TakeFive!

Catina Franklin Sweedy, Clarinet and Music Director

Active as an educator and performer, Catina Sweedy started writing and performing classical music "informances" nearly ten years ago while attending graduate school in New York City.  In addition to her work with TakeFive!, Catina serves as principal clarinet with the Prince William Symphony Orchestra and the St. Gregory Chamber Orchestra in northern Virginia.  She is a former member of the Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet, and Florida Sunshine Pops Orchestras, and has also performed with the Florida Philharmonic, New World, and Key West Symphonies. Through her attendance at the Casals, Spoleto, Pacific, and Bowdoin music festivals, Catina has performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan. In 2000, Catina won both the YWCA and Matinee Musical Club solo competitions and presented debut recitals in New York City and Philadelphia respectively. She holds her Bachelor of Music Performance degree from Harid Conservatory of Music and her Master of Music Performance degree from the Manhattan School of Music.

Pat Edmiston, Flute and Marketing Director

Pat Edmiston is a flutist, conductor and teacher.  She began teaching the flute while in high school in Fairfax, Virginia.  After completing her Bachelor of Music Education degree from George Mason University, Pat began teaching band and orchestra classes.  She enjoyed creating fun ways for her students to perform for the school by forming a flute choir, a pep band and taking her classes "on tour" to play for younger grades.  While in college, she began her conducting career and went on to establish the Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra in Prince William County, Virginia.  Pat also is a flutist with Gracenotes Chamber Music.

Laurel Siberts, Oboe

Laurel Siberts is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a BA in Music.  She is principal oboist, board member, and personnel coordinator for the Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra.  She served in the Army Band for seven years.  Laurel is a strong advocate for music in the schools and volunteers her time working with elementary and middle school music programs.  Laurel freelances and teaches lessons on oboe, English horn, flute, cello and piano.  She is currently the coordinator of an all-volunteer after school enrichment program which provides low cost class experiences in fine and cultural arts at Swans Creek Elementary School. 

Jeremy Cucco, Horn

Jeremy Cucco began his musical life in 1983 when he began playing violin in suburban Maryland. After only 2 years of playing, he received his first invitation to play professionally at the age of 9. After several relocations, he found himself in Arkansas within a school system with no orchestra program. As such, Jeremy began playing horn as well as continuing to study and play violin privately. Jeremy's professional debut on the horn came only 2 years after his start on the instrument.   Since then, Jeremy studied French horn at both Arkansas State University and Arkansas Tech University as well as privately at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. He has performed with numerous professional ensembles across the country including Detroit, Memphis and the Washington Symphony in Washington, DC. As well, he has studied privately with horn legends Peter Landgren (Baltimore Symphony) and Marty Hackleman (National Symphony Orchestra and Canadian Brass).

Richard Sargeant, Bassoon and Arranger

Bassoonist, Composer, Conductor, Arranger Richard W. Sargeant, Jr., received his Bacholer of Music in Music Composition , with a minor in Bassoon from Indiana University.  There he studied bassoon with Sid Rosenberg, conducting with Jamie Albright, composition with Eugene O’Brien and Claude Baker.  Richard has performed with many groups in the area including Little Theater of Alexandria, The Kensington Players, The Arlington Players, The American Balalaika Orchestra, Georgetown University Orchestra, Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra, The Victorian Lyric Opera Company, The Rockville Theatre Company, Fine Line Chamber Ensemble, Potomac United Methodist Church, DC’s Different Drummers, Lesbian and Gay Bands of America (LGBA) Conferences, LGBA Special Inaugural Performances 1992 & 1996.  He has conducted various groups in the area including DC’s Different Drummers, Fine Line Chamber Ensemble, Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra, LGBA and Georgetown University Orchestra and Chorus.  While in school Richard performed professionally with the Terre Haute, Owensboro, Columbus  and Evensville Smphony’s.  Additional Bassoon studies with Linda Harwell, David Wright, and Diane Wright; Composition with Mark Allen Taggart; Conducting with Sylvia Alimena of The National Symphony Orchestra.  Presently Richard is a Music Engraver for Kalmus and is currently working on Johann Strauss’s opera Die Fledermaus, Bizet’s Jeux d’Enfants, Dukas La Péri and Ravel’s Sheherazade.  Look for his arrangements there.