Sebastian Chaves - Sherman Walt Bassoon Merit 
Award - 2008 A native of Costa Rica, Sebastian Chaves is Principal Bassoon of the Orchestra of Indian Hill, Acting Principal of the New Bedford Symphony and bassoon faculty at Youth and Muse Boston Summer Music Camp. He holds a BM and BME from Louisiana State University and a MM from New England Conservatory, where he is currently pursuing a Gaduate Diploma. Sebastian has received fellowships from such music festivals as the Verbier Festival Orchestra (Switzerland), Aspen Music Festival (CO), Stuttgart Ensemble (Germany), among others. He freelances throughout New England with the Boston Philharmonic, Boston Opera, Boston Ballet, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and the Portland Symphony. His principal teachers include Richard Ranti, Richard Svoboda, William Ludwig, John Hunt, Peter Schoenbach, and Per Hannevold. Sebastian is also a certified microelectronics technician and has been an anthropology major at the University of Costa Rica.
Micahla Cohen - Sherman Walt Bassoon Merit Award - 2007 Originally from Minneapolis, MN Micahla now attends the New England Conservatory of Music, studying with Mr. Richard Svoboda. She participates in NEC's Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Music Department and Opera Department. She has also played with NEC's Philharmonic Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra, as well as for composers in the Boston area. Micahla is the recipient of multiple scholarships including the Village Scholars Scholarship, Groth Music Scholarship and NEC's Most-Improved-Musician Scholarship. She has participated in the Sarasota Music Festival in Florida as well as the Manchester Music Festival in Vermont. Micahla is passionate about music, enjoys performing and aspires to play professionally.
Sarah Cryan Gardner - Sherman Walt Bassoon Merit Award -
2006 Originally from the Philadelphia area, Sarah did her undergraduate work in bassoon with Matthew Ruggiero at Boston University's College of Fine Arts and earned her Bachelor of Music degree in May of 2006, graduating summa cum laude. An active orchestral performer, Sarah has also appeared as soloist in Mozart's Concerto for Bassoon, K. 191. Through a rigorous selection process, Sarah was chosen to participate in the Kent Blossom Music Festival at Kent State University in the summer of 2006, where she studied and performed chamber music with members of the Cleveland Orchestra. Boston University welcomed Sarah back in the fall of 2006 so that she could start working on her Master's degree while studying with the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Richard Ranti. In May 2008, Sarah appeared as soloist with the Boston Pops, playing Mozart's Concerto for Bassoon, K. 191.