As a result, the Consort has become a fixture in the arts community in Southwestern Idaho. Darkwood has made several television appearances, entertained numerous regional to international dignitaries, and sponsored and performed in events for many arts and/or cultural organizations, including the Boise Early Music Society, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Boise Art Museum, Medieval Society of Southwestern Idaho, and Scandinavian Society of Southwestern Idaho.

Alan Nielsen earned a B.A. in Applied Music from Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho, and has been the bass clarinetist with the Boise Philharmonic since 1988. At NNC he studied with Michael Bankston and had a second major in International Studies.

While growing up in Oregon and Texas he studied all woodwinds, developing an early affinity for low woodwinds (bass clarinet, English horn, bassoon and baritone saxophone). It was nevertheless rather shocking when, after several years of "serious" study on oboe, he gravitated back to bass clarinet at the age of 22, after a seven year hiatus.

While most bass clarinetists double on other instruments, Alan has taken a different approach by appropriating other literature. Learning to transpose other clefs and keys on sight, he has done just that, performing Back Cello Suites and the Mozart Bassoon Concerto, the latter as soloist with the Treasure Valley Concert Band and on tour with the NNC Concert Band.

In addition to his tenure with the Boise Philharmonic, Alan is the bass clarinetist with the Sun Valley Summer Symphony, and has been an adjunct professor of woodwinds at NNC.

When not performing, practicing, or teaching private lessons, he is busy as a board member of several organizations, and studies Danish.

Patience Varnagy earned her Bachelor of Music degree in viola performance from Northern Illinois University. Like many violists, she began training on violin but soon discovered the richness of the larger instrument and never looked back.

After seeing the world while serving in the US Air Force, she taught strings in Florida and at the Department of Defense schools in Germany before finally moving to Boise.

Patience has performed with numerous orchestras and chamber ensembles, including the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, and the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra.

She is a member of the Boise Philharmonic and teaches elementary orchestra and private viola lessons.

She is also a graduate student at Boise State University, working toward her Master of Music Education degree.

Karlin Coolidge began her love affair with the flute at age 13, convincing skeptical parents of her true intentions by selling her bike as a down payment on an instrument. It has been a lasting relationship ever since.

Karlin earned her B.A. in music from the University of Washington and a master of music degree from the University of Oregon. She studied privately for two years with William Kincaid, principal flutist of the Philadelphia Orchestra and has continued to attend master classes with prominent flutists. She has performed as principal flutist with the Eugene Symphony, the Inland Empire Symphony, the Redlands Bowl Summer Festival Orchestra, the Loma Linda Symphony, the Wissahicken Valley Orchestra of Philadelphia, and the Boise Civic Symphony. Her career has also included many solo appearances with these orchestras, solo recitals and participation in many chamber ensembles, including the Topeka Woodwind Quintet.

A musician dedicated to the pursuit and preservation of her craft, she has passed along her knowledge through teaching. Faculty appointments have included the University of California, Riverside; California State University, San Bernadino; Loma Linda University; California Baptist College, Riverside; University of Redlands; Willamette University, Salem, Oregon; and the University of Oregon. Karlin has recently moved back to Boise with her husband from Topeka, Kansas. She is currently the piccolo player with the Boise Philharmonic.

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