Joseph Michael Tomasso is an experienced woodwind specialist. Starting woodwind instruction at an early age with Roger Birkeland, Professor of Saxophone at Elmhurst College, Joseph spent his high school years performing in the Roosevelt University Chicago College of Performing Arts Lab Jazz Band under the direction of Rob Parton (flute / saxophone). Simultaneously, Joseph participated in the Youth Symphony of DuPage under the direction of Meng-Kong Tham (oboe / saxophone). Early awards include placing First Chair in the 2001 / 2002 Honors Band for the Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) Festival (baritone / alto saxophone), as well as being named featured saxophone soloist for the IMEA Honors Orchestra Performance of Pictures at an Exhibition (alto saxophone).

Joseph holds his Undergraduate Bachelor of Music Performance degree in Saxophone / Clarinet from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2006). Primary saxophone instructors included Professor Debra Richtmeyer and interim Professor Dr. Nathan Naab. His primary clarinet instructors included Dr. Sarah E. Burk, Katrina R. Phillips, and Dr. J. David Harris. Primary Flute instructors included Jill Burlingame and Dr. Jennifer Gartley. While at UIUC Joseph participated in the University Wind Symphony (saxophone), Symphonic Band (clarinet), Philharmonia Orchestra (saxophone), Repertoire Orchestra (clarinet), New Music Ensemble (saxophone), Graduate Saxophone Quartet (Tenor saxophone) and Black Ice Undergraduate Quartet (Soprano Saxophone).

Awards include being the recipient of the W. Clyde Young Musicians Scholarship (2002-2006), Band Division Scholarship (2002-06), Woodwind Division Scholarship (2005), and two-time State Finalist for the Illinois, MTNA Chamber Music Competition. Joseph holds his Graduate Master of Music Performance Degree in Multiple Woodwind Performance (Oboe Emphasis) from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (2008). Primary Instructors included M. Ashley Barret (oboe), Dr. Steven Stusek (saxophone), Dr. Susan Fancher (saxophone), Dr. Michael Burns (Bassoon), Dr. Deborah Egkevist (flute, chamber music) and Dr. Sean Copeland (clarinet). While at UNCG Joseph participated in the University Wind Ensemble (solo Eb clarinet), University Orchestra (clarinet, oboe, English horn), Symphonic Band (oboe, English horn), Graduate Saxophone Quartet (tenor saxophone), and the Honors Woodwind Quintet (oboe). Joseph was also afforded the opportunity to act as a substitute member of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra (2008) on both oboe and English horn, as well as to win a substitute spot with the Louisville Symphony Orchestra (saxophone / clarinet).

Since his graduation Joseph has remained an active freelance performer and instructor in the North-Central Florida area where he maintains a large studio of oboe, saxophone, clarinet, flute and bassoon students. Current projects include chamber ensemble “Flight of the Woodchords” with pianist Amy Blackwood and woodwind duo “Ether” with Clarinetist Garrett L. Matlock. To see current performance and other events please check out the calendar section!

About Joseph

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Contact Joseph

Joseph M. Tomasso
Great Southern Music
(www.greatsouthernmusic.net)
OAKS MALL PLAZA
6787 West Newberry Road.
Gainesville, FL 32605
352.226.6682
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Practice Routines for the Doublers

March 17 2009

I am changing up my practice routine a little right now to focus on some up and coming auditions.

Yes I will be burning the midnight oil!  (probably for the best)  No distraction for the next few months and most likely the entire summer [definitely not rejoining world of warcraft].  I am going to really try to reel in some performing jobs here as well as recruit students.  If i can swing a lower level orchestra or field band that would be remarkable!  I am holding off on cruise ships for the time being… next summer though I will most likely go for one.
Oboe reeds 1 hour per day minimum.  If i wrap a reed everyday I should find myself in wonderful shape after a month.  I may have to cut back sales of my handmade reeds a bit but if I can find more time I may be able to keep up.  I am hoping to get ahead so that come the summer any audition i find wont involve hours of reed making in preparation, just refinement.
Oboe 2 hours per day minimum (although I’m really shooting for 3).  I need to push my technique up a level.  Doing majors/minors and 3rds is simply just not enough anymore.  i am going to embark on 4ths/5ths/6ths, advanced arpeggios, and color scales.  Hopefully this will bring my technical level up.
Clarinet 1 hour per day minimum (I really should do 2 but I have to be realistic).  I have spent many years of my life playing hours and hours of clarinet and while I wish I could continue to do that I simply know that I can afford to relax on clarinet more than the others.  My recording of the copland concerto demonstrates more ability than most will expect from me so my clarinet goals right now are just to hold steady rather than improve drastically.  Of course any extra time will go into clarinet.  It breaks my heart to have to ’slow down.’
Saxophone 1 hour per day minimum (i really need to do 2).  Saxophone went on the back burner in 2007 and i am attempting to bring it back up.  In my undergrad I would hit saxophone 4 hours a day and clarinet 2… in my masters the hours were basically reversed.  Now that I am hitting oboe so hard and holding steady on clarinet I think I can bring saxophone back up to where I feel comfortable performing serious literature again.
Flute/Bassoon 30 minutes per day alternating.  What a shame but I don’t think I can do more than this.  It is easy to get in 30 minutes of flute as I love playing the instrument and I’m fortunate to own such a nice one!  I have a lot of repertoire on my stand so there is no shortage of works to prepare…bassoon is another story.  I don’t like my bassoon and frankly It has been over a year since i’ve really even played more than once a week so this is going to be hard to keep going.  simple scales and galliard will be enough.
Basically I just want to stay in shape and push ahead on oboe and if I can saxophone.  Come fall I should be in perfect shape to take auditions for performance certificates/dma should I have a change of heart though I do expect to have at least one more year off.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 17th, 2009 at 3:02 pm.