Kelly McElrath Vaneman is the Mary Reynolds Babcock Professor of Oboe and Musicology at Converse University in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She is also first-year mentor of all Converse music students and works with each of them to find the best pathway to begin their journey as professional musicians. In 2016 she was awarded Converse’s Kathryn Amelia Brown Award for Excellence in Teaching, and in 2019 she received the Above and Beyond Award for her work as student mentor and advisor.

Dr. Vaneman’s innovative compositions often involve a fair amount of stomping and clapping and look to build a sense of joyful community—several of her works have been published by Trevco Music and St. James Press. Her exciting performing life extends across multiple genres and non-traditional venues. With husband Chris Vaneman she is a member of the flute/oboe duo Ensemble Radieuse, a group committed to expanding the repertoire and engaging directly with the audience. They’ve performed and taught on four continents, presented at a wide range of conferences (including those of the International Double Reed Society, the National Flute Association, and the College Music Society), and commissioned and arranged numerous works. In addition to the normal concert stage, they’ve performed in such places as Spartanburg’s Ciclops Cyderi, La Quinta Mazatlan Bird Sanctuary in South Texas, and the Transfiguration Preserve in Bat Cave, NC. The two are also members of the Petrie Winds, Converse’s faculty wind quintet. Dr. Vaneman performs with both the Spartanburg Philharmonic and the Hendersonville Symphony. Her work as a soloist has included yearly themed faculty recitals, improvised underscoring for Theatre Converse productions, performing on period instruments, and jamming with rock bands at New York’s famed punk club CBGBs.

She is twice Past President of the Rho chapter of Pi Kappa Lambda, has served on the board of the International Alliance for Women in Music as secretary and membership chair, and is a member of Alpha Chi. Dr. Vaneman holds DMA, MMA, and MM degrees from Yale University, received her BMus summa cum laude from Baylor University, and studied modern and Baroque oboe at the Koninklijk Konservatorium Brussel under a grant from the Belgian American Educational Foundation.

Originally from Holland, Michigan, Martin J. Van Klompenberg is a bassoonist and composer based in Lexington, Kentucky. From 2013 – 2022, he served as a member of the United States Army Band program, performing with the 101st Airborne Division “Air Assault” Band (Fort Campbell, KY), the 282nd Army Band (Fort Jackson, SC), the 323rd Army Band “Fort Sam’s Own” (Fort Sam Houston/San Antonio, TX) and the Air Force Band of the West (San Antonio, TX). Prior to joining the ranks of military musicians, he attended the University of Arizona, where he obtained the Doctorate of Musical Arts degree, studying with William Dietz. He also earned degrees from Arizona State University and Western Michigan University, studying with Albie Micklich and Wendy Rose, respectively. He has also studied composition with award-winning composer Jenni Brandon.

He has been fortunate to perform at conferences for the International Double Reed Society, the International Clarinet Association, the College Music Society, and the Texas Music Education Association, among others. He has also presented solo and chamber recitals throughout the United States. As a composer, his works have been performed by artists such as the Heartland Marimba Ensemble, Scott Pool (bassoon), Nicaulis Ailiey (flute) and Joseph Rebman (harp).