BRUNSON MUSIC
Performance, Teaching, Reeds and Arrangements
Mika Brunson
Professional info
Mika is known as a versatile performer and teacher. As an oboist/English hornist, she has performed with the Utah Symphony, the Las Vegas Philharmonic, the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra at Temple Square, the Sonolumina Orchestra and the Summerarts Orchestra. Mika's oboe and voice students have received Superior marks at region and state festivals and been awarded college scholarships. Additionally, Mika has held teaching positions at UNLV, the College of Southern Nevada, Snow College, and, currently, the University of Wisconsin - Marshfield/Wood County.
Orchestral experience
Las Vegas Philharmonic
2006 - present
English horn/assistan principal oboe
Audition: September 2006. Tenure granted: 2007. The Las Vegas Philharmonic offers 5 Masterworks , 4 Pops, and 10 Education concerts per season.
2010 - present
Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra
2012 - present
2nd oboe/English horn
Awarded the position after a year as interim 2nd oboe/English horn 2012 - 2013. CWSO presents 4 Masterworks concerts per season.
2010 - present
The New Hampshire Music Festival
2015
3rd oboe/English horn
The New Hampshire Music Festival just completed its 63rd season on the campus of Plymouth State University in Plymouth, NH. The festival presents 5 weeks of concerts, including full orchestra and chamber performances.
The Wisconsin Philharmonic
2014-present
substitute 2nd oboe/English horn
The Wisconsin Philharmonic presents 6 Masterworks concerts and 2 Pops concerts per season, with additional education events and concerts.
La Crosse Symphony
Substitute oboe/English horn 2011 - present
co-winner, 2nd oboe/English horn 2013 - 2014
Audition: June 2013. The La Crosse Symphony Orchestra presents 5 Masterworks, 1 Holiday Pops and 3 Educational concerts per season.
Utah Symphony
2006 - 2011
Substitute 2nd oboe/English horn/Principal oboe
Served as a regular substitute, covering all parts in the oboe section as needed, including Educational tours, Masterworks concerts, Pops concerts and special performances (such as with the Gina Bachauer Internation Piano competition finalists).
Orchestra at Temple Square
1999 - 2011
Assistant Principal Oboe/English horn
Performances included regular appearances on Music and the Spoken Word, orchestral and choir concerts, and solo oboe/English horn on the following recordings: Consider the Lilies, Peace Like a River.
Teaching Experience
University of Wisconsin - Marshfield/Wood County
2012 - present
Lecturer
Aural Skills, Group Piano and Music Appreciation taught to both music majors and non- majors. Concert Choir accompanist.
Snow College - Ephraim, UT
2010 - 2012
Adjunct faculty - oboe
Individual lessons given to oboe students at Snow College, in addition to a weekly group reed-making class. Students performed in a group recital every semester in addition to their ensemble duties. Personal performance in the faculty recital each semester.
College of Southern Nevada - Las Vegas, NV
2008 - 2009
Adjunct faculty
Music appreciation lecturer. Also facilitated a performance of the Sundance Trio on campus.
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
2006 - 2008 Graduate teaching assistant
2008 - 2009 Adjunct faculty
As a graduate student, responsible for one section of Music Appreciation, one section of Ear Training and one section of Music Theory per semester. After graduation, hired to rewrite and teach an Intro to Music History course - special emphasis on knowing style characteristics of each of the major historical eras, as well as learning to write intelligently about the music of those eras. Prerequisite to the upper-level Music History sequence.
Education
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
2006 - 2008
M.M. Oboe Performance
Oboe study and Body Mapping study with Dr. Stephen Caplan. Voice study with Juline Gilmore. Awarded the graduate student honor jury from the woodwind department in each of 4 semesters of study. Named as exceptional graduate student from the Music Department. Performance of Quiet City by Aaron Copland with the UNLV Chamber Orchestra.
Brigham Young University - Provo, UT
1994 - 1998
B.A. in Music with Zoology minor
Recipient of the Benson academic scholarship for first two years of study. Superceded by the Edwin and Clarissa Seely Hinckly academic scholarship for the final two years of study. Oboe study with Dr. Geralyn Giovannetti.