MEET THE MUSIC MASTERS
OF THE OREGON BRASS QUINTET
Mikio (Miki) Sasaki
Trumpet
Mikio (Miki) Sasaki is the Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the University of Oregon and a current member of the internationally celebrated Canadian Brass. Recognized as a “musical switch-hitter,” Sasaki is acclaimed for his ability to move fluidly between classical, jazz, contemporary, and crossover styles — a versatility that has defined his dynamic career. A seasoned performer, Sasaki has previously held positions with the Atlantic Brass Quintet and Saint Louis Brass and has appeared on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Wiener Konzerthaus, and Broadway’s Schubert Theatre. His international touring has taken him across North America, Europe, and South America, with performances in Brazil, Germany, Austria, Finland, Greece, Britain, and Canada. In addition to his work with Canadian Brass, Sasaki is a passionate educator. He has held teaching appointments at Texas Lutheran University and Brooklyn College and has presented masterclasses at institutions across the United States. He has also served on the faculty of leading programs such as Juilliard Pre-College, the Mostly Modern Festival, and the Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts.
Sasaki holds degrees from The Juilliard School, the Yale School of Music, and a doctorate from The University of Texas at Austin and has received numerous accolades for his playing, including a GRAMMY Award. His recording credits range from indie rock to orchestral and he actively continues to perform and record new works in our ever-evolving musical landscape. These experiences have led to featured performances at events including the International Trumpet Guild Conference and International Horn Society Conference. Offstage, Sasaki is an avid cook, chess player, and trivia enthusiast. He lives in Oregon with his wife, Lilla, and their dog, Maci — whose name fittingly means “teddy bear” in Hungarian.
Joe Klause
Trumpet
Joe Klause received his Bachelor’s Degree in Trumpet Performance from the New England Conservatory in Boston, after graduating from the Pre-College Program at the Juilliard School in New York. He went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Dalcroze Eurhythmics and an Artist Diploma in Chamber Music from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, completing his education with additional studies at le Conservatoire du Rueil-Malmaison in France. After music school, Joe took an unexpected detour and built a multi-state ice cream sandwich business with his family, Peace Pie. Eventually, he decided he had scooped enough ice cream for one lifetime and moved to Oregon to return to his first love, music. Joe is a member of the Portland Opera Orchestra, Rose City Brass Quintet and Trio. He performs regularly with the Oregon Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Eugene Symphony, Tacoma Symphony, Orchestra Next, Orpheus PDX, Oregon Bach Festival, and the Sunriver Music Festival, among other ensembles around the Pacific Northwest. Previously, he served as Second/Associate Principal Trumpet with the Hawai’i Symphony. Joe teaches each summer at the Wallowa Brass Camp, and is on the trumpet faculty at the University of Portland, Lewis and Clark College, Reed College, Linfield University and Clackamas Community College. Joe’s principal teachers include Tom Rolfs, Ben Wright, Steve Emery, Eric Aubier, Kevin Cobb, Brian McWhorter, Norman Bolter, David Seals, and Douglas Buys. In the Fall of 2025, Joe began a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Trumpet Performance at the University of Oregon working with Dr. Mikio Sasaki.
Margarite Waddell
French Horn
Margarite Waddell holds positions with the Eugene Symphony, Boise Philharmonic, Rogue Valley Symphony, and Newport Symphony. In addition, Margarite has played with ensembles such as the Utah Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Sarasota Opera and popular artists such as The Who, Josh Groban, and Sarah Brightman. Margarite cares deeply about music education and has taught private lessons, sectionals, and masterclasses throughout the Bay Area, Southwestern Oregon, Eugene, and Corvallis since 2013. She also performed in the San Francisco Symphony’s Adventures in Music program for the 2016-2017 season. Margarite received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon, and her master’s degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She currently serves as Pro Tempore Instructor of Horn at University of Oregon.
Henry Henniger
Trombone
Henry Henniger, joined the University of Oregon faculty as Assistant Professor of Trombone in the fall of 2010. Previously, he held faculty teaching positions at Oregon State University and Linfield College. Henry started his musical career at Indiana University, where he received his bachelor’s in trombone performance. His master’s was received at Manhattan School of Music were he was a member of the prestigious Orchestral Performance program. Upon graduating with his master’s, Henniger was also awarded the John Clark Award, given for excellence in brass performance.
Active as a soloist and orchestral musician, Henniger is principal trombone of the Eugene Symphony, Portland Opera, and the Oregon Ballet Theatre. He also performs frequently with the Sunriver Music Festival, Oregon Bach Festival, Oregon Symphony, Spokane Symphony, and the Seattle Symphony. Henniger has been a featured soloist with several orchestras and wind ensembles throughout the region including Central Oregon Symphony, Linfield College Wind Ensemble, Oregon State Wind Ensemble, University of Portland, University of Oregon Wind Ensemble, Corvallis Youth Symphony, and the Vancouver Symphony (WA). As a chamber musician, Henniger performed with Axiom Brass, Imperial Brass, and currently with the University of Oregon Brass Quintet and the Oregonian trombone quartet. While playing with Imperial Brass, Henniger recorded under Summit Records and was featured as a soloist on their Bone-A-Fide Brass album with guest soloist Joseph Alessi, principal trombone of the New York Philharmonic. Henniger has also recorded under Sun King Productions, Emeritis Records and Orange Mountain Music labels. Equally active as a music educator, Henniger has given recitals and master classes throughout the nation. Most recently, Henry has performed at Indiana University, Appalachian State University, Colorado State University, University of Wyoming, University of Colorado, Louisiana State University, Alabama University, Southern Mississippi University, Drake University, University of Missouri, Willamette University, and Oregon State University. Internationally, Henniger has also performed in Guanzhau, China for the Xinghai Conservatory and for the Macau Band Directors Association in Macau China. In addition, Henry worked with students in Rome, Italy at the American Oversee School of Rome. Henniger has also held faculty positions at the Young Musicians and Artists Seminar (OR), the Wallowa Lake Brass Camp (OR), and, most recently, with the Alessi Seminar 2015. Through the years, Henniger has been fortunate to study with some of the most legendary brass virtuosi, including Scott Hartman, Carl Lenthe, David Finlayson, Per Brevig, Peter Ellefson, and Joseph Alessi.
Michael Grose
Tuba
Michael Grose was appointed to the University of Oregon faculty in 2001. Prior to coming to Oregon, Grose was principal tubist of the Savannah Symphony Orchestra from 1986 to 2001, and the Hilton Head Orchestra from 1990 to 2001. He is currently the principal tubist of the Eugene Symphony. Grose received his Bachelor and Master of music degrees in Tuba Performance from Northwestern University, where he was a student of Arnold Jacobs. Before assuming his position in Savannah, Grose was a tubist with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and principal tubist with the Illinois Philharmonic. He has performed with the Chicago, Baltimore, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Oregon, Honolulu, Charleston, Spokane, Oregon Bach Festival, and Jacksonville symphony orchestras, as well as the Boise Philharmonic, and Oregon Ballet Theatre Orchestra. In 1996, as a member of the Brevard Music Center Festival Orchestra, Grose performed at the Games of the XXVI Olympiad in Atlanta, as part of its series of cultural presentations. In 2004, Professor Grose launched TubaPeople.com, making it one of the first collegiate tuba-euphonium studio websites. The YouTube channel – TubaPeopleTV – has garnered international attention and praise for highlighting the pedagogy and professional stature of the legendary Chicago Symphony Orchestra tubist, Arnold Jacobs. Additionally, Mr. Grose has collaborated with former Buenos Aires Philharmonic hornist, Christian Morabito, to launch and curate the website ArnoldJacobsenEspanol.com. Along with Luis Loubriel, he co-authored/edited a book about Mr. Jacobs, titled Arnold Jacobs: His Artistic and Pedagogical Legacies in the 21st Century, published by Scholar Publications. And in cooperation with William Timmons, Grose developed the “JakePed app”, sharing Mr. Jacobs’s pedagogical ideas vis a vis brief quotes – also known as “Jake-isms”. The app is available free for iPhone and Android device users, available in English, Italian, and Spanish. Grose has also published two articles in the International Tuba-Euphonium Association (ITEA) Journal. Professor Grose has given master classes and lectures rooted in the pedagogy of Mr. Jacobs at several ITEA ITEC conferences, as well as the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, International Horn Society Symposium, Italian Brass Week, American Band College, University of Michigan, University of Tennessee, Arizona State University, UCLA among many others, as well as in South America and China. He has performed at the International Women’s Brass Conference highlighting the music of Barbara York. An accomplished chamber musician, Grose received the Sweepstakes Award at the 1985 Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition, making him the first tubist to receive that prize. Grose was also a prize-winner at the Coleman Chamber Music Competition in Pasadena, California, also in 1985. Both awards came while he was a member of the Chicago-based Asbury Brass Quintet. Spring of 2025, Grose was invited to serve as producer at a recording session of the Canadian Brass. A founding member of the Millar Brass Ensemble, Grose has recorded with the Chicago Symphony for London/Decca, and the Millar Brass Ensemble on the Crystal Records label. Mr. Grose has worked with such notable conductors as Sir George Solti, James Levine, Mistislav Rostropovich, Zdeněk Mácal, Giancarlo Guerrero, Marin Alsop, Carlos Kalmar, James DePriest, Jorge Mester, JoAnn Faletta, James Paul, and John Williams.
MEET THE MUSIC MASTERS
OF 27TH STREET BRASS QUINTET
Barry Crenshaw retired after 22 years of service in the United States Navy Music program. He graduated from Willamette University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Music in Tuba Performance. Since moving to Central Oregon in 2012, he has performed actively with the Central Oregon Symphony, the Cascade Winds Symphonic Band, and the 27th St. Brass Quintet.
Ken Steiger studied trumpet with James Stamp at Cal State Long Beach. He taught high school band, orchestra, and jazz in Central Oregon for 21 years. Ken has played trumpet in the Central Oregon Symphony, Cascade Winds, and the COCC Jazz band for over 40 years.
Dan Flagg holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in trombone performance from California State University (Northridge and Sacramento) and the California Institute of the Arts, where he studied with virtuoso Miles Andersen. He has enjoyed a professional career spanning over 50 years, including recordings and performances with symphony orchestras, show bands, rock bands, jazz groups, and Dixieland bands. Dan is proud to serve as the principal trombonist of the Central Oregon Symphony.
Jordan Kling grew up outside of Ashland, OR and began playing the horn when she was nine years old. She attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN where she majored in French and English, and spent the majority of her time playing with the orchestra, band and small ensembles. A gal divided between her love for the outdoors and music, she fills her free time out on the trails or playing with local groups."
Jeffery O. Briggs is the Principal Trumpet of the Central Oregon Symphony, a position he has held since 1989. A dedicated chamber musician, he has also been a member of the 27th Street Brass Quintet since 2015. Mr. Briggs holds degrees in Trumpet Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (BM) and Northwestern University (MM). His artistic approach is rooted in the instruction of legendary pedagogues Vincent Cichowicz and Arnold Jacobs, as well as Joe Walthall and Larry Black.