamber Ensemble and the DeMarina Trio. In addition to her performing and teaching, Deborah has authored three books:  The Chalumeau Register. (2020) and Teaching Woodwinds (2014/2021).  Her third book, DIY Clarinet, co-written with Michelle Anderson is due to be released in 2023 by Hal Leonard. She proudly represents Buffet-Crampon as an Artist-Clinician, and is the co-chair of the Clarinet Enthusiasts Committee for the ICA.

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Lori Sutherland

Lori Sutherland is a self-employed composer and clarinetist, formerly spending 19 years working in public libraries. She earned a BMus in Theory and Composition from Ohio State University and an MLIS from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has composed and arranged pieces for solo instruments and a variety of ensembles, including concert band, clarinet choir, and chamber groups. She also performs regularly in local music ensembles, leads the Knock on Wood Clarinet Choir, teaches private lessons, and hosts the Tonal Diversions Music podcast.

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Carol Boysen

Carol Boysen began clarinet in the fourth grade, playing seriously through high school and into college, when she pursued other interests and careers. Originally from Chicago, she has been living in Morristown, NJ for the past 30 years, where she raised her three children and ultimately returned to clarinet to help her daughter learn to play.

As a member of the Clarinet Enthusiast committee, Carol seeks to further knowledge and excitement about the clarinet, particularly amongst adult enthusiasts. She is a firm believer of lifelong learning, and, while retired, maintains a private studio and plays in community productions, bands and an intergenerational orchestra.

When not playing or performing locally, Carol can be found in the garden, tap dancing or traveling the country with her husband in their camper van – with her clarinet, of course!

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Barbara Heilmair

Dr. Barbara Heilmair engages communities as a clarinet professor, performer, and teaching artist. She serves as Professor of Clarinet & Music History at Portland State University as well as Associate Dean for the College of the Arts. 

She enjoys a versatile international career as orchestral musician, recitalist, educator, and publishing scholar. Her specialization is Austrian composer Franz Cibulka’s musical heritage and featuring underrepresented composers.

In 2017, Barbara co-founded the “Zephyr Clarinet Choir” in Portland, Oregon. The ensemble regularly participates in community events and has participated in the 2019 “Chamber Music Northwest Clarinet Celebration” and the 2022 ClarinetFest. Some of the group’s recordings have been featured in the show “Played in Oregon” on All Classical Portland (89.9 FM).

A native of Germany, she holds degrees in Clarinet Performance and in Instrumental Pedagogy from the University of Music and Performing Arts “Mozarteum” in Salzburg, along with M.M. and D.M.A. degrees from UCLA.

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Alan Woy

Dr. Alan Woy is Professor Emeritus from the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, where he taught from 1971-2008, Alan taught studio clarinet, woodwind techniques, conducting, and was a chamber music coach and band director for many years.  He was a member of the Potsdam Woodwind Quintet, and principal clarinet with the Orchestra of Northern New York.  He has conducted the Eastman-Rochester New Horizons Clarinet Choir since 2008, and teaches clarinet at the Eastman Community Music School In Rochester NY.  Alan currently performs with the Onyx Clarinet Quartet.

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Sabrina Tempesta

Sabrina Tempesta is a general Internal Medicine Physician practicing in the US in New Jersey.  Like many clarinet enthusiasts she started her clarinet studies in childhood but life took her in different directions.  After not picking up a clarinet for many years she rediscovered the joy of the clarinet.  At first it was intimidating but local community music groups have always been a welcoming home to all enthusiasts.  Now she plays in several local community ensembles to fuel her passion to bring live music to audiences. 

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Thomas Masilla

Thomas “Tom” Masilla is has a Bachelors Degree in Accounting and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Loyola University of the South. He served in the U.S. Navy as a Supply Corps Officer. Upon completing his military service. Tom worked for KPMG for several years where he was a senior auditor, and he is also a Certified Public Accountant. Following his public accounting experience, he held senior executive management positions in large NYSE publicly traded corporations, including that of chief financial officer and chief operating officer.  Upon retiring from corporate life a few years ago, Tom has devoted more time to his lovely wife Kathy to whom he has been happily married for 50 years. Tom and Kathy have a kennel of Pekingese show dogs and a Maluccan cockcatoo named Peaches. Tom’s passion in life has always been playing the clarinet. He currently performs with the New Orleans Civic Symphony which is home based at the University of New Orleans as well as being a regular musician for sacred services in the New Orleans area. Tom has studied clarinet with a number of teachers, including Ron deKant, George Harris, Allen Kolski, Stephanie Thompson and more recently with Denise Gainey.