Stamps Woodwind Quintet Class of 2015

Major: Instrumental Performance

Instrument: Flute

Stamps Ensemble Name: Stamps Woodwind Quintet Class of 2015

Rebecca Taylor, flute, majored in Instrumental Performance at the University of Miami Frost School of Music where she was a Stamps Distinguished Ensemble Scholar and a member of the Stamps Woodwind Quintet, Class of 2015, coached by faculty mentor Robert Weiner. She studied privately with Trudy Kane, who was principal flute for 32 years with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

Taylor performed in the Frost Symphonic Winds, where she has also appeared as a soloist, and the Frost Flute Ensemble and other chamber groups at the Frost School of Music. While a student at Frost, she participated in a steady stream of master classes with flutists Jim Walker, Mary Karen Clardy and more, and received coaching from Joshua Smith, principal flutist of The Cleveland Orchestra.

As a member of the Stamps Woodwind Quintet, she performed at Festival Miami in 2011, sharing the program and establishing a relationship with internationally acclaimed quintet Imani Winds. In summer 2012 the Stamps Woodwind Quintet attended the Imani Festival for an extensive period of coaching and performing in New York City. The quintet has performed at numerous South Florida venues, including Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, the Deering Estate as part of the SoBay Festival of the Arts, ArtSouth in Homestead, and for students in the Miami-Dade Public Schools.They also performed at the Frost School’s annual Winter Wonderful holiday gala.

Becky graduated from Brighton High School in Rochester, New York. She studied with Jan Angus at the Eastman Community Music School (ECMS) since fifth grade. Becky participated in honors ensembles including Area All-State Band, All-County Orchestra, and the NYS Band Directors’ Association Honors Band. She was a member of the Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra, Krusenjtjerna Flute Choir at ECMS, the Brighton Jazz Band, and the Brighton Wind Ensemble.

Becky aspires to be a Broadway pit orchestra woodwind doubler, and performed in the Brighton High School student pit orchestra for two years.

Major: Music Engineering Technology

Instrument: Oboe

Stamps Ensemble Name: Stamps Woodwind Quintet Class of 2015

David Taylor, oboe, majored in Music Engineering Technology at the University of Miami Frost School of Music where he was a Stamps Distinguished Ensemble Scholar and a member of the Stamps Woodwind Quintet, Class of 2015, coached by faculty mentor Robert Weiner. He also studied privately with Robert Weiner. He graduated in 2015 from the University of Miami Frost School of Music.  David Taylor performed in the Frost Symphony Orchestra and Frost Wind Ensemble and other chamber groups at the Frost School of Music.

In its debut year, the Stamps Woodwind Quintet performed at numerous venues in South Florida, including Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, the Deering Estate as part of the SoBay Festival of the Arts, ArtSouth in Homestead, and for students in the Miami-Dade Public Schools. They also performed at Festival Miami in 2011, sharing the program with internationally acclaimed quintet Imani Winds. In summer 2012 the Stamps Woodwind Quintet attended the Imani Festival for an extensive period of coaching and performing in New York City. They have also performed for many University of Miami events including the Frost School’s annual Winter Wonderful holiday dinner gala.

The National Band Association named David Taylor an Outstanding Musician. Originally from Miramar, Florida, his solo work with the Florida Bandmasters Association Solo & Ensemble was rated “superior” three times at both the country and state level. David Taylor was a member of the Florida Youth Orchestra for five years, in which time he traveled to play as part of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown. The following year, Florida Youth Orchestra chose him to perform a solo in their yearly Spotlight Concert. He was invited to play in the All-County High School Honors Band, All-Country Gold Orchestra and the annual Young Artists Concert at Stetson University.

In high school David Taylor was a member of the American Heritage High School concert band, marching band, and symphony orchestra. He was the principal oboist during his entire tenure with American Heritage High School Concert Band, and was also chosen to play in the pit orchestra in the American Heritage Fine Arts’ production of The King and I.

Major: Instrumental Performance

Instrument: Bassoon

Stamps Ensemble Name: Stamps Woodwind Quintet Class of 2015

Julia Paine, bassoon, majored in Instrumental Performance at the University of Miami Frost School of Music where was is a Stamps Distinguished Ensemble Scholar and a member of the Stamps Woodwind Quintet, Class of 2015, coached by faculty mentor Robert Weiner. She studied privately with Luciano Magnanini and Gabriel Beavers. She graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Miami Frost School of Music.

Originally from Chicago, she participated as the principal bassoonist in a local youth symphony orchestra with Midwest Young Artists for three years. In addition, she participated in the Illinois Music Educators Association for three years making it to both All-State and Honors Orchestras. She was also the principal bassoonist in New Trier High School’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble.

Paine previously participated in a bassoon, clarinet, oboe trio called No Strings Attached. With the trio, she won the Winds and Other Instruments Category in the 2012 Discover National Chamber Music Competition, earned an Honorable Mention in the 2012 Rembrandt Chamber Music Competition, was a finalist in the 2012 Society of American Musicians Competition, and participated in the 2012 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.

She acknowledges her bassoon teacher of eight years, Ann Dufek, for an enriching experience up to this point and bassoon professors Luciano Magnanini and Gabriel Beavers at the Frost School of Music for a wonderful start to her music career at University of Miami.

Major: Instrumental Performance

Instrument: French horn

Stamps Ensemble Name: Stamps Woodwind Quintet Class of 2015

Larysa Pavelek, French horn, majored in Instrumental Performance at the University of Miami Frost School of Music where she was a Stamps Distinguished Ensemble Scholar and a member of the Stamps Woodwind Quintet, Class of 2015, coached by faculty mentor Robert Weiner. She studied horn privately with Richard Todd. She was awarded a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Miami Frost School of Music in 2015. Pavelek also performed in the Frost Symphony Orchestra and other major ensembles at the Frost School. She is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree at the Frost School of Music and is an advisor for the currently enrolled Stamps Distinguished Ensembles.

As a member of, the Stamps Woodwind Quintet, she performed at numerous venues in South Florida, including Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, and for students in the Miami-Dade Public Schools. The Stamps Woodwind Quintet also performed at Festival Miami in 2011, sharing the program with internationally acclaimed quintet Imani Winds and the following summer attended the Imani Festival for an extensive period of coaching and performing in New York City.

Larysa Pavelek was born and raised in Salem, Oregon. She graduated as valedictorian of West Salem High School in June 2011. She is a member of the National Honor Society and was selected as a delegate to represent the state of Oregon on the National Youth Leadership Council for the National Electric Co-op Association Conference in Washington D.C.and Orlando, Florida in 2010-2011.

She has played the piano for 13 years and the French horn for 8 years. She was a member of the 2010 and 2011 Oregon State Champion Wind Ensembles. In high school, she was the Drum Major for two years of her award winning Marching Band. Throughout high school, she participated in other music ensembles such as Symphony, Jazz Band, Jazz Choir, Concert Choir, Pit Orchestra, and Pep Band and was a piano accompanist in the Choir program as well.

Outside of her music activities, she enjoys hiking, reading, running, watching sporting events, and spending time with friends and family..

Major: Instrumental Performance

Instrument: Clarinet

Stamps Ensemble Name: Stamps Woodwind Quintet Class of 2015

Spencer Stromquist, clarinet, majored in Instrumental Performance at the University of Miami Frost School of Music where he was a Stamps Distinguished Ensemble Scholar and a member of the Stamps Woodwind Quintet, Class of 2015, coached by faculty mentor Robert Weiner. He studied privately with Margaret Donaghue and participated in master classes with members of The Cleveland Orchestra. Spencer Stromquist performed in the Frost Wind Ensemble and other major ensembles at Frost. He graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Miami Frost School of Music.

As a member of the Stamps Woodwind Quintet, he performed at numerous venues in South Florida, including Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, and for students in the Miami-Dade Public Schools. The Stamps Woodwind Quintet also performed at Festival Miami in 2011, sharing the program with internationally acclaimed quintet Imani Winds.

Spencer Stromquist has been playing music since a very young age, first at the piano, then switching to the clarinet at the age of 13. He attended H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, Florida, where he studied under Robert Schoos. While at H.B. Plant High School, he marched in the Plant’s Golden Panter Regiment and was clarinet section leader for three of his four years in the and the band captain for his senior year. Spencer made the Florida All-State Band in his junior and senior years and made principal chairs in the USF Festival of Winds and the University of Miami’s South Florida Music Festival. Throughout High School, he participated in Tampa’s Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestra under the direction of Dr. William Weidrich for four years, serving as principal clarinet for two years. In 2011, he was also principal clarinet in the Honor Band of America in Indianapolis.