Our Man in Kotka

One of several young Canadians occupying important orchestral positions in Europe, Samuel Rouleau has found success in Finland.

Ottawa born bassoonist Samuel Rouleau has recently graduated with a Master of Music and pedagogy certificate from the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland studying with Jussi Särkkä and Jaakko Luoma. He previously completed his Bachelor of Music from Montreal’s McGill University’s Schulich School of Music under Stéphane Lévesque, and began studying bassoon with Jo Ann Simpson and the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy. Following his studies, he worked as a freelance musician in various Finnish orchestras and recently won the audition for co-principal bassoon with the Kymi Sinfonietta in Kotka. As a pedagogue, he has a few years of experience of private teaching and has recently given a masterclass at his alma mater De La Salle high school as part of the 40th anniversary of the Centre d’excellence artistique de l’Ontario. Samuel plays on a Püchner 23 model bassoon since 2019.