MEET ZEPHYRIA
We are the Graduate Fellowship Wind Quintet in-residence at the University of Delaware, established in 2025. Representing 3 different countries and various unique backgrounds, we are always searching for new ways to push boundaries and reinvent what it means to be a chamber musician in today's society. Our debut recital took place in Gore Recital Hall on October 22nd, 2025, marking the beginning of our journey together. We hope you will join us for future events and performances! Feel free to explore our bios below and learn more about us.
Flute - Aaron Dore
Recording Tech/Social Media Co-Ambassador
Aaron Dore (he/him) is a flutist currently based in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic. Aaron plays on a Burkart 9K/AG Professional flute and a Yamaha YPC-87R piccolo. He grew up in Wicklow, Ireland, and moved to New Jersey with his family when he was nine years old. Aaron was surrounded by music growing up, with his parents playing trumpet and piano, as well as one of his aunts being a professional pianist/clarinetist in England. Aaron began studying flute in fourth grade and enjoyed various ensembles of different genres from wind ensemble to pit orchestra to jazz throughout middle/high school. He participated in a youth orchestra in Kilkenny, Ireland when he moved back there from 2018 to 2019, and had the privilege of performing and traveling throughout Europe, including a trip to Hamburg, Germany. Aaron took private lessons with Susan Graham in New Jersey throughout middle and high school before deciding to pursue music in college. He participated in the Juilliard Summer Winds' inaugural program via Zoom in 2020, later beginning his studies with Professor Sarah Brady at the Boston Conservatory in 2021. Aaron has also attended the Cortona Sessions for New Music in Cortona, Italy, and explored the study of new music in great depth. During his time at Boston Conservatory, Aaron played principal in wind ensemble and opera productions, and enjoyed a variety of chamber music endeavors, including an extended period with a woodwind quintet named "Cosmic Winds." He also had the opportunity to perform at Boston's Symphony Hall with the Symphony Orchestra during his time at the Conservatory. Aaron has been seen performing around Boston with groups such as the New England Philharmonic and Horizon Ensemble and has given recitals in both the U.S. and Ireland. This past summer Aaron spent a month in northern Michigan performing the Opera "Carmen" with Bay View Music Festival as well as attending and performing with the Akropolis Chamber Music Institute. Aaron graduated Summa cum laude from Boston Conservatory at Berklee in May of 2025 and is currently attending the University of Delaware to pursue the University's new Masters in Chamber Music degree, where he is also a Fellow with the graduate wind quintet, Zephyria. He currently studies with Professor Eileen Grycky at the University of Delaware, and is pursuing a variety of studies under her tutelage, including the Baroque flute. Learn more about Aaron on his personal website aarondore.com
Oboe - Zander Barrow
Operations Manager
London-born multifaceted artist Zander Barrow (he/him) is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Oboe Performance at the University of Delaware. Outside of making reeds, practicing, and being the oboist of the Zyphria Woodwind Quintet, he enjoys staying active, reading, playing video games, composing, and watching documentaries in his free time. Along with their performing career, Zander also arranges and composes, taking heavy inspiration from the games, friends & media around him to create their own personal style of sound. Through his musicianship, he hopes to encapsulate the emotions, kinship, & peace he wishes to bring to those around him. His diverse multicultural background adds a unique element to his music and compositions through his varied approach and dedication to exploring new sounds. Zander hopes to pursue a career in performance and as a creator, creating the sounds and stories of the next generation by making films, soundtracks, or anime to continue in the footsteps of the creators who influenced him.
Clarinet - Jose Guerra
Travel Liaison
Jose Guerra (he/him) graduated from the University of Florida with a combined degree in pre-health and music performance. He is currently attending the University of Delaware for a Master's Degree in Clarinet Performance. Born in Boca Raton, Florida, Jose has been involved in music since a young age, starting the clarinet during middle school. When accepted to the University of Florida, music was not the priority, taking a backseat to the sciences. However, with an interest in pursuing musical improvement, Jose auditioned and was accepted into the School of Music at UF alongside his other studies. Being accepted into both DPT programs and Master of Music Programs across the nation, the offer to be part of what is now Zephyria was exactly the collaboration that Jose was looking for to push his playing progression. Outside of music, Jose continues his education in the pre-health field with a focus on physical therapy and enjoys weightlifting to stay active between long practice sessions. Studying with Professor Mitchell Estrin, Jose was able to partake in all the ensembles available at UF: marching band, orchestra, wind ensemble, clarinet choir, and new music ensemble, as well as two student recitals. In addition, He was the winner of the 2022 Clarinet Choir Concerto Competition and has the privilege of performing the Weber Concertino with the group and the final round of the UF undergraduate concerto competition in 2024. Now at the University of Delaware studying with Dr. Christopher Nichols, Jose hopes to enter competitions as both a soloist and with Zephyria, as well as attend festivals during the summer. Within Zephyria, Jose has taken on the role of competition research and travel logistics. Jose has had the privilege of participating in masterclasses with Julien Bliss, Joseph Beverly, and Dr. Keith Northover. Jose's equipment of choice is a set of Buffet RC Prestiges with Vandoren products, such as the BD5 mouthpiece and Optimum Ligature. A fun fact about Jose is that on the morning of his senior recital, he found a litter of six kittens outside his window. The litter was split up during the fostering process and has grown up to be very healthy (and destructive) teens. Jose's favorite works to listen and play involve collaboration with strings, such as the Brahms trio or quintet.
Horn - Melanie Robinson
Educational Outreach Manager
Melanie Robinson (she/her) grew up in the small desert town of Page, Arizona. Due to the nature of the small community, access to musical resources was very limited and she had to find ways to pursue music beyond what was provided. She auditioned for summer camps and solo and ensemble festivals, and was the first person from her high school to make it into all state band, orchestra, and choir after an 11 year gap. As soon as she got a license, she drove herself an hour north to Kanab, Utah every week after school for symphony rehearsals to better cultivate her horn playing. One of her most profound memories was in playing the “Princess Leia’s Theme” horn solo at the north rim of the grand canyon with the Symphony of the Canyons. Hearing the sounds bounce off the canyon walls was unforgettable and combined her love of the outdoors with her love of music. She has many blissful memories of hiking Mount Timpanogos, Humphreys and the infamous “rim to rim to rim” in the Grand Canyon. She hopes to continue to enjoy both aspects of nature and music in her future pursuits. After high school, Melanie was accepted into Brigham Young University to pursue a degree in music education under the mentorship of Laurence Lowe. Although her time at BYU was rewarding, she began to seek a more inclusive and flexible environment, and thus transferred to Northern Arizona University. Her professor at NAU, Nancy Sullivan, was very supportive of her pursuits and helped shape a rigorous practice routine and curriculum that helped her reach new peaks in horn playing. Professor Sullivan often incorporated elements of ancient and traditional horn playing into her pedagogy, including that of the alphorn, waldhorn, and Wagner tuba. During her time at NAU, Melanie auditioned and secured a position in the horn section of the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, where she performed many notable works. She completed degrees in K-12 instrumental education, and horn performance before moving on to graduate school at the University of Delaware. At UD, she is currently studying with Dr. John David Smith, whose wisdom is very applicable to her chamber music playing, orchestral auditions, and teaching pedagogy. She hopes to continue with a DMA in horn performance following her graduate degree. Melanie has had many opportunities to perform over the course of her schooling career. She has had the pleasure of playing horn for commercial band albums, video game soundtracks, church gigs, orchestras, chamber ensembles, musicals, and more. At NAU, her horn quartet won the concerto competition and performed Konzertstuck for a large audience. She also had the unique experience of playing for prisoners in a small chamber setting. This prison-outreach program was very inspiring and helped her see beyond notes and rhythms and feel a connection to the audience that is not found within a traditional stage setting. Some of her favorite chamber pieces include the Brahms horn trio, and the Poulenc sextet. Her quintet, Zephyria, is looking forward to some upcoming performances and competitions that will further broaden her performance exposure.
Bassoon - Zane Ballenger
Spokesperson/Social Media Co-Ambassador
Zane Ballenger (he/him) is currently pursuing his Master of Music in Bassoon Performance and a Masters in Chamber Music at the University of Delaware, where he studies under Zachary Feingold, plays in the Fellowship Wind Quintet, Zephyria, and is a TA for Woodwind Methods and the Double Reed Studios. He also studies oboe as a secondary study under Dr. Erin Banholzer. Zane is a passionate music educator and accomplished woodwind performer dedicated to inspiring the next generation of musicians. A graduate of East Tennessee State University, studying under Dr. Heather Killmeyer, Zane earned his Bachelor of Music degree with a minor in education with a K-12 certification, graduating magna cum laude with a 3.77 GPA. He holds a K–12 music teaching license in Tennessee, endorsed in instrumental and general music. As an educator, Zane has taught across grade levels and musical settings. He served as Band Director at Austin-East Magnet High School, where he directed ensembles, taught general music and music history, and managed performances, travel, and community events. He has also worked with young musicians as a woodwind technician for Science Hill High School and Central High School, instructing sectionals, teaching marching techniques, and preparing students for competitive performances. In addition, Zane has shared his expertise through private instruction, serving as a drum major and leadership coach. His teaching emphasizes not only technical skill but also collaboration, creativity, and confidence, creating a classroom environment where students feel encouraged to grow as both musicians and people. Zane is equally active as a performer. He has played bassoon, oboe, and English horn with: ETSU Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Orchestra while in undergrad, Appalachia: A Southeastern Wind Symphony, Scruffy City Orchestra, Tennessee Wind Symphony, and Maryville College Orchestra. He currently performs with the University of Delaware Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Symphonic Band. His versatility as a woodwind musician allows him to step into a variety of roles, covering multiple instruments as needed and maintaining a high level of artistry across settings. These experiences keep him connected to the professional performance world, which he integrates into his teaching to inspire students with real-world musical application. Leadership has also been a cornerstone of Zane’s career. He served as Drum Major of the East Tennessee State University Marching Bucs for three seasons, as well as with Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps. In these roles, he served as a bridge between directors and performers, ensuring strong communication and cohesion within the ensemble. These leadership experiences strengthened his skills in teamwork, organization, and motivation—qualities he now brings into every classroom and rehearsal. Outside of teaching and performing, Zane has worked in customer service, honing his communication and problem-solving skills, and has been recognized consistently for his reliability and leadership. He is currently working as an Administrative Assistant and Unit Clerk for a health facility where he helps with payroll, scheduling, and compliance. His commitment to excellence has been highlighted through academic honors, including repeated appearances on the Dean’s List and his induction into Phi Mu Alpha, Lambda Sigma Chapter. Driven by a love for both music and education, Zane continues to seek opportunities to grow as a musician and as an educator. Whether on the podium, in the classroom, or on stage, he is committed to fostering a deep appreciation of music and helping students find their own voice through performance.