About us
The Hunt Valley Wind Ensemble's mission is to provide an opportunity for adult amateur musicians to rehearse and perform challenging wind band repertoire while providing live music for the local community and beyond.
Section Leaders
(in score order)
Flute
Jenn Ambrosiano
Double Reeds (Oboe/Bassoon)
Gordon Uchenick
Clarinet
George Grecco
Saxophone
Colin Riley
French Horn
Jeff Baker
Trumpet
John Baker
Trombone
John Rivera
Euphonium/Tuba
James Wei
Percussion
(vacant)
Mateo Mendez
Interim Band Conductor
Mateo Mendez is an oboist, woodwind doubler, and educator hailing from Forestville, New York and currently based in Baltimore, Maryland. He currently serves as Manager of Education and Community Engagement for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and holds a playing position as third oboe and English Horn in the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra in Bozeman, Montana. Additional posts include principal oboe of the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra in Warren, Pennsylvania and second oboe of the Mount Vernon Virtuosi. He has been featured as a soloist with the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra, the Lancaster Town Band, the Fredonia Camerata, and the Eastman Treble Chorus. As an educator, Mateo has served as the director of the Fredonia Jazz Ensemble, horn instructor of the Western New York Alumni and Chadwick Bay Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps, and interim band director of the instrumental music program at Forestville Central School, teaching grades 4-12. He also maintains a small studio of woodwind and brass students. Mateo holds a bachelor’s degree in oboe performance from SUNY Fredonia and a master’s degree in oboe performance from the Peabody Institute.
In his spare time, Mateo enjoys playing board and video games, trivia, listening to the latest releases in hip-hop and metal, and playing trumpet and saxophone in the Fredonia-based band Karrot Kake.
Matthew Benner
Founding Band Conductor
Matthew T. Benner is the Conductor of the Hunt Valley Wind Ensemble. Matthew holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music from Millersville University, and a Master’s degree in Music Education from Towson University. Through his career, Matthew has worked with several bands, most recently the Towson University Concert Band. He is currently teaching instrumental music at Dulaney High School in Timonium, Maryland.
Personally, Matthew currently resides in Baltimore with his wife (Elaine), daughter (Clara), son (Felix) and two dogs (Bianca and Nigel). In his (non-existent) spare time, he is an active curler, board game aficionado, and DCI (Drum Corps International) enthusiast.
Jenn Ambrosiano
Founder & President
Jenn Ambrosiano is the founder and president of the Hunt Valley Wind Ensemble. Jenn started the organization in 2016, which was originally known as the Hunt Valley Symphonic Band, for the areas of Hunt Valley, Cockeysville, Timonium, and beyond, as a way to give back to the community through music.
Jenn’s primary instrument is flute and she has been part of many local community music organizations around the state of Maryland, including other community bands and various flute choirs. Jenn has a deep love for music that stems back from her childhood starting with the incredible music teachers she had in school growing up on Long Island. In college, Jenn discovered playing in concert bands doesn’t have to end with high school or college when she found a few local community groups to join. Those groups helped her realize that playing an instrument can be a life long pursuit. Her passion for community music has grown deep since college and Jenn often finds herself serving on various non-profit boards to help promote and spread community music locally and beyond.
In addition to her involvement with the band, Jenn also plays with other community music groups, coaches field hockey, is a Girl Scout leader, and serves on her homeowners board of directors. Jenn lives in Cockeysville with her husband and is a stay-at-home mother to her three children.