Dr. Mary Alice Druhan, Assistant Professor of Clarinet, joined the faculty of Texas A&M University – Commerce in 2002.  Since her appointment, she has taught courses in music literature, ear training, woodwind methods, chamber music and woodwind pedagogy.  Her clarinet choir was selected to perform as a Potpourri Ensemble for the annual convention of the Texas Music Educator’s Association (2006).  She has held previous teaching positions at James Madison University and Louisiana State University.

 Originally from Louisiana, Dr. Druhan received both a Bachelor of Music degree and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in clarinet performance from Louisiana State University.  While there, she studied with David Harris and Steven Cohen.  Her Master of Music degree, also in performance, is from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music where she studied with Ronald de Kant.  Prior to college, she studied with Diana Haskell and Timothy Wright.

 Dr Druhan currently performs with the Dallas Wind Symphony and for the Color of Sound chamber series.  She has also performed with the United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, Natchez Opera, and Ohio Light Opera.  Recently, she has appeared as a soloist for the annual convention of the Texas Music Educator’s Association (2004), the annual convention of the Southwestern Region of the College Band Director’s National Association (2004), the 2006 Oklahoma University Clarinet Symposium, and the International Clarinet Association’s ClarFest 2006.

Dr. Druhan is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the International Clarinet Association, Pi Kappa Lambda, Sigma Alpha Iota, Alpha Lambda Delta, and Omicron Delta Kappa. She serves as an adjudicator for the Texas State Solo-Ensemble Contest (2004- 06) and was the Selector for the TMEA 2006 All-State etudes for clarinet. 

 

Cecile Lagarenne, Instructor of Oboe, holds a Music Education degree from Florida Atlantic University. While residing in Miami, she taught private lessons on the oboe, clarinet and saxophone. After teaching in the public schools, Ms. Lagarenne decided to concentrate solely on the oboe and began study with John Mack.  While in Miami, Ms. Lagarenne maintained a private teaching studio and performed with the Boca Pops, Miami Beach and Ft. Lauderdale Symphonies, Miami Beach and Gold Coast Operas.

In 1984, Ms. Lagarenne toured with the Puccini Festival Opera Orchestra.  While living and performing in Italy, she met her husband, cellist Jim Higgins. Moving to Orlando in 1984, Ms. Lagarenne performed with the Florida and Brevard Symphonies, Treasure Coast Opera and Bach Festival Orchestra.   In 1985, they moved to the Dallas area where she started a private teaching studio. In addition to tutoring over 35 weekly students, Ms. Lagarenne regularly performs on oboe and English horn with the Richardson Symphony, Wichita Falls Symphony and Metropolitan Classical Ballet Orchestra. She has performed with the Dallas Opera, Ft. Worth Opera, Dallas Chamber Orchestra, Ft. Worth, East Texas, Longview, Plano and Shreveport Symphonies, and the Dallas Wind Symphony. Ms. Lagarenne has also performed with the Moody Blues, Willie Nelson, Reba McIntyre, Yanni, and toured with Andrea Bocelli.

As an active free lance musician she has performed in many local venues including solo performances with Musical Arts, Pro Musica and Basically Baroque at The University of Texas at Dallas. Ms. Lagarenne can be heard on the CD "Circulo" as a member of the Opus III trio, CDs by Ned Spurlock, Cantor Don Croll from Temple Shalom and Carols We Love, the new CD by Wilshire Baptist Church.