Updated January 25, 2006
Performing Opportunities at UMD for the bassoonist
One of the benefits of being a bassoon player at UMD is the variety of ensembles in which you will have the opportunity to perform. UMD has a very active group of ensembles that regularly tour the northern midwest of the United States, and to foreign countries as well.
Last year the Wind Ensemble traveled to Brazil where they presented a series of concerts and enjoyed the beautiful and exciting scenery that South America has to offer. The orchestra, led by conductor Rudy Perrault, will be preparing and presenting Puccini's opera La Boheme in collaboration with the Twin Cities campus . Clearly you will have the opportunity to let your music-making take you to places you never thought about before!
The Wind Ensemble, led by conductor Dr. Mark Whitlock, has also recorded several compact discs in recent years, and has been involved with artist residencies with famous wind ensemble composers such as Phillip Sparke, David Holsinger, and David Gililingham to name a few.
For more informatinon on the UMD Wind Ensemble, click here.
For more information on the UMD Symphony Orchestra, please click here.
In addition, professor-led chamber groups are always an option for music students who wish to refine their performing sills in a more intimate, one-on-one setting. Groups of student-performers ranging from 3-13 players can be formed by the students and instructors and meet weekly to rehearse and perfect their ensemble playing. The bassoon is a perfect instrument for chamber music and can take advantage of some wonderful musical parts composed for it.
Finally, during the course of your bassoon study, you will be given solo compositions to study. The culmination of your study of these works will often result in a solo perfomance during one of the weekly student Recital Hours.
As you can see, UMD has a great deal to offer the bassoon student, it just depends on how quickly you are ready to excel!