Woodwind students are encouraged to develop and explore their musical ability through expression, understanding of technique, and literacy.
Experimentation with a wide variety of woodwind instruments is also encouraged. As students develop, honing skills include participation in small ensembles and orchestras.
Music Conservatory of Sandpoint announces the second annual Northern Idaho Flute Festival on September 27-28, 2024.
Upcoming Events
Classes for Woodwind, Brass and Percussion
Meet The Instructors
Gosia Szemelak, Flute
Gosia Szemelak started taking music classes at the age of 9. Her first instrument was piano. At the age of 12 she started taking flute lessons and that became her main focus. During her musical education she participated in many competitions and masterclasses around the world. Gosia studied with many great flutists such as Peter Lukas Graf, Janos Balint, Łukasz Długosz, Wil Offermans.
Her main flute teachers include Cezary Traczewski in Karol Szymanowski Music High School in Wrocław and later Prof. Kazimierz Moszyński and Dr Wiesław Suruło at the Krzysztof Penderecki Music Academy in Kraków where she graduated with a Master's degree in flute performance.
Gosia is Head of Flute Department and teaches beginner piano and Early Childhood music classes at Music Conservatory of Sandpoint. She's also a principal flutist at North Idaho Philharmonia and an active performer.
Denis Zwang, Oboe, Clarinet, Flute, Saxophone
Denis Zwang teaching experience spans several decades. He is a well versed instructor and specialist on many of the woodwind instruments, including the saxophone, flute and clarinet. Aside from teaching, Mr. Zwang actively performs with orchestras, as a solo artist, and has a rich history with recording studios and National Artists. Mr. Zwang is currently teaching saxophone, clarinet, flute and oboe at the Music Conservatory.
Ali Thomas, Percussion, Guitar
Ali has taught West African drumming for 20 years. She also teaches guitar, orchestra percussion and trap set/drum kit. She teaches children and adults of all ages; in large groups or one-on-one private lessons. Ali has deep musical roots, and began her training at the young age of 4, singing in the family band. After learning piano, flute, tenor sax, bass guitar and guitar, Ali found her true passion in West African style drumming, which lead to drum kit and other percussion. She has been to Guinea, West Africa three times to study traditional drumming of the Mandingue ethnic group. Ali has also brought drum masters, from the tradition, to the United States, to collaboratively host international workshops. These workshops were part of her work as Assistant Director of Tam Tam Mandingue, an international school of West African drumming. Ali’s goal is to teach the joy of percussion and rhythmic success to as many people as possible, whether through hand drumming, kit drumming, or in orchestra in the percussion section.
This year’s North Idaho Flute Festival will be held Saturday with a flute competition, performance and master class. All ages are welcome for this open format competition. Find all the details and festival activities on the registration page, online here.