AARON COCKSON, HORN

With over twenty years as a performer and teacher, hornist Aaron Cockson brings a wealth of knowledge and musical experience to Venti.

Aaron holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a Master’s degree in Horn Performance from Florida State University, where he was a student of Dr. William Capps.  He is currently a member of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own”, stationed in Arlington, Virginia, and has been there since 2001.

Although his musical interests run the gamut from archaic to pop, Aaron is most strongly invested in the development and performance of wind chamber music.  His foundational experiences at FSU and Wilfrid Laurier University have led him to participate in many hundreds of small ensemble performances and coachings since completing his formal education, and have fostered a lasting fascination with the origins and evolution of “harmoniemusik.”  Aaron is also a strong proponent of the bourgeoning British-style brass band movement here in the states, and is a staunch supporter of any type of community-based musical efforts that he encounters.

When he’s not being challenged musically, Aaron enjoys reading, travel, and breaking clays at several different trap/skeet/sporting clays ranges throughout the northeastern United States.

DONALD HOFFMAN, CLARINET

Donald Hoffman received his musical training as a clarinet student of Ronald Reuben, bass clarinetist with The Philadelphia Orchestra, and later, with Loren Kitt, principal clarinetist with the National Symphony.  He received degrees from the College of Performing Arts, and Temple University both in Philadelphia.  He furthered his studies at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary with the renowned soloist Kálmán Berkes, and additionally completed three years of orchestral training at The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. 

Mr. Hoffman is active as a clarinetist and pianist in the Washington D.C. area.  He frequently performs with a variety of ensembles, and accompanies many students as well as professional musicians throughout the year.  He has performed with the majority of the professional ensembles in the area, including the Kennedy Center Opera and Ballet Orchestra, and the National Symphony.  He has worked with many well-known conductors, such as Leonard Slatkin, Charles Dutoit, Yuri Temerkanov, Serge Baudo and Loren Maazel.  Currently, Mr. Hoffman is employed as a clarinetist with the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” Concert Band at Ft. Myer Virginia.

MEREDETH ROUSE, OBOE

Meredeth Rouse plays English horn with the United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" in Washington, DC and with the Fairfax Symphony in Northern Virginia. A former member of the Louisiana Philharmonic, the Princeton Symphony, the Binghamton Philharmonic, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, she has also performed as a guest with Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Opera Boston, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Ms. Rouse received a Bachelor's degree from the New England Conservatory, where she was a student of Alfred Genovese. Continuing her studies with Joseph Robinson, she completed a Master's degree in Orchestral Performance and a Professional Studies Certificate at the Manhattan School of Music. A former faculty member of Southeastern Louisiana University and the Manhattan School of Music, she currently serves on the faculty of George Mason University in Virginia.

BARBARA VIGIL, FLUTE

Barbara Vigil is the solo piccolo of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” and a member of The United States Army Band Woodwind Quintet. As a member of "Pershing's Own," she has performed at the White House, the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center. An active chamber and orchestral musician, she has performed with the National, Maryland, Fairfax, Arlington, and Prince William Symphonies and is a former member of the Roanoke Symphony. She and her husband/guitarist, Kevin, perform together as Duo Con Brio. She holds a Master of Music degree in flute performance from the University of New Mexico and received her Bachelor of Music degree, magna cum laude, from Southern Methodist University.

MAX WHARTON, BASSOON

Dr. Max Wharton holds the position of Associate Principal Bassoon and Bassoon Section Leader with The United States Army Band and Orchestra, Pershing’s Own, Fort Myer, Virginia. He has been a member of the US Army Band Woodwind Quintet since 2000. Originally from Grafton, Ohio, Max holds the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Bassoon Performance from Cornell College (Iowa), the Master of Arts, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Bassoon Performance and Pedagogy from The University of Iowa. Dr. Wharton has performed with the Fairfax Symphony, the Arlington Symphony, and the Cedar Rapids Symphony and serves on the faculty of George Mason University.