About Us
Areas of Study
Department of Music Woodwind Faculty
George Adams, Bassoon
Moving to Texas for graduate study at Sam Houston State University he majored in Conducting. Upon graduation he was hired to teach at Sam Houston State. In 1981 he began doctoral study in Opera Conducting and Bassoon Performance at the University of Texas, studying bassoon with Dan Welcher and conducting with Drs. Walter Ducloux and Fiora Contino, and received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 1983. In 1986 he joined the faculty at Texas A&M University and was named Associate Conductor of the Brazos Valley Symphony. After post-graduate study with Gustav Meier, he and his family moved to Natchitoches, Louisiana, where he was Associate Professor of Music and Director of Orchestral Studies at Northwestern State University.
In 1999, Dr. Adams was named Music Director and Conductor of the Idaho Falls Symphony, a position he still holds. He joined the faculty of Ricks College/Brigham Young University-Idaho in 2000, teaching bassoon.
Patricia George, Flute
Patricia George is the flute professor at Brigham Young University - Idaho and at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival at The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee. She maintains a large private studio in Pocatello, Idaho and travels extensively teaching her nationally known FLUTE SPA masterclass. As a performer, Mrs. George has toured the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Russia. She is currently principal flute with the Sewanee Festival Orchestra, the Idaho State Civic Symphony and is a member of Trio Terra Nova (flute, bassoon and piano). Her performances have been heard on National Public Radio affiliates in Utah and Idaho.
As a masterclass teacher and performer, she has taught at SUNY: Fredonia; Quincy College; Northeast Missouri State University, Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University, University of Nevada: Reno; College of Southern Idaho; MENC- All Northwest Conference; Idaho Music Educator's Conference; National Flute Association Convention (Dallas-2001, Nashville-2004); International Double Reed Convention (Tempe, AZ; Madison, WI; Banff, Canada); Sun Valley Music Festival; Rochester Flute Association; San Diego Flute Guild; Greater Portland Flute Society; Texas Flute Society; Texas Women's University; University of Idaho; Western International Band Clinic; Ball State University, Sherwood Conservatory (Chicago, IL) and for school music programs in California, Illinois, Idaho, Missouri, New York, South Carolina, Texas and Washington.
Patricia George has served on the faculties of the Eastman School of Music, the American Band College (University of Southern Oregon) and Idaho State University where in 1995 she was awarded the Faculty Achievement Award for outstanding teaching and service. Mrs. George is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and was awarded the Perfromer's Certificate in Flute. She also studied with Julius Baker and William Kincaid. She is a Consulting Editor for FLUTE TALK Magazine and is a clinician for Conn-Selmer, Inc - Armstrong Flutes. Mrs. George is also a Powell Artist. She is Secretary-elect of the National Flute Association and has served on the Long Range Planning Committee. Patricia George is married to American composer Thom Ritter George and is the mother of three musical children.
Bill Holman, Clarinet
Dr. Bill Holman joined the music faculty at BYU-Idaho in August, 2001. He currently teaches applied clarinet and is Director of Bands. He performs with the Orchestra at Temple Square as co-principal clarinetist. Dr. Holman has taught at BYU in Provo and as an adjunct professor at Jacksonville University, The University of North Florida, and Florida Community College in Jacksonville, Florida. While in Jacksonville he taught seventeen years at Fletcher Middle School and remained active as a performer with the Jacksonville Symphony and the First Coast Wind Ensemble.
After graduating from the University of Iowa (DMA, MFA), Dr. Holman was the principal clarinetist with the National Symphony of Colombia and the professor of clarinet at the National Conservatory. He is also a former member of the United States Army Band (“Pershing’s Own”) in Washington D.C.. Bill graduated from the Catholic University of America (MM) where his principle teachers were Harold Wright and Robert Genovese of the National Symphony. His undergraduate degree (BME) is from Florida State University. Dr. Holman is a Rico International GCS Artist and a Selmer Clinician.
Diane Soelberg, Oboe
Diane Soelberg is the Director of Bands, and conductor of Symphony Band at Brigham Young University-Idaho. Other teaching assignments include applied oboe instruction, instrumental conducting, and chamber ensemble coaching. Miss Soelberg received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Utah, a Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy from Utah State University, and a Master of Music Education from Brigham Young University. Prior to her appointment at BYU-Idaho, she taught high school band and orchestra for 14 years in the Weber County and Alpine School Districts in Utah. Her bands and orchestras consistently received superior ratings in both state and national festivals. Miss Soelberg served on the board of the Utah Music Educators Association as Band Vice-President, and as the Utah All-State Band Chair. She was a staff member of the Utah Ambassadors of Music from 1997 through 2005. She is the former conductor of the American Fork Symphony, and is currently active as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator.
Mark Watkins, Saxophone
Dr. Mark Watkins received his baccalaureate from Brigham Young University and his masters and doctorate in five woodwind instruments from Indiana University's School of Music. He has studied saxophone with C. Raymond Smith, Eugene Rousseau, Daniel Deffayet, and Yushi Ishiwata and jazz with Ray Smith, Dominic Spera, and David Baker. Dr. Watkins has produced two CD recordings including the 1999 release Don't Step On Your Neck with the Hard-Bop Saxophone Quartet (Sea Breeze Jazz, Jazz Times 5/00, p.194) and the 2002 project My Favorite Things with Swingset (Rock House Records). His most recent concert tour (July, 2001) with Swingset, included performances throughout Italy. He is active as a composer publishing with Walrus Music and writing commissions for concert band, jazz ensemble, solo, and chamber ensembles. His research into saxophone tone production has lead to regional, national, and international presentations, including the 2000 World Saxophone Congress in Montreal, and a three-article series published in The Saxophone Symposium.
Dr. Watkins previously taught at North Dakota State University as Director of Woodwind Studies and is currently Director of Jazz Studies at Brigham Young University-Idaho.
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