Grossmont Symphony Woodwind Quintet

The Grossmont Symphony Woodwind Quintet is the resident woodwind quintet of the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra at Grossmont College. Its mission is to serve San Diego 's East County community through performances of chamber music, in addition to performing at venues throughout Greater San Diego. As principal members of the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra's woodwind section, they also assist the music director of the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra in coaching members of its woodwind sections, in addition to mentoring their inside stand partners in rehearsals/performances. Its varied performing repertoire includes chamber music suitable for serious chamber music concerts, to educational performances, to lighter music for social events.

Kay Van Tassell, Flute
Kay Van Tassell, flute, began playing the flute at the age of nine.  She attended Westmont College in Santa Barbara, where she was a soloist with the Westmont College Symphony Orchestra. She also attended San Diego State University, where she was principal with the Wind Ensemble.  She has also performed with the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra, the San Diego Lyric Opera, and in numerous churches throughout the San Diego area.  Kay has been principal flutist with the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra since 1987.  She has appeared as concerto soloist several times performing Telemann’s Concerto for Flute and Recorder in E minor, Honegger’s Concerto da Camera, Poulenc’s Babar the Elephant, Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp K. 299, Telemann’s Fantasia for Unaccompanied Flute No. 8 in E minor and Kennan's Night Soliloquy.  She resides in La Mesa with her husband, Ken, and their fourteen-year-old daughter, Melody.

Mike Gaby, Oboe
Mike Gaby, oboe, is a native-born San Diegan.  He began studying oboe at the age of 15, and attended San Diego State University (SDSU) where he studied under Peggy Michael, whom he credits as his most influential teacher and mentor.  Michael has performed with the SDSU and USD Symphony Orchestras, the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, the San Diego Opera Ensemble, the Tijuana Opera, the Pro-Musica Ensemble of Ensenada, and various chamber music groups around Southern California and Mexico.  He has held the position of principal oboe of the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra for over 10 years and has been featured as soloist several times, most recently in the American premiere of Michael McGlynn’s Silver River.  In addition to the oboe, Michael also plays all four baroque recorders (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass), and has performed throughout San Diego on these instruments.

Bob Barnhart, Clarinet
Bob Barnhart, clarinet, studied with Daniel Magnusson, Mel Warner and Kalman Bloch. In 1968, Bob won the San Diego Musical Merit Competition, and the San Diego Symphony Young Artists Competition, appearing as soloist with the San Diego Symphony in the Mozart Clarinet Concerto. Also in that year, he won the La Jolla Civic Orchestra Young Artists Competition, appearing as soloist with the LJCO performing the Debussy Premiere Rhapsody for Clarinet and Orchestra. From 1975-1984, Bob performed with the San Diego Symphony, primarily as its Eb Clarinetist. During its 1984 season, he was the principal clarinet of the San Diego Symphony "Pops" orchestra. During this time, he also performed with the San Diego Opera and San Diego Ballet orchestras.  Bob has been the principal clarinetist with the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Grossmont Symphony Wind Quintet since 1998. Bob has appeared as a soloist with the GSO in 2001, performing the "Spring" movement of Lawrence Ashmore's Four Seasons for Clarinet and Orchestra, in 2005, performing the Mozart Clarinet Concerto and again in 2006, performing the Copland Clarinet Concerto. This season he will be appearing a soloist with Rebecca Basilio in Schubert's Der Hirt auf dem Felsen (The Shepherd on the Rock). Bob is also actively involved in chamber music as a member of the San Diego Chamber Music Society.

Arnold Barron, Bassoon
Arnold Barron, bassoon, is a native of Southern California growing up in the Los Angeles area. His musical career began at the age of 9 where he started playing the clarinet in his elementary school orchestra. In Junior High at age 13, he was asked if he would like to try learning to play the bassoon. Arnold continued with the bassoon through high school and college. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree at California Polytechnic University, Pomona and currently works in the area of marketing for a local biotechnology company in North San Diego County. Throughout college and after, Arnold has had the opportunity play bassoon with many musical organizations including the orchestras of Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State San Bernardino, the Los Angeles Korean Philharmonic Orchestra, the Downey Civic Light Opera, the Ontario Civic Light Opera, and the Palomar Symphony Orchestra. Arnold has been the GSO’s principal bassoonist since 2007.

Buddy Gibbs, French Horn
Buddy Gibbs, French horn, is a native of Houston Texas and arrived in San Diego in 1972 as a member of the U.S. Navy Band. After being honorably discharged, he attended San Diego State University and also pursued a free-lance career playing Horn in such groups as The San Diego Symphony, The San Diego Ballet and Opera, and numerous Broadway shows as well as some recording work. He is currently principle Horn of the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Horn section of The La Jolla Symphony