The Double or Nothing Ensemble explores repertoire from the Baroque period to contemporary music, offering creative and inspired programming for audiences of all ages. Their concerts often include works by such composers as Bach, Handel and Debussy, as well as the players’ original compositions and arrangements of hits by well-known popular artists.
Meet the members of the group!
Meet the members of the group!
Melissa Walding
Melissa Walding is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Oboe Performance from Baylor University in Waco, Texas where she studied with Dr. Doris DeLoach, and her Master's Degree in Music Education from Piedmont College.
Melissa has taught at Cornell, Coe, and Kirkwood Colleges in Iowa, where she performed with the Dubuque and Quad Cities Symphony Orchestras and recorded with the Rockefeller Foundation-sponsored Center for New Music.
She has attended and performed at the Paris Repertoire Festival in France and the John Mack Oboe Camp in North Carolina. Melissa was a competitor in the 2009 Barbirolli International Oboe Festival and Competition in the Isle of Man, and the 2010 International Oboe Competition Markneukirchen in Germany.
She has performed in master classes given by Ray Still, John Mack, John DeLancie, Wayne Rapier, Rebecca Henderson, Bobby Taylor, Yvonne Peterson, Laila Storch, Linda Strommen, and Joseph Robinson, and with several symphonies including the Central Florida Symphony Orchestra in Ocala, and the Waco, Brazos Valley, and Temple Symphonies in Texas.
Melissa is currently the Adjunct Professor of Oboe at the College of Mount Saint Joseph in Cincinnati, and 2nd oboe with the Anderson Symphony in Anderson, Indiana. In addition, she is president and founding member of Double or Nothing Reeds, LLC and The Double or Nothing Ensemble, a double-reed chamber group which performs in and around the tri-state area.
Melissa has taught at Cornell, Coe, and Kirkwood Colleges in Iowa, where she performed with the Dubuque and Quad Cities Symphony Orchestras and recorded with the Rockefeller Foundation-sponsored Center for New Music.
She has attended and performed at the Paris Repertoire Festival in France and the John Mack Oboe Camp in North Carolina. Melissa was a competitor in the 2009 Barbirolli International Oboe Festival and Competition in the Isle of Man, and the 2010 International Oboe Competition Markneukirchen in Germany.
She has performed in master classes given by Ray Still, John Mack, John DeLancie, Wayne Rapier, Rebecca Henderson, Bobby Taylor, Yvonne Peterson, Laila Storch, Linda Strommen, and Joseph Robinson, and with several symphonies including the Central Florida Symphony Orchestra in Ocala, and the Waco, Brazos Valley, and Temple Symphonies in Texas.
Melissa is currently the Adjunct Professor of Oboe at the College of Mount Saint Joseph in Cincinnati, and 2nd oboe with the Anderson Symphony in Anderson, Indiana. In addition, she is president and founding member of Double or Nothing Reeds, LLC and The Double or Nothing Ensemble, a double-reed chamber group which performs in and around the tri-state area.
Julie Grasso
Julie Grasso has been performing and teaching as a professional oboist for twenty five years. She currently serves as Principal Oboe and Personnel Manager of the Gainesville Symphony Orchestra and has performed numerous concerts with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Atlanta Pops Orchestra. She has performed with the Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra, Atlanta Ballet Orchestra, Kentucky Symphony, Richmond (IN) Symphony, Georgia Sinfonia, Greenville Symphony, Columbus Symphony and Macon Symphony. Ms. Grasso is a founding member of the Double or Nothing Ensemble and, as an active free-lance artist, she has performed with artists such as Johnny Mathis, Al Jarreau, Dianne Reeves, Joni Mitchell, Brian Wilson, The Moody Blues, Michael Bolton, Roger Daltry, Frank Sinatra, Jr., and Harry Connick, Jr.
Julie’s discography includes performances on the Christian label, Father’s Heart ~ “Mist On the Mountain” album in 1999, the nationally released album entitled “Christmas Eve” in 2000, the newly released Songscope album entitled, “Suspired Dreams” and as a featured soloist on the album “The Heart of Worship,” released November, 2005.
In addition to her performing responsibilities, Ms. Grasso has organized nationally recognized oboe and english Horn events for artists such as Elaine Douvas (Principal Oboe, The Metropolitan Opera), Patrick McFarland (English Horn, Atlanta Symphony) and Linda Strommen (Oboe Faculty, The Julliard School). Additionally, Ms. Grasso served as Orchestra Contractor for the Fox Theatre’s (Atlanta) 75th Anniversary Show in December 2004. She has served as adjunct oboe faculty at Piedmont College and has recently assisted in an educational oboe presentation at the Midwest Music Conference in Chicago. Julie is also one of the founding faculty members of the popular “Oboes at Oxford” camp, which takes place each summer in metro Atlanta, Georgia as well as Director of the Midwest Oboe Camp. Her article entitled “An Intriguing New Work for the Oboist” was published in the 2001 International Double Reed Journal where it received numerous positive reviews from colleagues throughout the organization. Together with colleagues Melissa Walding and Lauren Piccirillo, Julie has established a thriving reed business called Double or Nothing Reeds.
Julie’s discography includes performances on the Christian label, Father’s Heart ~ “Mist On the Mountain” album in 1999, the nationally released album entitled “Christmas Eve” in 2000, the newly released Songscope album entitled, “Suspired Dreams” and as a featured soloist on the album “The Heart of Worship,” released November, 2005.
In addition to her performing responsibilities, Ms. Grasso has organized nationally recognized oboe and english Horn events for artists such as Elaine Douvas (Principal Oboe, The Metropolitan Opera), Patrick McFarland (English Horn, Atlanta Symphony) and Linda Strommen (Oboe Faculty, The Julliard School). Additionally, Ms. Grasso served as Orchestra Contractor for the Fox Theatre’s (Atlanta) 75th Anniversary Show in December 2004. She has served as adjunct oboe faculty at Piedmont College and has recently assisted in an educational oboe presentation at the Midwest Music Conference in Chicago. Julie is also one of the founding faculty members of the popular “Oboes at Oxford” camp, which takes place each summer in metro Atlanta, Georgia as well as Director of the Midwest Oboe Camp. Her article entitled “An Intriguing New Work for the Oboist” was published in the 2001 International Double Reed Journal where it received numerous positive reviews from colleagues throughout the organization. Together with colleagues Melissa Walding and Lauren Piccirillo, Julie has established a thriving reed business called Double or Nothing Reeds.
Connie Ignatiou
Connie Ignatiou is currently the 2nd oboist for the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and is teaching as Adjunct Professor at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, KY. She is currently pursuing her Doctoral of Musical Arts degree from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music where she studies under Dr. Mark Ostoich where she was the recipient of the oboe studio assistantship during her last year. Her Master’s degree was received from University of North Carolina at Greensboro, studying under Dr. Mary Ashley Barret, and her Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University, studying under Mr. Joseph Martin.
Connie keeps an active playing career, performing with such groups as the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic, Muncie Symphony, Richmond Symphony (IN), and Kentucky Symphony. She also participated in the Barbirolli International Festival and Competition in 2009 where she was the recipient of the ‘Best High G’ award.
During her undergraduate degree, Connie was several times winner of the annual concerto competition where she received the honor of playing a concerto with the school’s orchestra. She was also winner of the annual honors recital four years in a row; a unique accomplishment in the school’s history.
While in Dayton, Connie has become part of the SPARK program (School Partners with Artists Reaching Kids). This innovative program has paired her with a third grade classroom in the Dayton area where she teaches lessons throughout the year using her musical background as a way to present ideas from the curriculum in a new and unique way.
Connie keeps an active playing career, performing with such groups as the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic, Muncie Symphony, Richmond Symphony (IN), and Kentucky Symphony. She also participated in the Barbirolli International Festival and Competition in 2009 where she was the recipient of the ‘Best High G’ award.
During her undergraduate degree, Connie was several times winner of the annual concerto competition where she received the honor of playing a concerto with the school’s orchestra. She was also winner of the annual honors recital four years in a row; a unique accomplishment in the school’s history.
While in Dayton, Connie has become part of the SPARK program (School Partners with Artists Reaching Kids). This innovative program has paired her with a third grade classroom in the Dayton area where she teaches lessons throughout the year using her musical background as a way to present ideas from the curriculum in a new and unique way.
Lauren Piccirillo
Lauren Piccirillo received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Lauren has collaborated with many great musicians, including William Winstead, Martin James, Hugh Michie, and John Wetherill. She has performed as bassoonist with many orchestras in the Tri-State, including the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, the Cincinnati Ballet Orchestra, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, and others. Lauren makes and sells her reeds through Double Or Nothing Reeds, LLC, of which she is Partner and Co-Founder.
During her graduate studies, Lauren worked as a Graduate Assistant in the Music Theory department at CCM where she has experience tutoring students and teaching Graduate Music Theory and Analysis. She is currently teaches at Earlham College, Franklin College, Walnut Hills High School, and Larry A. Ryle High School.
After managing a 200-student music studio, Lauren started her own music business called Prelude Inc., through which she continues to teach and perform around the Cincinnati area. Her teaching background includes private Piano, Bassoon, Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, and Violin lessons in addition to Preschool General Music and Upper Elementary Music.
Lauren is a member of the American Federation of Musicians, the International Double Reed Society, and she serves as the Music Chair of the Board of Directors for the Three Arts Scholarship Fund.
During her graduate studies, Lauren worked as a Graduate Assistant in the Music Theory department at CCM where she has experience tutoring students and teaching Graduate Music Theory and Analysis. She is currently teaches at Earlham College, Franklin College, Walnut Hills High School, and Larry A. Ryle High School.
After managing a 200-student music studio, Lauren started her own music business called Prelude Inc., through which she continues to teach and perform around the Cincinnati area. Her teaching background includes private Piano, Bassoon, Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, and Violin lessons in addition to Preschool General Music and Upper Elementary Music.
Lauren is a member of the American Federation of Musicians, the International Double Reed Society, and she serves as the Music Chair of the Board of Directors for the Three Arts Scholarship Fund.