The Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Quintet Bios
Debora Harris - Flute
Jennifer Peterson - Oboe
Leigh Wakefield - Clarinet
Karin Wakefield - Horn
Russell Peterson - Bassoon
Debora Harris
is associate professor of flute at Concordia College, where she also
directs the flute choir and coaches chamber music. In addition, she has
been principal flute of the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony and F-M Opera
Orchestra for the past 17 years. She is also a member of the F-M
Symphony Wind Quintet and the Harris-Coates Duo (with guitarist Mike
Coates). The Duo has performed extensively throughout the country
and has released three CDs on the Barking Dog record label.
Harris has been an invited performer at the National Flute Association
conventions in Phoenix, Dallas and San Diego, the College Music Society
conference in Denver, and the Upper Midwest Flute Association Flute Day
in Minneapolis. She has served as principal flute in the
Berkshire (MA) Opera Orchestra and the Breckenridge (CO) Music
Institute. Harris earned a B.M.Ed. from Bradley University, an M.M. in
flute performance from Florida State University and is currently ABD at
Florida State where she is completing her treatise on the life,
teaching career and compositions of her former teacher Charles
DeLaney. In 1994 the Fargo YWCA named her Woman of the Year in
the Arts.
Jennifer Peterson
attended Bowling Green State University (Ohio), and Minnesota State
University, Moorhead (Minnesota) where she was a student of Dr. John
Bently and Dr. Ruth Dahlke. Other teachers include: Kathy Greenbank
(Principal obeo, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra), Basil Reeve (Principal
Oboe, Minnesota Orchestra), Valerie Anderson, James Mitchell, and
Kimberly Bryden (Toledo Symphony), Stiener Hannovold (Bergan
Philharmonic).
She has had Masterclasses with:
The Bergan Woodwind Quintet 1996-98, Mark Surup (Minnesota Orchestra),
Reed making masterclass 2005, Kathy Greenbank (Saint Paul Chamber
Orchestra) masterclass 2002, Robert Sorton (Ohio State
University/Sorton double reed co.) 2000, Valerie Anderson (Jeanne
double reeds). She attended the John Mack oboe camp, 1994-97. Studied
with John Mack as well as attended daily masterclasses, and reed making
classes.
Jennifer has been the instructor of Oboe and at Concordia College,
Moorhead, MN since 1998. She holds weekly oboe reed making classes and
performs regularly with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony wind quintet, as
well as the Concordia College Faculty wind quintet. She is the
Assistante principal oboe of the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, as well as
the personel manager for the group. She has also performed with the
Joffrey Ballet company, the Bismarck Symphony Orchestra, Grand Forks
Symphony Orchestra, the Bowling Green Philharmonic Orchestra, the Lima
Symphony Orchestra, the Concordia Symphony Orchestra, the MSUM
Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Northern Winds Quintet. She has
performed solo recitals at: Bowling Green State University 1994-96,
Moorhead State University 1996-1998, Concorida College 1998-2005. She
stays active performing and teaching a full studio of jr. high and high
school students from around the region. Jennifer lives in Fargo, ND
with her husband Russell and daughter Stella.
Leigh Wakefield, originally from Minneapolis, received his undergraduate degrees in
political science and music from the University of Minnesota. He has since earned a
master's degree in clarinet from the New England Conservatory of music and has
completed his D.M.A. at the University of Minnesota. While living in New England,
he performed as principal clarinetist in the New Bedford Symphony and the Nashua
Symphony, as well as being an active chamber musician in the Boston area.
Dr. Wakefield is the professor of clarinet and woodwind methods course at Concordia
College. He also conducts the Concordia Cobber Concert Band. Currently he is
principal clarinetist with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and the Fargo-Moorhead
Opera Company, and performs in a variety of chamber ensembles in the community, as
well as serving as clinician, guest conductor and adjudicator.
Karin Wakefield, originally form Minneapolis, received a degree in Music Education
from the University of Minnesota with an emphasis on horn and piano. For several
years, she taught instrumental music in a Boston suburb, in addition to being a
freelance musician in the Boston area. Currently, she is principal horn with the Fargo-Moorhead
Symphony Orchestra.
An accomplished classical/jazz saxophonist, bassoonist and composer, Russell Peterson holds degrees from Youngstown State University (Ohio),
Le Conservatoire de Bordeaux (France), and Bowling Green State
University (Ohio), where he studied with Dr. James Umble, Donald Byo,
Jean-Marie Londeix, Dr. Jeffery Lyman and Dr. John Sampen. Winner of
numerous prizes, including the top prize at the International Geneva
Saxophone Concours, (Switzerland), and first place winner of the MTNA
National Music Competition, Mr. Peterson has soloed with orchestras in
the United States as well as Europe, including the Dana Chamber
Orchestra, (USA), Concordia Orchestra, (USA), Bowling Green
Philharmonic, (USA), L'Orchestra de la Suisse Romande, (Switzerland),
Collegium Musicum, Basel (Switzerland), The Fargo-Moorhead Symphony
Orchestra, The Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra (USA), The Orchestra
Conservatorio Superior De M¬úsica (Spain), The Western New York Chamber
Orchestra (USA), and The St. Petersburg Philharmonic, (Russia).
Mr. Peterson is an active chamber musician, performing extensively throughout Europe and The
United States with The Transcontinental Saxophone Quartet, and is currently also performing
with the Hard-Bop Jazz Saxophone Quartet in Fargo-Moorhead. The Hard-Bop Quartet's first CD
release "DON'T STEP ON YOUR NECK", is available on Sea-Breeze records and the TSQ's debut CD
"MOUNTAIN ROADS" is available on Albany Records. Russell's first solo CD "AMERICAN BREATH"
is now available on Barking Dog Records and features the music of Maslanka, Bell and Peterson.
As an Orchestral player, Russell has served as bassoonist with several symphony orchestras, and
is currently principal bassoonist with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, as well as bassoonist with t
he Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Wind Quintet.
As a composer, Russell has premiered his "Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra" with
Joel Revzen and the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra in 2000, as well as his "Concerto
for Alto Saxophone and Percussion Orchestra" at Concordia College with the Tri-College Percussion
Ensemble, which GRAMOPHONE Magazine, (Feb., 2003) noted: 'Peterson's own 16-minute Concerto,
featuring Spanish rhythms and a lovely second-movement duet with vibraphone, is an effective
vehicle for his striking command of color and dynamics. The highly-charged sound is riveting...'
He has been commissioned by the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony to compose a
"Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra" which was premiered to rave
reviews in April of 2002, including GRAMOPHONE Magazine, (May 2003),
'Peterson playing with great abandon and dazzling virtuosity, the music
has a seductive allure and visceral excitement that is more than the
sum of its purely musical parts.' A CD of The music of Russell Peterson
featuring the Saxophone and Timpani Concerto is now available from the
Fargo-Moorhead Symphony. The Fergus Falls High School Band premiered hi
band work "The Tornado of 1919" in 2001, and his new chamber works for
sax were premiered in 2003: "Sonata for Alto sax and piano" and
"Quintet for Alto sax and strings". He will premiere his new "Sonata
for alto saxophone and Marimbas" with the Concorida Marimba Choir on
April 1 at the Concordia Day of Percussion. Russell was most recently
commissioned by the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony to compose a season
openener for the 2005-06 season. "Between 2 Cultures" was premiered on the opening concert in Sept. 2005.
Mr. Peterson has served on the faculty at Youngstown State University (Ohio), The University of
Toledo (Ohio), Minnesota State University Moorhead, The Interlochen Summer Arts Camp (Michigan),
The International Music Camp, and is currently instructor of Saxophone, Bassoon ,and Jazz studies
at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.