Fredrik Ekdahl is leader of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra’s bassoon section and held the same position in the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. He performs regularly with orchestras including London Symphony Orchestra, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Australian Chamber Orchestra. He has appeared as soloist with the Royal Stockholm Phi…

In 2019 Theo was appointed principal of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra and he won 3rd Prize at the ARD Competition in Munich. As a soloist Theo has appeared with the Munich Chamber, Dortmunder Philharmoniker, the Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz and Beethoven Orchester Bonn. Recent highlights include recitals at the Elbphilharmonie in Ham…

A passionate advocate for the bassoon, Amy Harman is much sought after as a soloist, chamber musician, teacher and communicator. Amy was a professor at the Royal Academy of Music from 2013 to 2024 and gives masterclasses and coaches internationally. She was appointed professor of bassoon at the Robert Schumann Hochshule Düsseldorf in 2024, the firs…

Benjamin Coelho, professor of bassoon, has been at the University of Iowa since 1998. He has appeared as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, teacher, and clinician in several countries including the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Panama, Portugal, France, Romania, Australia, Canada, and the Czech Republic. An avid chamber …

In this episode of Legends of Reed, oboist Celia Craig shares her journey of how she accidentally started playing the oboe and fell in love with it. She discusses her experiences as an orchestral player, touring the world and adapting to different cultural expectations. Celia also talks about her memorable concerts, including playing with Leonard B…

Michaela Špačková is a curious and creative artist who seamlessly integrates her passions for music, humanity and nature into her musical work, lifestyle and intercultural activities – from music education concerts to her development of permaculture gardening. She regularly performs works dedicated to her for solo bassoon by contemporary composers,…

Since 2022, Sanja is artist of the French instrument maker Buffet Crampon Paris, playing oboe model „Légende”. With their support, she is bringing to life new Oboe Concerto composed by Nimrod Borenstein. World premiere will happen on March 8, 2024 with Beograde Philharmonic Orchestra, as part of 100 Years Anniversary celebration of the orchestra. H…

In this episode, I catch up with the inspiring and creative jazz bassoonist Michael Rabinowitz over his illustrious jazz career and we chat about topics such as his early days of studying at SUNY Purchase, how he amplifies the bassoon for the jazz stand, a life in jazz and improvisation, moving to NYC, making a living while balancing family life, h…

After a long absence, LOR returns with the wonderful bassoonist, Lola Descours. Lola is currently the principal bassoon in the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, under chief conductor, L. Shani. In this episode, Lola speaks to me about topics such as her concert and touring with the Rotterdam Philharmonic, her tips for auditions and competitions, he…

The Wire places Sara Schoenbeck in the "tiny club of bassoon pioneers" at work in contemporary music today, while the New York Times has called her performances "galvanizing" and "riveting.” She has performed with or been a member of Anthony Braxton’s 12+1(tet) and Tri-Centric Orchestra, Wayne Horvitz’s Gravitas Quartet, Harris Eisenstadt’s Golden …

French oboist Philippe Tondre has secured a place among the finest musicians of his generation. «Master of the oboe » (Bonner General Anzeiger), his music-making is packed with emotional sensitivity and stunning virtuosity. Principal oboe of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and the SWR Symphony Orchestra, Philippe Tondre…

I recently interviewed the fabulous bassoon soloist and conductor Peter Whelan. Peter is not only a concerto soloist, he is in constant demand as a soloist and chamber musician. He has performed in many prestigious venues around the world, and he is also the founder and Artistic Director of Ensemble Marsyas, and the Artistic Director of the Irish B…

Daniel Matsukawa has been the principal bassoon of The Philadelphia Orchestra since 2000. He studied at the Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music. His teachers include Harold Goltzer, Alan Futterman, and Bernard Garfield. Mr. Matsukawa made his solo concerto debut in Carnegie Hall at the age of 18 and was featured in a Young Artist’s S…

On this episode I am very pleased to share my interview with one of most renowned American bassoonists, Mr. Frank Morelli. He is the first bassoonist awarded a Juilliard doctorate, and has been a Carnegie Hall soloist nine times. He performed at the last White House State Dinner for President Clinton and is Co-principal bassoon of the Orpheus Chamb…

On this episode, I am pleased to have bassoonist, Judith Farmer on the show. We had an interesting chat about interesting topics such as her teaching philosophy, how she stayed productive during the pandemic, what working in film recording and session work is like, what are the differences between American and European bassoon playing styles and mo…

Martin Kuuskmann is a multiple Grammy-nominated Estonian-born bassoon virtuoso, Moosmann artist, and the Professor of Bassoon and Chamber Music at the University of Denver. A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music and the Yale School of Music, his mentors include Stephen Maxym, Frank Morelli, Rufus Olivier and Ilmar Aasmets.On this episode, we t…

Welcome back to a brand new season of LOR. In this episode (recorded in summer 2020) I interview Alban Wesly, a musician based in Amsterdam. He is proud to be the bassoonist/founding member of Calefax (Amsterdam) and to have been the bassoonist of Ensemble Musikfabrik (Cologne) for 22 years. Since September 2018 Alban teaches bassoon at the Royal C…

Joost Flach’s long and fruitful musical journey as an oboist began in the Netherlands. During 1984, following the completion of his studies, he began a global search for work opportunities. This planted his migration and current residency to Singapore. Over the years this initial venture has blossomed, and developed into many opportunities througho…

This episode is kindly contributed by Ole K. Dahl. Ole interviewed his former teacher and mentor, Prof. Roger Birnstingl, during the polish bassoon festival Pracownia fagocisty 2020, thank you to our guest contributor and the festival director Arek Adamczyk for releasing this interview to our listeners! In the meantime, if you have any suggestions …

Jaroslaw Augustyniak was born in Lodz, Poland in 1965. In 1988 he graduated with distinction from the Academy of Music in Łódź, Poland with a master’s degree in Bassoon and Chamber Music. A year later he was a laureate in several prestigious competitions and then Jarek furthered his studies under the guidance of Vincenzo Menghini - RAI Turin. Jarek…

On this special bi-lingual episode I speak to Niño Rubén - a young and talented Spanish bassoonist. He is joined by his friend Carmen Hildago, who assists us in translation. One of the most fascinating, and innovative solo bassoonists currently. Rubén is also a great composer. He won the Special Prize of the 1stSeville Double Reed Society in Spain …

Rachel Bullen studied with Emanuel Abbühl and François Leleux in Europe after her initial studies in Melbourne. Rachel performed as an orchestral musician in Europe in many orchestras including the Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra, South Jutland Symphony Orchestra, and Aarhus Symphony Orchestra and has toured as a soloist in many European countr…

I am very excited to share an interview I did with Rebekah Heller that was conducted in early April. Rebekah is a solo bassoonist based in New York and has been praised for her “flair” and “deftly illuminated” performances by The New York Times. Not only a uniquely dynamic solo and collaborative artist, she is fiercely committed to expanding the mo…

Welcome to a special edition of Legends of Reed. Big thanks to Kristian Oma Ronnes for this contribution. Today I am very glad and grateful to feature a guest contribution from Kristian Oma Ronnes. Together with Arek Adamczyk, they hosted an online lecture on Zoom for bassoon students and graduates from the Music Academy in Poznan. This lecture was…

Kristian is a young and accomplished Norwegian Composer & Bassoonist. He is currently Principal Bassoon at The Baltic Opera in Poland since 2018. He studied bassoon with Robert Ronnes, Dag Jensen, Ole K. Dahl and Klaus Thunemann. His YouTube channel has been awarded one of top 25 channels in the world and he tirelessly contributes to the bassoon wo…

Jeffrey Lyman is Professor of Bassoon at the University of Michigan. has established himself as one of the premier performers, teachers, and historians of the bassoon in the U.S. He coordinates two popular YouTube channels: one with more than 160 live recordings of Lyman and his students at the University of Michigan, and the other featuring trios …

This episode features Ukrainian oboe soloist and chamber musician, Mykyta Sierov. He is an independent oboist based in Weimar, Germany – he not only plays classical music, but jazz and pop as well as his own compositions. Since 2016 he is the solo oboist of his band, “Bosque Magico” and they have recorded in their first album “Tu Tiempo” and the ba…

Recorded: 12 December 2018 Please note that this interview has quite some background noise from the concert hall. I managed to have a chat with Sophie Dervaux backstage in the world-renowned Vienna Musikverein Hall in December 2018. Sophie joined the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic as principal bassoon in 2015. Previously, …

Audun is the Principal Bassoon of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. He teaches Bassoon at the Royal Danish Academy of Music and is Associate Prof. of Bassoon at The Oslo Academy of Music. I managed to catch up with him in person, in Hamburg after his two-day masterclass at Tutti Fagotti. Audun is currently on sabbatical leave from his orchest…

Malte is the Professor of Bassoon at Folkwang University of the Arts, in Essen, Germany. He is an exceptional teacher, soloist, and leads a very vibrant and successful bassoon class. Find out: 1) what he loves the most of teaching & coaching young people 2) the many career routes a student can now pursue in classical music 3) his approach in bringi…

Paul is an award-winning jazz and fusion bassoonist with a unique musical voice. Podcast notes: 1) His musical background and him finding his calling in the bassoon 2) Despite his classical training and being told it was “a hard road ahead”, his love for improvisation shifted him seriously towards jazz, groove and funk 3) His love for spontaneity &…

On this episode I speak to Roman Reznik. Roman Reznik is the Co-principal bassoon of the Oslo Philharmonic, conductor and teacher. Podcast notes:1) His musical beginnings2) His musical inspirations3) How he started conducting4) His love for baroque music5) His harp-bassoon duo with his wife 6) Tips on sound and getting ready for a studio recording7…

Welcome to Episode 2 of Legends of Reed!I interviewed Ole K. Dahl recently. He is Professor of Bassoon at MuHo Mannheim and Guest Principal Bassoon in famous orchestras and ensembles. Due to his deep dedication and passion to teaching, Ole has been invited to give masterclasses all over the world. He is the co-author of the bassoon method book "Dri…

On this pilot episode, I am thrilled to interview Bram van Sambeek. Known for his bold and innovative artistic and programming choices, find out why Bram chose to focus on chamber music, the nomination of his "Fagerlund & Aho Bassoon Concertos" album in the BBC Music Magazine Concerto Award, and more. To find out more about Bram, visit his website:…