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Oboe Section
Dawn Hardy
Instrument: Oboe & English Horn
Member Since: 2012
Hometown: Lakeland, Florida
Hobbies/Interests: baking - especially trying new dessert recipes
Biography: Dawn Hardy is the band director at Bartow Middle School in Bartow, Florida. While at Bartow Middle School, Dawn has doubled the program and co-written curriculum for a county-wide Fine Arts high school credit program. She is also an adjunct instructor at Polk State College, teaches private lessons, and has performed with various artists, including Renée Fleming, Copland, Sandy Patty, Il Volo, Dennis DeYoung, and Roberta Flack. Dawn has been a member of the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra since 2003 and the Florida Wind Band since 2012. This season, she will join the Gainesville Orchestra as the second oboe and English horn. Dawn received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Florida Southern College and her Master in Music Performance from Florida State University. She is pursuing her Doctorate in Education at Florida Southern College. Dawn and her husband, Michael, are proud parents of their daughters, Lillian and Jacqueline.
Kelsie Carr
Instrument: Oboe
Member Since: 2018
Hometown: Tampa, Florida
Hobbies/Interests: reading, marvel comics, crafting, DIY projects
Biography: Kelsie Carr is the band director at Farnell Middle School in Tampa, FL, where she teaches concert, symphonic, and jazz ensembles. Kelsie graduated magna cum laude from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. She studied oboe and English horn with Dr. Eric Ohlsson and performed in Concert and Symphonic Bands. She was also the principal oboist and English hornist in the Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Dr. Alex Jimenez.