Our closing banquet will include live music by the University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music Bassoon Studio and Alumni, led by Marissa Olegario, and the Garrett Jones Quartet, and the announcement of the winners of the 2023 Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition!

Watch the live stream here: https://youtu.be/3EACoojMP5E

Our five finalists will display their artistry in this round featuring works by Noelia Escalzo, Antonio Vivaldi, and Jacqueline Wilson.

This session will outline strategies for success in the three primary stages of the university application process: the paper round, the phone round, and the on-campus round. Topics covered will include:

Cover letters and CVs

Written statements (Artistic, Teaching, DEI)

Selecting recordings

Selecting repertoire

Interviewing online and in person

For this special topic presentation, Dr. Anna Marsh and student Rylie Patching will introduce the Baroque bassoon and Baroque playing style to pre-college students. Students should come with their instrument as they will get a chance to play articulations and ornamentations on their modern bassoon. (Adults are welcome too!) Topics to be covered would include:

What is the Baroque Bassoon?

What is Baroque Playing Style?

Baroque Style on a Modern Bassoon

Trials and Rewards of Baroque Style and Why It Matters

How to Get Started and Where to Find Support

Join us for a performance class with Ivy Ringel, Principal Bassoon of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra on orchestral excerpts for first bassoon.

Note: As an organization, Meg Quigley has made the decision to move away from the term “Masterclass.”

This presentation will examine early references to women who played the bassoon. Many of these references are found in newspaper clippings and concert programs. We will also discuss the challenges of researching the histories of women bassoonists.

This lecture/demonstration makes the case that multiphonics are acoustic phenomena that occur at the intersection of fingerings, embouchure placement, lip pressure, and air speed. They can be manipulated through any of these factors to change pitch, timbre, and beating quality, sometimes subtly, other times drastically. Using examples from pieces by Liza Lim, Luis Fernando Amaya, Yi-Ting Lu, and Pierluigi Billone, Ben will examine a number of methods that composers have used to successfully harness these characteristics. Audience members will participate in a series of short exercises that will demonstrate the malleable characteristics of multiphonics and give them tools to approach these techniques in any repertoire they encounter.

Perform an etude or solo repertoire for our Symposium host and the University of Arizona's bassoon professor, Dr. Marissa Olegario.

Note: As an organization, Meg Quigley has made the decision to move away from the term “Masterclass.”

Our exhibit hall features a variety of vendors who specialize in all areas of bassoon playing- cane, reeds, instruments, bocals, sheet music, reed-making tools, and more!

Join us for a performance class with Nanci Belmont, Assistant Professor of Bassoon at Louisiana State University on contemporary repertoire for solo bassoon.

Note: As an organization, Meg Quigley has made the decision to move away from the term “Masterclass.”

Jessica Findley Yang, owner of Jiffy Reeds, will introduce the pre-college students to the life-long pursuit of perfecting the art of finishing bassoon reeds. This class will use the blanks formed in the reed forming class on Thursday January 5th and wrapped on Friday January 6th with Ariel Detweiler, but extra blanks will be available to those students who did not attend the previous classes. A Rieger tip clipper and tip profiler will be provided to assist with the initial finishing steps. All attendees will receive a handy reed adjustment tip sheet at the end of the class. Necessary tools: plaque, holding mandrel, small needle file, reed knife (optional).

Licensed Body Mapping Educator and bassoonist, Kristin Wolfe Jensen will lead participants through awareness activities and long tone exercises that optimize the breathing process to allow maximum resonance, endurance and ease in bassoon playing. The information and activities will provide a sneak preview of Jensen's The Bassoon Breathing Book, which will be released at the symposium. The session will be highly experiential, so bring your bassoon and a bassoon stand.

Join us for a reception immediately following this evening’s recital featuring music by the University of Florida Bassoon Studio, led by Dr. Shannon Lowe.

Watch the live stream here: https://youtu.be/2kR9vMUnOxo

Javier Rodriguez, Jessica Findley Yang, Gina Cuffari, Stephanie Willow Patterson, Jacqueline Wilson, Christopher Wilson, Ann Shoemaker, Ivy Ringel, and Benjamin Coelho perform works by del Aguila, Still, Harberg, Maslanka, Loggins-Hull, Carroll, and more!

Join us for an hour of fun and games, hosted by the Breaking Winds Bassoon Quartet!

Join us for a performance class with Francisco Joubert, Second Bassoonist of the Louisville Orchestra.

Note: As an organization, Meg Quigley has made the decision to move away from the term “Masterclass.”

This interactive creativity session is designed to benefit performers and teachers of all ages and career paths. Come open your ears, minds, and free your inner creative genius. We will explore new and old ways of approaching performance on the bassoon, ending with some guided improvisation and group composition with special guest John Steinmetz.

Watch the live stream here: https://youtu.be/Bd-Z-fBWHhI

Leigh Muñoz, Lia Uribe, Aaron Pergram, Sarah Elizabeth Lee, Miriam Brack Webber, Amy Pollard, and Glenn Einschlag perform works by Montano, Pons, Mouyis, Brandon, willingham, and more!

Taking a campus tour is the best way to fall in love with the University of Arizona. We offer multiple ways for you to visit and learn more about becoming a Wildcat. Just be prepared because once you visit, you’ll want to stay forever. Get the inside scoop about attending Arizona with a walking tour led by a Campus Ambassador. Come prepared to ask any questions you have about Wildcat life!

Follow our vendor coordinator Leigh Muñoz as she guides you through the exhibit hall. Meet the vendors one-on-one during this session exclusively for pre-college participants, and learn what to look for when shopping and trying out equipment!

It’s the biggest bassoon band in the land! Bring your instrument and join in on the fun of the biggest bassoon ensemble you’ve ever seen led by the Bassoon Band conductor, Jefferson Campbell! All ages and ability levels are welcome!

Bassoon reed-making is taught around the world to bassoonists of many ages, yet the contrabassoon reed is still a mystery to many. Approximately 25-30% of full time bassoon orchestra positions have some aspect of contrabassoon performance, with many additional performance opportunities outside the orchestra as well. This makes contrabassoon reed-making knowledge an essential skill for pre-professional and professional bassoonists. This presentation is for bassoonists with a basic knowledge of bassoon reed-making. The interactive lecture will demonstrate how to apply reed-making knowledge for the bassoon to make an excellent contrabassoon. Topics covered will include: differences and similarities between bassoon and contrabassoon reed, recommended contrabassoon tools to add to standard bassoon reed making tools, reed evaluation techniques, and the effect of reed shape on the contrabassoon reed.

Welcome to the musical sandbox! We will explore new ways of approaching the bassoon, different performance techniques, sound mainipulation, and even some improvisation! After learning some new techniques, composer John Steinmetz will lead us as we create and workshop our own composition, to be performed later in the weekend!

Note: As an organization, Meg Quigley has made the decision to move away from the term “Masterclass.”

Join us for an introduction to the contrabassooon followed by an audition workshop on orchestral excerpts for the contrabassoon by Steven Braunstein, the recently-retired bassoonist and contrabassoonist with the San Francisco Symphony! In this workshop format, participants may be asked to play their excerpts at any time, interspersed with feedback from Mr. Braunstein and excerpt-related questions from audience members. If you are interested in participating in this class but are unable to bring a contrabassoon, let us know—we may have one or more instruments available for participant use. All levels (including beginners!) are welcome to attend and learn!

Our exhibit hall features a variety of vendors who specialize in all areas of bassoon playing- cane, reeds, instruments, bocals, sheet music, reed-making tools, and more!

Note: Exhibits will be closed from 1:00pm to 2:00pm

“What if we don't show up", an opportunity to unpack the power we carry as 50% of the profession, and discuss ways to uplift and empower each other. This presentation will start a series of conversations about empathy and connection between stakeholders of diverse identities, dominant and non-dominant.

Ariel Detwiler, owner of ACDC Reeds, will give an introductory masterclass on reed forming. This class will include information on cane and tool selection, and will teach Ariel's entire process of forming with hot water to ensure the quick and consistent construction of a reed blank. Cane, wire, and string will be provided for you. Bring a small heat-resistant bowl and a reed drying rack if you have one. Necessary tools: mandrel, pliers, thin metal ruler.

Join us for a reception immediately following this evening’s recital featuring music by the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music Bassoon Studio, led by Nicolasa Kuster.

Watch the live stream here: https://youtu.be/oI7rVKxOxVw

Bradley Johnson, Lia Uribe, Nicolasa Kuster, Melanie Ferrabone, Jonathan Latta, Nanci Belmont, Darrel Hale, Francisco Joubert, and the Breaking Winds perform works by Maixandeau, Escalzo, Sasaki, Ko, Meza, LaMoure, Coulthard, and more!

Watch the live stream here: https://youtu.be/ykojH1d6jqg

Our ten semi-finalists will display their artistry in this round featuring works by Noelia Escalzo and Antonio Vivaldi.