Maximilian Dimoff
Maximilian Dimoff is the principal bassist of The Cleveland Orchestra and a faculty member at The Cleveland Institute of Music. Before moving to Cleveland in 1997 he performed with the orchestras of Seattle, Grant Park and San Antonio. Mr Dimoff has performed as soloist with The Cleveland Orchestra at home and abroad. Mr. Dimoff performs on a double bass made by Antonio Mariani dated 1651.
Maximilian Dimoff, Double Bass
Dr. Matthew Holm
Dr. Matthew Holm is Director of Percussion Studies at Kent State University where he has revitalized the percussion program in all facets since 2017. Described as “…performing with unerring security” (Cleveland Classical), and “…an outstanding musician” (Percussive Notes), Holm is equally in demand as a chamber player and orchestral musician.
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Dr. Holm has performed with the Columbus Symphony, West Virginia Symphony, Baton Rouge Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, and Youngstown Symphony Orchestras. Matthew also frequently collaborates with the Cleveland Composers Guild and the Cleveland Chamber Choir.
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Holm’s 2022 album Auditory Illusions for Electronic Percussion was featured on WCLV “Cleveland Classical” in June 2023. Percussive Notes described the project as a “high quality set of recordings that could not come at a better time” as well as “powerful…and serving the percussion community well.” Matthew also released an album of all original compositions, entitled Ambient Scenes, in 2023. Both projects can be found on all streaming platforms including Apple Music and Spotify.
Dr. Matthew Holm, Vibraphone
Under Holm’s direction the KSU Percussion Ensemble has been selected to perform at OMEA in 2020, 2022, and 2023 and has performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Conventions in 2017, 2019, and 2023. The ensemble also collaborated with the Heartland Marimba Quartet, performing for the opening concert for the Center for Mallet Percussion Research in Kutztown, PA.
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Active within the Percussive Arts Society (PAS), Matthew was elected to serve on the University Pedagogy Committee (2017-2021) and served as President of the Arizona Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society. A former marching member of the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps (world champions 2000, 2001, 2002), Holm was the percussion coordinator for the 2023 SoundSport Champion Rhythm IN Blue (Bluecoats organization) and director/arranger for the PASIC champion Lamar University Drumline. Holm is a Marimba One artist, Innovative Percussion artist and Black Swamp education team member.
Dr. James Umble
Dr. James Umble is Professor of Saxophone at Youngstown (Ohio) State University where he has twice been awarded a Distinguished Professor Award for Teaching. He is an internationally recognized teacher, soloist, clinician, chamber musician and author. Cleveland Plain Dealer Music Critic Donald Rosenberg wrote that Dr. Umble…” must be one of the most elegant exponents of his instrument…he was virtuosic in every way.”.
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For over 20 years Dr. Umble performed around the world with his celebrated chamber trio, The Cleveland Duo and James Umble. They commissioned and premiered many new works for their combination of violin, saxophone and piano, including works by Evan Chambers, Tim Brady, Jane Brockman and many more. New York Concert Reviews wrote that their Mannes College performance was “sensuous… An outstanding performance…”
Dr. James Umble, Saxophone
Dr. Umble has also been heard as saxophone guest artist in the Cleveland Orchestra woodwind section, performing and touring with them under the direction of such conductors as Pierre Boulez, David Zinman, Franz Welser-Most, JaJa Ling and many others. Speaking of his performance in Miami with the Cleveland Orchestra the Miami Herald wrote that his playing was “…glorious…” and of his “…mellifluous tone…”
He was featured Guest Artist and Clinician at the Medellin (Colombia) ClariSax Fest and at the Xi’an (China) Single Reed Conference. Umble was a guest recitalist at the World Saxophone Congress in Strasbourg France, where he presented a recital along with pianist/composer Marilyn Shrude, performing her Lacrimosa for alto saxophone and piano. He also premiered Shrude’s recent work for saxophone and piano Natures Bard and numerous other premieres. He has been a featured soloist with the U.S. Navy Band in Washington D.C.
His acclaimed book “Jean-Marie Londeix- Master of the Modern Saxophone” documents the life and pedagogy of one of the world’s most celebrated French artist-teachers. The Second Edition was released in early 2022. This volume is available worldwide through Theodore Presser Music Publishers.
Dr. Umble has presented Guest Artist recitals and clinics at The Hartt School of Music, Oakland University, the University of Mississippi, and many others, and was a guest featured clinician at the American Saxophone Institute at The University of Iowa. He regularly presents performances, clinics and lecture recitals at regional and national Conferences of the North American Saxophone Alliance. He also annually presents performances and lectures at the U.S Navy Band Saxophone Symposium.
His many former students are in collegiate and secondary teaching positions and graduate programs around the country. Dr. Umble has a passion for teaching and for creating and incorporating innovative pedagogy in his teaching. He regularly presents some of his creative teaching ideas on tonal and artistic development in clinics around the country.
Along with Dr. Andrew Mead of Indiana University (Bloomington) he has also been presenting recital/lectures on Dr. Mead’s works for saxophone, several of which Dr. Umble has premiered.
Umble holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The University of Michigan where he studied with Donald Sinta, a First Prize from the National Conservatory of Bordeaux where he studied with Jean-Marie Londeix, a Masters degree in Performance from Bowling Green State University studying under John Sampen and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education studying with Donald Beckie.
Umble loves playing basketball and hiking in the Laurel Highlands of PA.
Dr. Umble is a Selmer Artist and performs on Légère reeds.