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BASSOON TEACHERS & PROFESSORS

Finding the ideal bassoon teacher can be a challenge because the instrument is so unique. Below is a list of music professors and teachers who have a strong reputation for teaching aspiring bassoonists across a variety of ages. Some of them are renown performing artists.

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KRISTIN WOLFE JENSEN

Austin, Texas

Based in Austin, Texas, Professor Kristin Wolfe Jensen has created a helpful tutorial website that is free to use for young bassoonists worldwide.

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JUDITH LECLAIR

New York

Considered one of the most famous bassoonists in America, Judith LeClair has taught many talented students at Juilliard since and the Manhattan School of Music since the 1980s. She has given master classes at the Eastman School of Music, Northwestern University, New England Conservatory, Oberlin College, Michigan and Ohio Universities, and the University of Colorado at Boulder.

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OLE KRISTIAN DAHL

Norway & Germany

Based in Norway and Germany, Professor Dahl’s extensive experience mentoring talented bassoonists, and his passion for teaching, have resulted in high demand for his masterclasses all over the world.

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CHRISTOPHER MILLARD

Ottawa, Canada

Christopher Millard is distinguished teacher, serving on the faculty of University of Ottawa, UBC, and Northwestern University. For 20 years he was the bassoon professor for the National Youth Orchestra, where he helped nurture a new generation of Canadian wind players. His students now occupy numerous positions in American and Canadian orchestras. He currently teaches masterclasses worldwide.

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DANIEL MATSUKAWA

Argentina & Philadelphia

Daniel Matsukawa has been principal bassoon of The Philadelphia Orchestra since 2000. Mr. Matsukawa is a regular member of the faculties at both the Curtis Institute of Music and the Boyer College of Music at Temple University.

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BENJAMIN KAMINS

Houston. Texas

Benjamin Kamins is a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique and teaches Alexander Technique classes with his wife, Janet Rarick, at Rice University, and as well as private lessons at the Rice University Recreation Center.

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He spends his summers teaching and performing throughout the U.S. He currently is on the faculty of the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California, a program that pairs a highly regarded teaching program with a varied array of faculty and guest artist performances.

GUSTAVO NÚÑEZ

Netherlands, Germany & Spain

Gustavo Núñez, principal bassoon with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, is considered one of the best bassoonists of his generation. He is a professor at the Robert Schumann Academy in Düsseldorf and the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía in Madrid, and a world renown masterclass instructor.

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SIMON VAN HOLEN

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Simon Van Holen is Principle Contrabassoon for the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. He is a professor of bassoon and contrabassoon at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, recording artist, and regularly gives masterclasses to students around the globe.

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MARTIN KUUSKMANN

Denver, Colorado

An avid educator, Kuuskmann regularly gives masterclasses in worldwide festivals and universities. He has taught at the Manhattan School of Music Contemporary Performance Program in New York City, and is now the Professor of Bassoon at the University of Denver, Lamont School of Music.

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BRIAN JACK

Boulder, Colorado

Based in Boulder, CO, Brian earned his teacher certification in CO and NY, specializing in teaching young bassoonists in elementary and middle school. He is a part of the popular Boulder Bassoon Quartet.

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NADINA MACKIE JACKSON

Ontario, Canada

Based in Ontario, Canada, Nadina is the founder of the non-profit organization Council of Canadian Bassoonists, and currently teaches bassoon at the University of Toronto and the Glenn Gould Professional School of the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, as well as online.

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BARRICK STEES

Cleveland, Ohio

Awarded the Presidential Scholar Teacher Recognition Award from the United States Secretary of Education, he has taught at Michigan State University, the Interlochen Arts Camp, the Interlochen Arts Academy, the Brevard Music Center and the University of Akron. His former students occupy prominent positions in orchestras and universities.

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STEFANO CANUTI

Parma, Italy

Stefano currently is a Professor of Bassoon at RNCM. He holds a professorship at the Conservatorio di Musica Campiani in Mantua, Italy. He sits on the panel of many major international woodwind competitions.

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Photo credit: Victoria Haydn

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MALTE REFARDT

Hamburg, Germany

As a passionate teacher, he gives masterclasses throughout Europe, Asia, North and South America. In addition, he is appointed as a juror for competitions such as the Deutscher Musikwettbewerb, Deutscher Hochschulwettbewerb and Muri Competition and is on the committee of the renowned "Kyoto Prize", the Japanese equivalent of the Nobel Prize.

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GEORGE SAKAKEENY

New York

George Sakakeeny is professor of bassoon at the Eastman School of Music, and has taught guest master classes at the Paris Conservatory, Rice University, Tokyo University, the Juilliard School, and held long term residencies at the Shanghai Conservatory, the Central Conservatory, Seoul National University, and the Conservatoire National Supèrieur de Musique et Danse of Lyon, France.

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Photo credit: Matt Dine

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YOSHIYUKI ISHIKAWA

Boulder, Colorado

Yoshiyuki Ishikawa is the Professor of Bassoon and the Chair of the Woodwind Area at the University of Colorado Boulder, College of Music. He has performed and presented solo recitals, masterclasses and workshops at prestigious conservatories, schools of music, and festivals in North America, Eastern and Southeast Asia, Europe and Oceania.

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REBEKAH HELLER

New York

Based in NY, Rebekah has given lectures and masterclasses at many institutions, teaching students in many different types of programs. Rebekah joined the faculty of the College of Performing Arts (CoPA) and The Mannes School of Music at The New School in the fall of 2019. She leads a bassoon studio, and teaches classes in creative producing and socially engaged artistry at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.

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KEITH SWEGER

Muncie, Indiana

Strongly committed to teaching, Dr. Sweger is in demand as a clinician and guest teacher at colleges and universities and at summer festivals and camps. His students have received many honors and are playing in orchestras and teaching in universities, colleges and public schools around the country.

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STÉPHANE LÉVESQUE

Montreal, Canada

Currently Assistant Professor at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University, Mr Lévesque was the recipient of the 2011-12 Schulich School of Music Teaching Award. Mr. Lévesque has given master classes in numerous music institutions throughout the world. His former students have won positions in orchestras and music institutions in Canada, Australia, Finland, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, and the USA.

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JEFFREY LYMAN

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Dr. Lyman is a professor and educator at the University of Michigan. He has given masterclasses and runs an intensive week-long program for high school bassoonists during summers.

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PAUL HANSON

Northern California

Based in Nothern California, Paul specializes in teaching young bassoonists, as well as more seasoned bassoonists who are particularly interested in jazz and improv styles. He teaches from his studio as well as online.

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LAURENCE PERKINS

Manchester, UK

Based in the UK, Laurence provides bassoon instruction to students of all ages. He can be found teaching locally in Manchester as well as online.

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ANDREW BRADY

Johnson City, Tennessee

I enjoy teaching and helping young bassoonists realize their potential! I also play the recorder for fun, and have soloed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra on recorder during performances of John Williams' score to 'Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban'.

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JULIA LOCKHART

Vancouver, Canada

Based in Vancouver, Canada, Julia was recently appointed as an Adjunct Professor of bassoon at UBC and has given guest masterclasses at many other institutions. She has also designed an online tutorial for the VSO designed at getting kids interested in the bassoon.

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WILLIAM SHORT

New York

A dedicated teacher, William serves on the faculties of The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, and Temple University, as well as the Verbier Festival and Interlochen Arts Camp. He has presented classes at colleges and conservatories around the country and at conferences of the International Double Reed Society, for which he serves as an officer.

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Photo credit: Jose Franch-Ballester

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FABIO CURY

Sao Paulo, Brazil

As soloist, chamber musician and professor, Fabio Cury has performed and taught at all of the most important Brazilian music festivals.  Outside of Brazil, Fábio has dedicated himself to promoting Brazilian repertory, giving lectures and courses and performing as a soloist in Argentina, Panama, Canada and England.

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WHITNEY CROCKETT

LA, California

Whitney Crockett has served on the faculties of the Juilliard and Manhattan schools of music (1998–2009), as well as McGill University in Montreal (1992–1998). He has given master classes at numerous institutions, including the Domaine Forget in Québec, the Curtis Institute, the Colburn School, the Puerto Rico Conservatory and many universities. He began his tenure with the faculty of Lynn University in the fall of 2020.

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CRISTIAN COLIVER

Guadalajara, Mexico

Cristian has performed in the most prestigious concert halls such as Carnegie Hall in New York, Philharmonie Berlin, and cities around the world. He has taught master classes, and is currently teaching younger students.

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JAAKKO LUOMA

Lohja, Finland

Jaakko Luoma became member of the Tapiola Sinfonietta already at the age of 20 in 1993. During the years 1996–98 he served as solo bassoonist of Orchestre de Paris. Between 2001 and 2003 he also served as solo bassoonist of Rundfunk- Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Today, he is the principal bassoonist of Tapiola Sinfonietta. He teaches bassoon playing at the Sibelius Academy.

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TRENT JACOBS

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Trent can be found teaching students locally from his private studio, at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, as well as online.

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GORDON FANTINI

Brussels, Belgium

Gordon is Principal Bassoon, Section Leader at the Belgian National Orchestra in Brussels and has collaborated with many orchestras. He teaches online with Play with a Pro.

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MICHAEL BURNS

Greensboro, North Carolina

A Professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he has been associated with festivals including the Clazz International Music Festival (Tuscany, Italy), Eastern Music Festival, The Summer Bassoon Extravaganza, New England Music Camp and the Bocal Majority and Operation O.B.O.E.

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MARK ORTWEIN

Indianapolis, Indiana

Mark is an active studio musician and records regularly for the Hal Leonard and Alfred Publishing Companies, as well as many other projects. He teaches bassoon at the University of Indianapolis and is a founding member of the Icarus Ensemble (jazz quintet).

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ELZA OZOLA

Riga, Latvia

Based in Latvia, Elza enjoys teaching from her studio, specializing in helping young bassoonists locally and online.

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YUEH CHOU

Northern California

Based in Northern California, Dr. Chou has extensive teaching experience, including teaching Master Classes at Fu-Jen University in Taiwan, Bassoon and Chamber Music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Preparatory Division.

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ERYN OFT

Jacksonville, Alabama

Eryn serves as coach for Etowah Youth Orchestra’s Endangered Instruments and the Red Brick Collective Woodwind Quintet. Prior to her work at Jacksonville State University she served as faculty at Snow College and Instructor at Indiana University.

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ELAINA WALZEL

Norman, Oklahoma

With 11 years of bassoon experience, Elaina has been teaching private lessons since her senior year in high school, managing a studio of up to 17 bassoonists from central Texas. After she obtains her master’s degree, she hopes to become a bassoon professor and write her own curriculum of a standardized method of teaching beginner bassoonist.

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DANIEL BEILMAN

Sarasota, FL and Boston, MA

Daniel teaches Bassoon, Contrabassoon, reed making for both Bassoon and Contrabassoon. He has experience teaching students of all ages, including beginners, advanced students, college students and amateurs.

OTHER UNIQUE INSTRUMENTS

Sometimes it can be difficult to find the right music teacher, particularly for instruments that are unique. Below are talented teachers who are currently teaching and helping young musicians with other unique instruments.

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SCOTT SUTHERLAND

Southern California

Based in Southern California, Scott is a passionate and dedicated euphonium and tuba teacher. He is currently on the faculty at the University of Redlands, Idyllwild Arts Summer Program and Gene Pokorny Low Brass Seminar.

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WILLIAM HSU

Los Angeles, California

Based in Los Angeles, CA, William teaches flute and contrabass flute to students of all ages from his local studio. He also teaches online.

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