The Lake Erie Wind Quintet has been performing popular, antiquity, classical, modern and chamber music in the Greater Cleveland area since 2017.

Below are our members' and substitutes' biographies, in their own words:

CURRENT PRINCIPAL MUSICIANS:

Deborah Decker, flute, piccolo

Deborah Decker is a retired geologist and physical therapist.  She enjoys playing flute in several venues and especially loves classical music.  She also sings in the LCCC Civic Chorale and at her church.   She enjoys doing volunteer work at her church, exercising, sewing, and reading.  Deborah is married to retired UH chaplain and Lutheran pastor, Wayne Decker.  She has two sons and seven fabulous grandchildren.  

Brandyn Metzko, flute (oboe), piccolo, recorders 

Brandyn Metzko obtained his B.A in music with honors at Cleveland  State University in December 2006.  He earned his Master of Science degree cum laude in Entertainment Business in 2015.  Brandyn Metzko is the flute (and oboe, among other instruments) aficionado whose life is a melodious adventure! Music isn't just his passion—it's his best friend, therapist, and daily dose of wonder. Brandyn has harmonized with countless musicians and studied at various institutions, but the most impactful have been his flute professor at Cleveland State University, Sean Gabriel as well as his mentor at the same school, Betsy Burleigh.

Besides performing with the Lake Erie Wind Quintet, Brandyn has jammed on flute and vocals with the eclectic jazz/rock/blues band Blue Cadillac, and plays flute and piccolo in the North Royalton Community Band.  He’s also a devoted teacher to a handful of private students and absolutely adores it!

While Brandyn usually vibes with dogs, he’s head over paws for his two adopted cats. They all live together in the West Park neighborhood of Cleveland, where the symphony of planes taking off and landing at the nearby airport is music to his ears. 

Brandyn is also an avid composer and his sheet music may be obtained through his publisher, Sheet Music Plus.  He has released two eclectic/electronica albums.

David Ciucivich, Clarinet

Stephen Cline, french horn

Stephen Cline is an accomplished musician, dedicated to both teaching and performing as a French horn player, and as a pianist. His teaching focuses around a passion for fostering musical growth with students of all ages.  In addition to full time studio teaching, Stephen is also the organist at the United Methodist Church of Macedonia, where the congregation is large, lively, and truly invested in their many musical programs.  In addition to the Lake Erie Wind Quintet, Stephen also actively performs with the jazz ensemble, Trio Rouge on keyboard.  He has previously enjoyed performing with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, the Erie Chamber Orchestra, the Legacy Scoring Orchestra, the Cleveland Philharmonic, as well as several other chamber projects.  Whether teaching, performing, or spending as much time practicing as possible, it is certain that music is the fulfilling center of Stephen’s life.

Kelly Cunningham, bassoon

Kelly Cunningham earned her DMA at the University of Oregon in 2022, where she studied with Dr. Steve Vacchi. Prior to her time in Oregon, Kelly received her masters at the University of
Idaho, having studied with Dr. Javier Rodriguez, and her bachelors at the University of Nevada,
Reno with Dr. Eric Fassbender. While she was in Oregon, Kelly played with ensembles such as the Eugene Concert Choir, OrchestraNext, and the Eugene Symphony. She has also performed in the Vianden Chamber Music Festival and the Siletz Bay Music Festival. Kelly has taught private
lessons for many years and is proud to have worked with each and every student that has come through her studio. She is excited to settle in Cleveland with her fiancé (whom she will be marrying in October of this year!) and to be a part of the Lake Erie Wind Quintet. Wind quintets are among her favorite ensembles to listen to and offer some of the most rewarding music to perform. She looks forward to making beautiful music with this fine group of musicians!

CURRENT SUBSTITUTE MUSICIANS:

Hannah Westfield substitute (flute, saxophone, trumpet)

Hannah Westfield received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Akron in 2016. During her time at UA, Hannah performed in several ensembles on multiple instruments, including flute, her primary instrument, as well as alto saxophone, baritone, and bassoon. Hannah completed her student teaching in Westlake City Schools. Following graduation, she played trumpet in Rogues Hollow Regiment, a drum corps from Doylestown. Hannah taught middle school band and music students for 4 years and is now starting her 8th year of teaching as the band and drama director at Benedictine High School in Cleveland. Hannah is currently working on her Master of Music in Music Education from Kent State University. Hannah is thankful for the opportunity to perform with the Lake Erie Quintet!

Sebastian Kelzenburg, substitute (oboe)

Although tempting, Sebastian’s father resisted the urge to name him Johann Sebastian Kelzenberg. Still, Sebastian perused the influence of Bach and attempted to learn the cello at 5, and then was chosen by the oboe at 7, where he learned the European style of playing in Brazil. He then made his performing debut at the young age of 13 in Chelan, Washington where he performed so terribly, he cried immediately and ran away in shame. Since then, Sebastian has performed and competed successfully; he was a First Prize winner for MTNA and YoungArts, was awarded the Fennel Scholarship from Interlochen and the John Mac Scholarship from CIM among other notable achievements. Some of his notable performances have been on King-FM live radio, solo performances with the Northwest Sinfonietta and Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra, and most recently substitute Heckelphone and English Hornist for the Cleveland Orchestra. Sebastian is also vividly active in sharing his craft publicly with the community, as he has worked with his Reed Quintet, SLANT, to perform for audiences at the Cleveland Art Museum and recently East Academy, a Charter School in Cleveland. He also has organized and conducted several orchestras at CIM to perform the Nutcracker, and at for his junior and senior recital. In his free time, Sebastian enjoys playing pickleball, arranging music for odd ensembles, and baking.

RJ Rovito, substitute (oboe, clarinet, bassoon)

Nicki Lantz, substitute (bassoon, flute)

Bill Richter, substitute (horn)

PAST MEMBERS:

Fermin Quinones-Villanueva clarinet

Elisabeth Aldridge, bassoon

Jeff Bodkin, bassoon

Robert E. Levine, french horn

Dana Westfield french horn, trumpet

Jess D'Ambrosia, substitute (saxophones)

Matt Pierce, bassoon

Jill Bacon, saxophone (horn)

Jacquie Olivieri, flute