Personnel

Tyler Austin

Dr. Tyler Austin serves as Director of Bands in the Diehn School of Music at Old Dominion University. He conducts the ODU Wind Ensemble, teaches wind literature and the undergraduate conducting sequence, leads a graduate conducting studio, and administers all aspects of the university’s concert and athletic band programs. Dr. Austin maintains an active international guest conducting and lecturing schedule. A lover of community music, Dr. Austin is Music Director & Conductor of the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble. This group is largely composed of music educators, military musicians, and freelance musicians based in the Hampton Roads region. CBWE’s performances include both standards of wind literature and new voices writing for winds. Dr. Austin holds a D.M.A. in Wind Conducting at Michigan State University, an M.M. in Bassoon Performance from the University of North Texas, and a B.M. in Music Education from Susquehanna University.

Christine Hood

Laura Jackson Loo *

Chris Simmons *

Former submarine warfare officer turned bassoonist. Currently working on a BM in bassoon performance and working as an IB Mathematics teacher at The Hague School in Norfolk.

Sue Wills

I am proud to say I am one of the founding members of CBWE. Creating music has always been an important part of my life, although it has primarily been in an amateur context. I have a business educational background with a minor in music. The e-flat clarinet piqued my interest in 2000, and I have been fortunate to play many interesting parts with it. Since retiring from my paying job, music keeps me active and enriched.

Adrien Gaines

Education: Bachelor’s in Music Clarinet Performance with Music Education emphasis from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music & Master of Music Business and Technology certification from Berklee College of Music Performance Experience: Mr. Gaines is a decorated military musician of the United States Army Bands. SGT Gaines performed, led and conducted marching bands, concert bands, jazz ensembles, woodwind quintets, throughout the Asian-Pacific. He has performed as principal clarinetist of Beijing International Chamber Orchestra and Shanghai International Choral League, and Beijing Brass and Japan Jazz Band, as well as performing in art centers, concert halls, schools, and worldly embassies. Teaching Experience: In his educational roles he has taught music, drama, and English in Tokyo, Japan. In China, Mr. Gaines has educated International Schools in Beijing and Shanghai. Since 2001 he has continually taught as clarinet & woodwind specialist instructor of rudimentary to advanced students.

Jalen Kotchka

I am a student at Catholic High School in Virginia Beach, where I am a member of the varsity football, wrestling, and track teams, as well as the President of the band (Where I double Clarinet and Bass Clarinet) and V.P. of the Tri-M Music Honors Society. In addition to my athletic and musical involvement at school, I have played with the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble for the last four years.

Rhonda Taylor ^

Rhonda is a gifted instruction specialist, currently in her 28th year of teaching with Gloucester County Public Schools. She earned a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the College of William & Mary and minored in music at James Madison University. She coaches robotics, coding clubs, and advocates for her students, particularly those who are twice-exceptional. Rhonda has been a member of CBWE for 15 years, and began serving on the Board in 2023. She and her husband live in Gloucester

Richard Purvis

Retired band director after serving 30 years at York high school in Yorktown Virginia. Richard serves as an adjudicator, clinician, and consultant throughout the eastern United States

Yi Tang

I am a classical clarinetist and band conductor who began playing clarinet as a college student at Tsinghua University. I later became the student director of the Tsinghua University Symphonic Band, leading the ensemble to First Prize in the Wind Ensemble category at the 4th Beijing College Student Art Exhibition. I continued playing while pursuing my PhD at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, where I served as principal clarinet in the UMN University Band and Campus Orchestra for non-music majors. I also studied band conducting for three semesters and guest conducted the University Band in 2021. Outside of music, I am a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Business Analytics at Old Dominion University. I am excited to continue making music with the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble and to share the joy of music-making with fellow musicians and the community.

Buddy Creasy

Christian Van Deven *^

A musician and educator based out of Norfolk, Christian has been involved in clinicing, adjudicating, performing, and educating across the commonwealth for the past decade. He has been a member of the ensemble since 2017 and has served as a Board Member since 2018, as well as being involved with the Advocates for a Live Performance Venue Group in Williamsburg since 2023. Christian regularly performs with Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble, the Virginia Wind Symphony, Hampton Roads Philharmonic, Symphonicity, the Tidewater Winds, and is a co-founder of the woodwind quintet, Reed Between the Lines. He also serves as the interim Music Director & Conductor of Symphonic Artistry, as well maintaining a lesson studio and playing chamber music with friends. He is a member of the International Trumpet Guild, International Horn Society, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Isaac Guinn

Isaac is a senior at Lafayette high school, and plans to pursue trumpet performance as his major in college. He has made the All VA band and All VA Jazz multiple times, founded a youth jazz band, and plays in a variety of local ensembles. Isaac joined CBWE in spring of 2025 and plans to perform with them until he leaves for college.

Bonnie Baffer ^

Bonnie is a graduate of Virginia Tech and a registered architect in VA, who works at the Coast Guard Training Center in Yorktown. She enjoys playing the horn with the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble and the York River Symphony Orchestra. In addition to serving as the CBWE Treasurer, she is also a member of the American Institute of Architects and Virginia Master Naturalists.

Jordan DiCaprio ^

Jordan has been a member of the Chesapeake Bay Wind Ensemble in the Horn section since 2022 and a Board Member since 2023. Professionally, he leads American Real Estate Media, a leading real estate marketing service covering all of Virginia and North Carolina. Jordan also plays horn with the Virginia Wind Symphony and regularly performs with Old Dominion University's Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble.

Duane Stachler

Oscar Erickson

Todd Brubaker *

Todd is a former Marine musician who performs on tuba, contrabass trombone, and bass trombone with several groups around the northern VA area, including the Virginia Wind Symphony, Hampton Roads Philharmonic, BoneFire, and Stan's Big Band.

Alex Jones