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Oboe Department
Bassoon Department
Clarinet Department
Saxophone Department
Instrument Selection Assistance
Friends of MMI
Teaching Studios
Try Then Buy
Learn More about the Instrument Repair Program
At MMI, we focus on maintaining the quality of your woodwind through our meticulous instrument repair services. It's our priority to create a repair program that reflects the highest of standards, so you leave our repair shop with a feeling that your instrument is in good hands. Explore our instrument repair options below to gain a deeper understanding of our services.
English Horn and Oboe D'Amore
Our staff of conservatory trained instrument specialists are here to help. Whether you're interested in buying a new instrument, woodwind rental or financing, our MMI experts can provide you what you're looking for.
Norbert Nielubowski, Minnesota Orchestra
For buying and selling new or used instruments and double reed supplies, MMI is a great place for all your bassoon needs. With their excellent staff and their extensive inventory of new and used bassoons, bocals, and supplies, MMI is a full service shop for all your bassoon needs whether you are a professional, student or amateur. I've always had great service from MMI- their great bassoon specialists, Jessica and Katie, are always ready to answer my questions about bassoons, bocals, or the latest reed-making equipment. MMI is my first choice.
Norbert Nielubowski - Contrabassoonist, Minnesota Orchestra
Frances Colón, Former Principal Oboe, Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra
"I have been a customer for over a decade and have always received the most amazing customer service there is. Products are shipped immediately and arrive fast extremely well packed and taken care of. Thank YOU, Midwest Musical Imports for your service to the music community! Bravo!"
Frances Colón - Former Principal Oboe, Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra
Ian Tyson, Freelance Clarinetist, New York, NY
I recently purchased a Buffet R13 from Midwest Musical Imports. The entire process was incredible. Clarinet specialist, Tori Okwabi, was so professional and thorough throughout every step of the process. She truly made me feel like a valued customer. Tori went above and beyond in customer service. Her knowlegde of the clarinet is top notch. I cannot say enough good things about Tori. She is definitley a key factor in me wanting to become a returning customer, as well as encouraging others to use MMI for all of their woodwind needs. I was very impressed with the new store space, large inventory, and professional staff. One other staff member I must mention is Jessica Nelson. She was also incredible to work with--such attention to detail and passion for what she does. Thank you, Midwest Musical Imports for the fantastic experience! I look forward to the next one.
Ian Tyson - Freelance Clarinetist, New York, NY
Nathan Hughes, Metropolitan Opera | Oboe Faculty, The Juilliard School
Thank you MMI for all the knowledge, care and wonderful service you have provided for so many of us over the years! You are an invaluable resource for musicians everywhere!
Nathan Hughes - Metropolitan Opera | Oboe Faculty, The Juilliard School
Raymond Santos, Kansas City Symphony, Principal Clarinet & Buffet-Crampon Artist
Midwest Musical Imports has been a wonderful resource for me. They've been able to help me sell several of my instruments on consignment, which took the stress out of the instrument selling process. Additionally, it's been a great place for me to visit and try their inventory of clarinets. Tori has a great selection of instruments, and it was very easy to find a set of clarinets that fit my needs. I highly recommend Midwest Musical Imports to students and professionals.
Raymond Santos - Raymond Santos, Kansas City Symphony, Principal Clarinet & Buffet-Crampon Artist
Ben Kamins, Rice University
Thanks for the incredible support you and your colleagues serve my students. It really makes an enormous difference for their success in the profession.
Ben Kamins - Rice University
William Short, Principal Bassoon, Metropolitan Opera
MMI's combination of high-quality merchandise, reasonable prices, and knowledgeable staff have made them my go-to double reed supplier for years. Whether I'm stocking up on cane for the next opera season, helping my students look for bocals, or just splurging on the latest gadget, they're the best!
William Short - Principal Bassoon, Metropolitan Opera
Michael Aamoth
Michael created Midwest Musical Imports in 1983 as an importer of Loree oboes from Paris. An oboist and teacher since his youth, Michael's college studies were at the Manhattan School of Music and the University of Minnesota where he earned his music degree. While growing MMI, Michael played professionally and taught oboe at several institutions as well as his own private studio.
Jeff Marshak
Oboe Department, General Manager
Oboe Specialist
A native of Dayton, Ohio Jeff comes to MMI with more than 20 years of oboe experience. Jeff maintains an active performance career in and around the Twin Cities. Before arriving in Minnesota, he has performed with the Kentucky Symphony, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Westmoreland Symphony and in the Twin Cities performs regularly with the Quad City Symphony, The Duluth Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, and currently holds the position of 2nd oboe/English horn with the Minnesota Opera. His performance career has also lead him to fellowships with several summer music festivals including the Hot Springs Music Festival, the Opera Theater and Orchestra festival of Lucca, and the National Orchestral Institute. He also has extensive experience as a pit orchestra musician including performances with the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Arnoff Theater, Pittsburgh Playhouse, and Bloomington Civic Theater. Jeff has a BM from Wright State University in Dayton, OH, a MM from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, OH, a Performance Certificate from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA and a DMA from the University of Minnesota. His primary teachers include Dr. Mark Ostoich, Dwight Parry, Cynthia Koledo-DeAlmeida, and John Snow.
Steven Maijala
Steven Maijala is oboist and English hornist with the Chippewa Valley Symphony and Eau Claire Chamber Orchestras, both located in northern Wisconsin. His major teachers include Peter Cooper, Anna Mattix, Christa Garvey, and Leonid Sirotkin. He holds a masters degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and dual bachelors degrees in oboe performance and biology from DePauw University. Steven has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Longmont Symphony Orchestra, and the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra. When he is not making reeds, performing, or helping customers at MMI, Steven is an amateur potter; he also enjoys cooking, cross-country running, and rock climbing.
Alyssa Jermiason
Nick Ober
Having performed in a variety of settings and locales, Nick's aspiration is to be as versatile of a bassoonist as possible. Although primarily experienced as a symphonic player, he has also performed in Opera pits, Theatre and musical productions, and new music ensembles. While obtaining his Master's in bassoon at Northwestern, he helped launch the project Apres L'Histoire, a new music ensemble that performs and commissions works for the same ensemble used in Stravinsky's L'Histoire du Soldat. He also co-founded the Seraphina Ensemble, a new music project focusing on living composers from underrepresented demographics. Most recently, Nick was in the cast for the Chicago Shakespeare Theater's production of Nell Gwynn. He has also performed with the Northbrook Symphony in Northbrook, IL . With 5 years of experience as a barista, he is also excellent at recommending coffee to people. He has a keen interest in bringing the bassoon to genres it is not normally found in, such as jazz. Someday, Nick hopes to maintain a bassoon studio at the college level.
Trevor Bullock
Trevor earned his bachelor's degree from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville where he studied with Jim Lotz. Being so close to Nashville, he was exposed to many musical experiences and gigs that have made him a versatile musician. During his time at Tennessee Technological University, Trevor played in the Bryan Symphony orchestra as well as recorded albums and preforming wind band masterworks with the Tennessee Tech Wind Ensemble. He went to to receive his master's degree from the University of South Carolina studying under Dr. Michael Harley. During his time at U of SC Trevor played with the U of SC Symphony orchestra and the Rock Hill Symphony orchestra as well as subbing with the Charleston Symphony in outreach performances. He also performed with the U of SC Wind Ensemble were he performed many pieces of standard literature as well as contemporary works including Nico Muhly's new bassoon concerto Reliable Sources. Trevor met many contemporary musicians, composers and soloists which sparked a love and continuing interest in contemporary music. In addition to music, Trevor also enjoys spending time outdoors as well as fencing in his spare time. Trevor hopes to lead a bassoon studio at the university level as well as perform in many different genres.
Tori Okwabi, D.M.
Clarinet & Saxophone Department
Clarinet Specialist
A native of Tallahassee, Florida, Tori joins MMI with more than 25 years of clarinet experience. Tori is an active performer and educator who regularly attends national and international music festivals where she serves as a clinician and guest performer. She is the principal clarinetist of the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra where she won the 2015 WSO Concerto Competition. As an educator Tori maintains a private teaching studio in Minneapolis and Eden Prairie and loves teaching students of all levels--from beginners to adults. She received a Doctor of Music degree in clarinet performance from Florida State University, a Master of Music from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Wisconsin. She has studied under the tutelage of Frank Kowalsky, Elsa-Ludwig-Verdehr, Deborah Bish, Nathan Williams and Linda Bartley.
Brandon Wozniak
Saxophone and Clarinet Specialist
One of Minnesota's most exciting saxophonists, Brandon returned to the twin cities in 2006 after six years in New York City and a six month stint in Shanghai, China. Wozniak studied music at Indiana University with David Baker and privately with Tom Walsh. Brandon performs regularly with Dave King's (Bad Plus, Happy Apple drummer) Dave King Trucking Company with saxophonist Chris Speed, the Atlantis Quartet (City Pages Best Jazz Artist 2011, Star Tribune Best Jazz Artist 2012), the great drummer Eric Kamau Gravatt (Weather Report, McCoy Tyner), Bryan Nichols Quintet, Chris Bates Red 5 plus others. Brandon has also performed with singer Nellie McKay, toured with the Tommy Dorsey Jazz Orchestra and shared the stage with organ great Dr. Lonnie Smith and guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg.
Amelia Smith, D.M.A.
Originally from a small suburb west of Minneapolis, Amelia holds degrees in clarinet performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, the University of Memphis, and the University of Minnesota. She most enjoys collaborating with others through chamber music and performs frequently with groups here in the Twin Cities as well as in Memphis, Tennessee. Amelia has been an audition finalist with the President's Own Marine Band in Washington, D.C. and was recently awarded first prize in the Schubert Club Scholarship Competition. Her past instructors include Howard Klug, Robyn Jones, Alexander Fiterstein, and Timothy Zavadil. Amelia is also a very passionate and dedicated educator herself, having taught private and group clarinet lessons to students of all ages for several years. She currently teaches at Wayzata High School, Anoka High School and Anoka Ramsey Community College. Most recently she has completed a brief appointment at the University of Mississippi serving as interim clarinet faculty for the first part of Fall semester 2018.
Instrument Repair Technician
Eric Anderson graduated with a degree in musical instrument repair in 2005 from Minnesota State College SE tech. He has been repairing wind instruments since, with a primary focus in Bassoon and Oboe. As a member of NAPBIRT, he continues to further the education of his career, by attending annual conferences and sharing knowledge and techniques amongst other technicians in the craft. His support of music on a local and national level is a driving factor for both his professional and personal life.
Allen Mannes
Allen Mannes attended Waldorf University and received his B.S. in Music Education in 2011. After teaching beginning band for 3 years he returned to school at Minnesota State College SE Tech to pursue a career in instrument repair. Upon receiving his diploma from SE Tech Allen began his career at Midwest Musical Imports. Allen enjoys learning and is thrilled to be working with the wonderful technicians at MMI. Allen is an avid MPR listener, an enthusiast of random facts, and in his free time is learning how to make trumpet bells.
Caleb Rasmusson
Caleb Rasmusson has been repairing instruments professionally since graduating from Minnesota State College SE Tech in 2013. After graduation, he began working at Coles Music Service in southern New Jersey where he honed skills working with both brass and woodwind instruments. After two years, he began repairing at Brook Mays in Dallas, Texas. While he still repaired all instruments he focused most of his time on repairing saxophones and clarinets. In July of 2016 he joined the repair staff at MMI. When he is not repairing instruments you can find him exploring the Twin Cities, tinkering on cars and motorcycles, or belting out Aerosmith at karaoke bars.
Brian DeGayner
Brian DeGayner graduated from Southeast Technical in Red Wing with a diploma in band instrument repair in 2016. Prior to joining the repair team at MMI, Brian worked for Twin Cities Instrument Repair in Edina, focusing on flute and double reeds. He is a member of the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT), and attends state and regional conferences. Brian spends most of his free time outdoors, or playing in local orchestras.
Jeff Dorman
Jeff has been professionally repairing woodwind instruments since graduating from Minnesota State College SE in 2017. After graduating he moved from his native state of Minnesota to the west coast, working as a woodwind technician at Best Instrument Repair Company in Oakland, California. He returned to Minnesota in February of 2019 to join the repair team here at Midwest Musical Imports. In his free time Jeff enjoys rock climbing, listening to a wide range of music and spending time with good friends and family.
Carianne Newstat
Carianne graduated from Southeast Technical College in May 2019. She is extremely excited to begin her career as a Repair Technician at MMI, and looks forward to many years fixing musical instruments. She lives in south Minneapolis with four cats, one roommate, and her extensive collection of sci-fi comic books.
Have a question about our musical instrument repair or other services? Our highly skilled repair technicians and instrument specialists are happy to help. Contact us today!
1621 E. Hennepin Ave. Suite 100
9am-5pm Monday – Friday
9am-3pm Saturday
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MMI Newsletter
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1621 E Hennepin Ave, Ste 100,
Minneapolis MN, 55414
Local: (612)331-4717
9am-7pm Monday
9am – 5pm Tuesday thru Friday
9am – 3pm Saturday
Contact Midwest Musical Imports