NU Adds Orchestra and Wind Ensemble
NU’s music department is currently seeking musicians who play woodwind, brass, string, or percussion instruments! Why? Because the University is building on its current instrumental program with both a wind ensemble and an orchestra. 2018-19 is going to be a great year for music.
You don’t have to be a music major to participate in these ensembles. If you played your instrument in high school and miss the experience of playing with others, we wholeheartedly invite you to join. Along with two concerts this year, there will be many performance opportunities for instrumental musicians. So dust off your cases and come play!
Questions about the wind ensemble and orchestra can be directed to Naomi Fanshier (naomi.fanshier@northwestu.edu). Professor Fanshier is new to NU this year and is excited to oversee these ensembles.
Meet Professor Fanshier
Professor Fanshier began her formal music studies at the age of 7. Growing up, she learned piano, clarinet, saxophone, and bass guitar. Beginning in middle school, she began playing in solo competitions and joined the Tacoma Youth Symphony Association and her church’s praise band.
Fanshier went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in music performance from Pacific Lutheran University. After her undergraduate studies, she worked as a police dispatcher, played with the Washington Wind Symphony, and later opened her own private music lesson studio.
While teaching private lessons, Professor Fanshier became active with local music programs, volunteering in the Tahoma, Kent, and Auburn school districts. She also joined the staff of the Maple Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra, where she is the current conductor. Fanshier holds permanent positions with the Olympia Symphony Orchestra and the BachFest Orchestra. Her students encouraged her to look into teaching college-level music, so she began her graduate studies and will earn her master’s degree in orchestral conducting this July.
A note from Professor Fanshier:
“I am thrilled to join the NU team—This is my dream job! I have lots of wonderful plans for both the wind ensemble and the orchestra, but they won’t happen without musicians. If you are an instrumentalist, I would love to meet you and talk about the ensembles. We are going to have a blast this year!”
Naomi Fanshier comes to NU with experience in teaching and performing music, conducting, and supervising a thriving instrumental ensemble program.