Illinois University, studying for a Master's of Music Performance for bassoon and contrabassoon. Playing various local Symphony Orchestras, including playing both bassoon and contrabassoon for the Illinois Symphony Orchestra.
Duquesne University’s Mary Pappert School of Music four-year Bachelor of Music in Performance, Bassoon and Contrabassoon, completed with high honors. While attending Duquesne, I auditioned for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra when they were replacing Mr. Fast and only made 2 minor errors. Auditioned for the London Symphony Orchestra, but they did not hire a bassoonist. Played in many Symphony Orchestras around the Tri-State Area, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Altoona Symphony Orchestra, Butler Symphony Orchestra, etc. While at Duquesne, I mastered the Pipe Organ and played in various local Cathedrals.
As a high school student in the gifted program, I participated in and won various scientific, historical, mathematics, and other educational competitions. I graduated with high honors and various awards, all while traveling and maintaining College Prep, and soon AP Classes.
I have a deep appreciation for music.
- My principal instrument is the bassoon, which I have been playing seven years.
- My secondary instrument is the contrabassoon, which I have been playing six years.
- Private bassoon lessons from Dr. Jason Worzbyt at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and play first bassoon in the Westmoreland Youth Symphony Orchestra Philharmonic, Regional Honors Band, High School Concert bands and other honors bands.
- Private bassoon and contrabassoon lessons from Jim Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
- Specialty lessons from Eric Arbiter to refine my skills.
- Piano and music theory lessons for more than 11 years, taking lessons from Joshua Ben.
- Trumpet lessons for 7 years from Dr. Kevin Eisensmith also at IUP and additional trumpet lessons from Dr. Chad Winkler at Duquesne University. I play trumpet in Marching and Jazz Bands and breakout sessions at the International Trumpet Guild.
- I have taken Guitar lessons for several years, and like most musicians I have played the bag pipes, drums, violin, and marimbas for fun.
Member of the International Double Reed Society and the International Trumpet Guild.
Yough High School: Concert Band Bassoon, Trumpet/Fluegelhorn: Marching Band, Jazz I & II Bands, Rifle Team, Bowling Team, and the Competitive Robotics Team. Competitive YHEC shooting.
Music Highlights include:
- Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 - Bassoon and Contrabassoon
- Westmoreland Youth Symphony Orchestra Philharmonic: 2018/19 & 2020/21 - 1st Chair Bassoon
- Accepted into Boston University’s 2021 Tanglewood Institute Summer Clinic
- PMEA All-State 2019, 2020, and 2021 - Bassoon and/or Contrabassoon as required
- Regional Honors Band 2019, 2020, & 2021 - Bassoon
- WCMEA: 2019, 2020, and 2021 - Bassoon
- Fay-West Honors Band: 2018, 2019, & 2021
- Junior High WCMEA: Grades 6th - 9th: 2015, 2016, 2017, & 2018 - Trumpet
- Junior High PMEA: 17, 18 - Trumpet
- Indiana University Bloomington 2019 - Summer bassoon and performance intensive
- IUP Invitational: 2015 through 2020 - Trumpet
- Duquesne University Brass Intensive & Music Technology Workshops
- Seton Hill University Jazz Ensemble: 2018 - Trumpet
- Gifted Program Pittsburgh Strings Competition - 1st-place, no errors, Galliwogg’s Cakewalk - Piano
- Played with the Del Soles, a Classic Rock Band, guitar memorized about two dozen songs.
- Word of Life Church Band - Trumpet
- Pianist for a wedding
Participated in School Science Fairs and Pittsburgh Carnegie Science Fairs.
- Carnegie Science Award, Senior Division Student award by Carnegie Mellon University for Bassoon Reed Analytics - Increasing Playing Power without Distortion.
- 2021 Pittsburgh Science Fair, winning 1st Place Award Senior Division in Physics Division with investigative work performed at Carnegie Mellon Sound Lab. Science Fair Project: “Bassoon Double Reed Analytics”; getting more power output without distortion.
- Wrote a scientific paper on the audio spectrum responses comparing two different double reed designs.
- Music vs. S.T.E.A.M. Used a spectrum analyzer to verify (1) Lissajous Patterns, (2) Engineered Noise Cancellations, (3) Math Equation Validations for Frequency, Tension, Mass, & Length; (4) Research Success of Music Curing Cancer, (5) Frequencies of Musical Notes & Harmonics.
- Compared effectiveness of AC Waves vs. DC to improve brain functions impaired by stroke.
- With an extensive amount of research, laboratory testing, and mathematics I proved that coal is a fossil fuel, but oil and gas are not, they are both Abiotic fuels synthesized by the earth.
- Member of the National Junior Honor Society.
- Engineered and led groups in the West Virginia University’s 11-story pumpkin drop competition.
Goals: To play in world-class symphonies and eventually teach music at a college/university level.
Work Experience: Vineyard laborer, Winery Laborer, and I also played in-prompt with the band Intrinsic Jazz on my Flugelhorn. Clerk for Vinoski, Inc. filing paperwork for the corporate controller and accountants. Board Member of The Vinoski Foundation.
Co-inventor with my Dad: The Vinoski Reed Winding machine sold on my website and other bassoon and contrabassoon shops. www.vinoskireedwinder.com and other places like nexus woodwinds and mmimports.com.