Sarah “Mickie” McCorkle
Sarah “Mickie” McCorkle (she/her) is a recent graduate of the University of New Hampshire in 2021. She has been playing clarinet with Valley Winds since the fall of 2021, and has enjoyed every minute spent with the band. She has recently started a new position working at Dartmouth College working for the Hopkins Center and […]
John T. Hart Jr.
Dr. John T. Hart Jr. serves as Assistant Professor of Music at Keene State College, directing the Concert Band and co-coordinating the Music Education program. He also coordinates the Music Department’s woodwind, brass, and percussion areas. Dr. Hart has performed with and conducted many of the Northeast’s top ensembles, including the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the […]
Patricia Cahn
Patricia Cahn is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Smith College, and has maintained an active musical life alongside her academic career. In addition to playing with the Valley Winds, she is currently principal bass of the Pioneer Valley Symphony and a member of the Smith College Orchestra. She received a […]
Rachel Hertz
Rachel Hertz (they/them) is a freelance clarinetist, private instructor, and arts administrator based in western Massachusetts. They are currently pursuing a degree in Music Education and Clarinet Performance from UMass Amherst. They have been awarded the Theodore Presser Award and Susan Campbell Scholarship. Rachel has been a participant at the ARIA Academy, Minnesota Clarinet Festival, […]
Meghan MacFadden
Meghan MacFadden is a musician and educator based in Amherst, Massachusetts. Currently, she is the Director of the Wind Ensemble at Smith College, Assistant Conductor of the Metropolitan Wind Symphony in Boston, and Collaborative Pianist for Eric Berlin’s trumpet studio at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. She plays flute and piccolo with the Metropolitan […]
Julia Maloof
Julia Maloof is a Pioneer Valley native who grew up in Belchertown, Massachusetts. She graduated in 2019 with a degree in saxophone performance and music education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and has been teaching music to kindergarten through fifth grade students in Springfield, Massachusetts for the past three years. She currently plays in […]
Steve Ehrler
Steve Ehrler is currently serving as the President of The Valley Winds. Although not a musician himself, Steve very much enjoys working with wonderful musicians and other volunteers to support The Valley Winds. Steve served in the United States Navy as a submarine officer on a fast-attack nuclear submarine. He then spent almost 25 years […]
Peg Conniff
Peg is the Secretary of the Valley Winds Exec. Board
Brian Messier
Dr. Brian Messier is founder and Artistic Director of the 2016 American Prize winning Valley Winds based in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts. In addition to his role with The Valley Winds, Messier is Director of Bands at Dartmouth College, where he conducts the Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Pep Band, and Youth Wind Ensemble. He […]
Catalina Arrubla
Catalina Arrubla is the founder and Executive Director of Multi-Arts and a well-established member of the musical and artistic community in the Pioneer Valley. Catalina formerly served as the Director of the Publications Department of the Ministry of Culture in Colombia, her home country. In addition to directing Multi-Arts, Catalina performs in ensembles across New England […]