Meet The Team
Jason & Beth Onks
Jason and Beth started Onks Woodwind Specialists in 2005 to better serve the woodwind community.
Jason received his Bachelor in Music degree from Arkansas State University with Dr. Dan Ross and his Master of Music degree from the University of Illinois with Dr. Nancy Ambrose King. Jason has been repairing instruments for a living since January 2000. During that time Jason has worked with and consulted with some of the top repair technicians in the industry. This has allowed Jason to try many different repair techniques all the while honing his own skills to provide quality repairs for each and every client. Jason’s training started in 1992 when he was a freshman at Arkansas State University. Jason not only learned to play the oboe by studying with Dr. Dan Ross, but also learned many mechanical aspects of the oboe. Dr. Ross is a fine oboe repair man as well as the inventor/manufacturer of the Ross oboe gouging machine. Beyond Jason’s degrees in oboe performance, Jason attended repair school at Badger State Instrument Repair in Elkhorn, WI. This school is a complete overhaul facility, which allowed Jason to learn repair from the ground up on all wind instruments.
Beth has worked as administrative assistant for a number of years and is always a major support to the business and Jason. Beth is currently serving the community as an elementary school teacher focusing on literacy.
Sam Ferruccio
Sam was born in Nashville, TN. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Industry from Middle Tennessee State University. While at MTSU, Sam studied oboe with Rebecca Van de Ven and Dr. Grace Woodworth. He serves as a woodwind instructor for an area high school in Williamson County and maintains a private studio on all woodwind instruments with a primary focus on oboe. His students have been selected for honors such as Mid-State, All-State, and Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts. In his free time, Sam enjoys kayaking, fishing and spending time with family and friends. Sam joined the Onks Woodwind team in May of 2019.
Caroline Cato
Caroline is an oboist from Bryant, AR. There she had the opportunity to stay in-state for undergrad to study under Dr. Dan Ross at Arkansas State University, earning a Bachelor of Music Performance. At ASU, Caroline was able to watch and learn from Dr. Ross about reed making and cane processing. Not only did Dr. Ross build and service Ross gouging machines, he also taught the Instrument Repair class and frequently worked on oboes and other instruments in his office. Studying under Dr. Ross sparked Caroline’s interest in reed making and repair. Upon graduation, Caroline attended Baylor University to earn a Master of Music Performance, studying under Dr. Euridice Alvarez. At Baylor she was a TA, giving her the opportunity to teach weekly reed lessons to each undergraduate student in the oboe studio and assist in teaching weekly studio reed class. She also held an apprenticeship at a local woodwind repair shop in Waco. Upon graduation from Baylor, Caroline began an oboe reed business, Caroline’s Cane Co., and stayed in Waco growing a private oboe studio and teaching private lessons at local schools. Caroline enjoys anything to do with being outdoors. Hiking, running, and CrossFit are some of her favorite hobbies, but most importantly, spending time with her sweet dog Bonnie. Caroline joined the Onks Woodwind team in July 2022.
Check out Caroline and her reeds at carolinescaneco.com by clicking her picture!