by Christopher Millard | Nov 7, 2023
Let’s Talk Bassoon
OSM Greatest Hits for Bassoon: Ravel and Stravinsky
LET’S TALK BASSOON is an online series of conversations, seminars and/or masterclasses featuring some of Canada’s foremost bassoonists.
Episode 3 will air on NOVEMBER 26, 2023!
Episode 3 of Let’s Talk Bassoon will take place on Sunday November 26 at 1 pm ET. Council of Canadian Bassoonists board member (and principal bassoon of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra) Stephane Levesque will lead us in an exploration of the bassoon parts of Ravel and Stravinsky in a class titled “Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal Greatest Hits”.
The class will feature four students from the McGill University School of Music – Matthew So, Daniel Zaldana, Zoe SirLouis and Leah Espinoza.
When: Nov 26, 2023 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUlfu6spzIoHtQyKjbu96cCOJK67M2x6A8g
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
I am looking forward to hosting you again on November 26!
Jo Ann Simpson 613 290 7462
Featured performers for this class – Zoë SirLouis, Matthew So, Daniel Zaldana and Leah Espinoza
Zoë SirLouis is currently under the tutelage of Stéphane Lévesque, Principal Bassoon of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, as a graduate student at McGill University. Having recently earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Bassoon Performance from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music (CCM), she has been incredibly fortunate to be a student of the esteemed Christopher Sales and Martin Garcia. Zoë was recently awarded a generous scholarship from the 3Arts Foundation as a 2023 winner in the category of Instrumental Music. During the summer of 2022, she was invited to perform as the Principal Bassoonist for the Berlin Opera Academy Orchestra and has also participated in the Domaine Forget de Charlevoix Music Academy and the Orford Music Academy. Based in Tampa, Florida, her musical journey began at the age of 10 with piano lessons and the clarinet before becoming a driven young bassoonist.
Originally from Hong Kong, Matthew began playing bassoon at the age of 12 and is currently based in Toronto and Montreal. He is currently entering his final year in his undergraduate degree for bassoon performance at McGill University, under the guidance of Stephane Levesque. He has also studied with Nguyen Bao Anh in Hong Kong, Fraser Jackson, contrabassoonist for Toronto Symphony Orchestra and worked with numerous distinguished bassoonists including Susan Durnin, Carin Miller, Eric Hall, Michael Sundell. Currently a member for the McGill Symphony Orchestra and McGill wind orchestra, he was also a member of Toronto symphony youth orchestra for 2 years. Matthew has also participated in the IDRS (International Double Reed Society) summer camp at Japan in 2015, the Kiwanis Clubs competition where he won first place, and the Ontario Music Festival association where he received second place. Throughout his youth, Matthew also played piano, saxophone, and oboe.
Leah Espinoza is originally from Lafayette, Louisiana. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in bassoon performance at McGill University studying with Stéphane Lévesque. Leah received a Bachelor of Music in bassoon performance and a minor in French from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. There, she studied under Darrel Hale, William Ludwig, and Nanci Belmont. During her time at LSU, she performed with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, the Monroe Symphony Orchestra in Monroe, Louisiana, and the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra in Lafayette, Louisiana.
At McGill, Leah is a member of the McGill Symphony Orchestra. She is an active member of a woodwind trio and a woodwind quintet. In the summer of 2023, Leah was selected to participate in the chamber and orchestral programs at the Trentino Music Festival in Trento, Italy.
A native of South Florida, Daniel Zaldana is currently studying at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University studying under Stephane Levesque. Daniel is a recent graduate from the University of Michigan, studying with Dr. Jeffrey Lyman for his Undergraduate degree. Before his undergraduate degree, Daniel studied both at the summer and academy programs at Interlochen Center for the Arts studying with Dr. Eric Stomberg, William Short and Keith Buncke. During his studies throughout the many institutions, Daniel has had many opportunities to experiences and learn from a variety of influences. Such as an extensive chamber experience performing with many groups, learning more about arts administration work including volunteering with the office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the University of Michigan. All these different experiences, and all the people he has had the wonderful opportunity to meet and connect with, has greatly expanded his own ambitions and plans for his career ventures.”
by Christopher Millard | Sep 15, 2023
Let’s Talk Bassoon – Episode 2
“PRACTICE FROM BACK TO FRONT; TECHNIQUES FOR PROBLEM PASSSAGES”. WATCH THE WHOLE EVENT NOW!
CO-HOSTS CHRISTOPHER MILLARD (retired principal bassoon of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Ottawa Canada) and DARREN HICKS (present principal bassoon of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Ottawa Canada) revealed some of their favourite practice secrets for those extra difficult passages. They discussed the benefits of locating the weakest link and building on either end, working backwards from end points and how to systematically remove notes. Passages from the following works were featured: Tansman 1st movt, Nussio Variations, Saint Saens 1st movement and Harbison Quintet Scherzo as well as the following excerpts: Rhapsodie Espanol Cadenzas, Beethoven 4, Pulcinella and Figaro
Featured performers for this class:
Maxwell Ostic began his bassoon studies at age 11 at the Gatineau Conservatory with professor Jo Ann Simpson and has since completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Ottawa with professors Christopher Millard and Richard Hoenich. Since Graduating in 2021, Maxwell has gone on to perform as acting principal bassoon with the Saskatoon Symphony and is also an active freelancer and substitute musician in the Ottawa-Gatineau area, having performed with the Orchestre Symphonique de Gatineau, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, and the Kingston Symphony Orchestra. He is also the principal bassoonist of the Ottawa Pops Orchestra.
Taran Massey-Singh started his undergraduate degree in 2021 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier University in the studio of Samuel Fraser; Principal Bassoonist of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, before transferring to The University of Toronto in 2023, to study with Eric Hall, Principal Bassoon of the Canadian Opera Company. Having started his playing career in 2016, Taran initially studied under Shane Wieler of “Marcus Wieler Inc. The Bassoon Workshop”. While attending Brooke Valley Bassoon Days annually since 2016, Taran has participated in masterclasses hosted by the likes of Christopher Millard, Gustavo Núñez, Kim Laskowski, Mathieu Lussier, Glenn Einschlag, and Kathleen McLean among other.Taran holds positions in various ensembles in both the Greater-Toronto and Tri-City areas on both bassoon and contrabassoon, in a variety of tenured, on-call, and freelance positions. Taran currently resides and works out of Brampton, his hometown.
Michael Quigley is a passionate, Montreal-born bassoonist currently living in Toronto. He began learning the bassoon in high school, and was eventually inspired by his band director, to continue with the instrument after graduation. He started his undergraduate degree in 2016 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier University, studying with Eric Hall, principal bassoon of the Canadian Opera Company; he transferred to the University of Toronto in 2018 to continue his studies with the same teacher. In 2023, Michael completed his Master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, where he studied with the principal bassoon of the Metropolitan Opera, William Short. He has freelanced with a number of orchestras in the Greater Toronto Area, and Manhattan, as well as performed chamber music in a variety of halls in Manhattan, including Mary Flagler Cary Hall at the Dimenna center, and Merkin Hall at the Kaufman Music Center
by Christopher Millard | Apr 26, 2023
Building Symmetrical Reeds
Another in the Let’s Talk Bassoon series from the Council of Canadian Bassoonists. Christopher Millard talks about his approaches to creating reeds with greater structural symmetry.
by Christopher Millard | Apr 26, 2023
Bassoonist/conductor Mathieu Lussier gave this interesting seminar for the Council during lockdown. With bassoonists, Robert Thompson, Nadia Ingalls and Marlene Ngalissamy he discusses several excerpts comparing aspects of baroque style and their application to the modern bassoon.
by Christopher Millard | Apr 25, 2023
LET’S TALK BASSOONS is an online series of conversations, seminars and/or masterclasses featuring some of Canada’s foremost bassoonists.
After 2 successful pilot episodes – “Excerpt Transpositions – Liberating your Inner Musicianship”, which aired in December 2020 f(eaturing Christopher Millard) and “Baroque Music on Modern Bassoon – The Challenges and Traps” which aired in May 2021 (with Mathieu Lussier) – the Council of Canadian Bassoonists has decided to embark on a regular commitment to LET’S TALK BASSOONS.
Episode 1 aired on JUNE 04, 2023 and you can watch it now!
Richard Ranti, Associate Principal Bassoon of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1989 and board member of the Council of Canadian Bassoonists will lead us as we explore our inner bassoon voice and learn to “Sing like a Singer”.
To view this provocative class, please click on this link …
Featured performers for this class:
Eric James Li is an active bassoon performer based in Vancouver, Canada. Eric currently studies bassoon performance at the University of British Columbia under the direction of Ingrid Chiang. In addition, Eric has participated in masterclasses with Christopher Millard, Nadina Mackie Jackson, Julia Lockhart, Kathleen McLean, Suzanne Nelsen, and Michael Sundell. As an avid chamber musician, Eric performs regularly in woodwind quintets, trios, and double quintet projects in and around Vancouver. Eric’s orchestral experiences include but are not limited to the UBC Symphony Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Vancouver Opera, and Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra. Eric has been awarded numerous scholarships to fund his music program at UBC and is looking forward to another summer with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada.
Abigail Minor began her bassoon studies at the age of 14 in her hometown of Richmond Hill, Ontario. She is presently pursuing her passion for music at the University of Toronto, studying with Eric Hall, where she has generously been given full scholarships to fund her education. She has also studied and/or performed in masterclasses with Christopher Millard, William Short, Frank Morelli, Kim Laskowski, Darren Hicks, Drew Pattison, Julia Lockhart, Kristin Day among others. Abigail has been a devoted member of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra for 3 seasons, where she has performed alongside members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. In 2021 she was provided with the opportunity from the TSYO Concerto Competition where she had won the incredible honour to perform in chamber ensembleswith the TSO at the TSO’s 100th Anniversary Gala Concert in 2022 with Yo-Yo Ma. Aswell in 2021 she was given the opportunity to perform the Weber Bassoon Concerto with her high school Symphony Orchestra.
Michael Quigley is a passionate, Montreal-born bassoonist currently living in Toronto. He began learning the bassoon in high school, and was eventually inspired by his band director, to continue with the instrument after graduation. He started his undergraduate degree in 2016 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier University, studying with Eric Hall, principal bassoon of the Canadian Opera Company; he transferred to the University of Toronto in 2018 to continue his studies with the same teacher. In 2023, Michael completed his Master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, where he studied with the principal bassoon of the Metropolitan Opera, William Short. He has freelanced with a number of orchestras in the Greater Toronto Area, and Manhattan, as well as performed chamber music in a variety of halls in Manhattan, including Mary Flagler Cary Hall at the Dimenna center, and Merkin Hall at the Kaufman Music Center
