Specialists

Sue Shockey

Sue earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Transylvania University, in Lexington, Kentucky. To add diversity to her music degree, she undertook a course of study in musical instrument repair at Western Iowa Tech, in Sioux City. She also furthered her flute studies at the University of South Dakota and Ohio University.

Sue moved to South Bend, Indiana in 1987 to establish a repair shop at the Woodwind and Brasswind. One of the many opportunities of her career has been to work with flute maker and innovator, George Opperman. George shared his art of flute building and developed in Sue an understanding and respect for the legacy and artisanship of instrument making.

Sue has worked to combine the technical with the artistic in her career at the Woodwind. Her position with the repair staff has been to emphasize the role of craftsmanship as a vital component of musical sound. This has also become an important perspective when advising musicians on instrument choices.

Ryan Claus

Ryan earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Multiple Woodwind Performance from the Indiana University School of Music in 1997. His passion is musical theater, and since 1997, he has served as the Orchestra Manager and woodwind player for the Round Barn Theatre in Nappanee, Indiana. He regularly doubles on all of the woodwind instruments, but he finds himself being called upon to play everything from the bagpipes to the accordion -- depending on the show.

His introduction to the world of instrument manufacturing and repair occurred when he was a tester at the Selmer Company. In 2001, he joined the Woodwind and Brasswind Instrument Repair Shop. As a woodwind specialist, he does everything from play-testing new instruments, to professionally overhauling woodwind instruments. In preparation for his position as a customer consultant for Legacy Winds, Ryan traveled overseas to train at both the Fox and Püchner factories. There, he learned how these companies build their fine instruments as well as how to repair them.

Roger Lewis

Roger Lewis began his professional career while studying at Mannes College of Music in New York City. During and in between studies, he was given the opportunity to perform with the Brooklyn Symphony, The National Orchestral Association, The West Side Symphony, and the Westchester Philharmonic, as well as with the Mannes College Bass Quintet. In addition, he was fortunate to be able to study under such noted professionals as Joseph Novotny of the New York Philharmonic, Walter E. Sear, formerly of the Symphony of the Air, and Toby Hanks of the New York Bass Quintet.

Roger received his Master’s Degree from Ohio University, studying with Robert D. Smith and playing in the Wind Ensemble, the Symphony Orchestra, and the Bass Quintet. He earned the Tanglewood Fellow of Tuba honors in 1985, and began teaching at the Bay View Summer Music Festival in 1986. A year later, he began his doctoral studies at Indiana University, Bloomington, studying under Harvey Phillips and Arnold Jacobs, and performing with many of the university orchestras, chamber ensembles and the Bass Choir. During this time, he also held the position of Principal Tuba with the Evansville Philharmonic. Roger has performed with the Detroit Symphony and the Boston Pops, among others.

To stay involved with orchestral performances, Roger freelances in the Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana areas, as well as playing Principal Tuba with the Elkhart Symphony. He is also Associate Principal with the Southwest Michigan Symphony, Bb Tuba with the South Shore Brass Band, and Principal Tuba with the North American Brass Company.