About Us
The Council of Canadian Bassoonists is dedicated to introducing diverse audiences to the bassoon through musical performances and educational enrichment. We are an organization of professional bassoonists, teachers, students and friends of the bassoon. The COCB welcomes all ages and backgrounds, including the lay person, the beginner, the amateur, the student and the professional. We are a trusted resource for the advancement of education and stimulating collaborative initiatives.
Through workshops and performances, both live and recorded, we give prospective bassoon players and listeners an opportunity to hear our noble instrument in solo and ensemble settings, presenting the bassoon in new and unusual ways, featuring the finest in Canadian bassoon playing as well as outstanding foreign artists.
During the time of Covid, we have moved our educational and performance activities online and are sharing links to performances and masterclasses by Canadian artists. Post-pandemic we will continue to maintain online activities alongside future live events.
As a registered charity, we supply tax receipts for all donations, including monetary donations and equipment donations such as bassoons, reeds, and music.
We know that a world of possibility exists within the voice of the bassoon and we invite you to join us in experiencing more of this complex and rare musical instrument and it’s extraordinary adaptability to many cultural styles of music.
Mentorship
We have a network of bassoonists to consult with players both young and old who need access to a teacher. If you wish to work with a mentor, please send us a message on the Contact page below.
Current Mentors
NADINA MACKIE JACKSON
Principal Bassoon group of twenty-seven – Toronto
JULIA LOCKHART
Principal Bassoon, Vancouver Symphony
ADAM ROMEY
Education and Community Engagement Coordinator for the Minnesota Orchestra
PATRICK BOLDUC
Principal Bassoon, New Brunswick Symphony
NICOLAS RICHARD
International Grad Student
NEIL BISHOP
Sistema, St John, New Brunswick
CHRISTOPHER MILLARD
Principal Bassoon, National Arts Centre Orchestra
WHO ARE WE?
NEIL BISHOP, SECRETARY
Secretary, Head of St John Bassoon Studio, Sistema New Brunswick
PATRICK BOLDUC
Principal Bassoon, Symphony New Brunswick
MATHIEU LUSSIER
Composer, Conductor, Bassoonist and Associate Dean of Faculty of Music, Université de Montréal
ERIC MACARIOS
Licensing Manager, Spotify, Bassoonist (International Board Member, New York City)
NADINA MACKIE JACKSON
President & Acting Treasurer, Bassoonist (Dunchurch, Ontario)
LESLIE MAGOWAN
Retired teacher, ongoing bassoon teacher, Bassoonist (Hamilton)
UTA MESSERHUBER
Senior Systems Manager, Rogers (Orangeville)
PHILIP MOREHEAD
Retired Head of Music Staff, Chicago Lyric Opera, Pianist, Conductor & Bassoonist (Dwight, Ontario)
CHRISTOPHER MILLARD
Principal Bassoon, National Arts Centre Orchestra (Ottawa)
ADAM ROMEY
Education and Outreach Coördinator, Minnesota Orchestra, Bassoonist (international board member, Minnesota)
JESSE READ
Former Director and Professor Emeritus of University of British Columbia, Bassoonist, Photographer, based in BC and France
JO ANN SIMPSON
Bassoonist, founder of Virtuosi Productions, co-founder of Brooke Valley Bassoon Days (Ottawa)
Support Us
Make a Donation
The COCB is a registered charity and can provide tax receipts within Canada for monetary donations or for instrument donations. Equipment donations are welcomed, including sheet music, reeds, reed tools and cane. Bocals, good quality bassoons and new cases are also very welcome. Monetary donations are put towards educational concerts and workshops that are open to the general public.
Volunteer
We welcome applications from professionals who wish to be part of our network of volunteers. And we also need volunteers at various events. Please reach out using the Contact form below.
Photo Gallery
Contact Us
- If you are a bassoon student of any age and looking for information.
- If you wish to donate money, reeds, or a bassoon to the COCB.
- If you are a corporation that would like to sponsor a Bassoon Day or special concert by major artists.
- If you have ANY questions at all or comments to make on blog, write to us!
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
We send out regular (but not too regular!) newsletters.
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