ABOUT QUINTET ATHENS

Quintet Athens is a professional wind quintet based in Athens, GA comprised of members of Athens’ classical music community. The quintet performs recitals that are free and open to the public as part of the group’s commitment to contributing to the cultural well-being of Athens-Clarke County.

In addition to our public recitals and performances the ensemble is available to book for both private and public events offering an upscale music experience with the grace and sophistication of traditional chamber music ensembles plus the added benefit of the distinctly broad range of sonic combinations available to the quintet’s five characteristic voices. Quintet Athens’ unique sound is as beautiful as it is memorable.

THE MUSICIANS

  • Daniel Self

    FLUTE | OUTGOING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

    Daniel is a performing arts professional, music arranger, and freelancer based in Athens, GA. In his professional life he spends much of his time working on theatrical productions and educational programming for Athens Clarke-County Leisure Services where he is the Program Leader for Athens Creative Theatre. Daniel is an active music director for theatre and has music directed a number works in his time with ACT. He his recent collaborations include projects with both the Classic City Band and HEART Music. His performance work centers primarily around pit orchestra and chamber music bringing his skills as an accomplished keyboard player and woodwind doubler into play. Daniel is also a published arranger of music for woodwind ensemble with a special interest in bringing popular music into the chamber ensemble repertoire. In his free time he enjoys studying watercolor painting, spending time with his partner and their dog Walter, and gaming with friends.

  • Whitney Holley

    OBOE | PROSPECTIVE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

    Whitney is an Assistant Professor of Music at Georgia Gwinnett College and a teacher with HEART Music, Athens. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Georgia in 2012 and is a regular performer with Athens Creative Theatre, North Georgia Winds, and Classic City Band. She has performed solo and chamber music recitals across the United States and internationally. Currently, Whitney is studying oboe making and repair at Covey-Ramsay Oboes in Blairesville, GA. In her free time she enjoys weight training and exploring the less traveled roads of the southeast.

  • Braxton Thompson

    CLARINET

    A native of the Athens area, Braxton is an instructor of both clarinet and piano. He holds a degree in clarinet performance from the University of Georgia and is an accomplished woodwind doubler specializing in single reeds. In addition to his work with Quintet Athens, Braxton performs in a variety of music ensembles in Athens ranging from classical to polka music.

  • Karen Castleberry

    HORN

    Karen has been performing in the Athens area and Metro Atlanta since 1998. She studied horn at Michigan State University with Dr. Douglas Campbell. Karen is a member of the North Georgia Winds and the Classic City Band, where she serves as horn section leader and immediate past president. She has performed with the Athens Creative Theatre Orchestra, Toccoa Symphony, Athens Symphony, Athens Symphony, Agnes Scott College Community Orchestra, Athens Brass Choir, Peachtree Symphony Winds, Gwinnett Community Band, the Brass to Go quintet, and other various ensembles in Georgia.

  • Elizebeth Tong

    BASSOON | SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER & WEBMASTER

    Elizebeth began her musical journey as many do - by banging on the family’s upright piano. She started taking piano lessons in Elementary school, but fell in love with woodwinds when she began playing clarinet in 6th grade. In 9th grade, she learned that the school had an unused bassoon in the storage closet, and convinced her director to let her try it out while her clarinet was in the shop. It had such an impact on her that she ended up studying bassoon performance while in college. Now she plays in several local Athens groups, including the Athens Symphony Orchestra and the Classic City Band.