Let’s Talk Bassoon

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.

Join your host JO ANN SIMPSON on ZOOM at 1 pm Eastern Time on the first Sunday of every month beginning in June 2023. Sessions will last approximately 90 minutes.

Episode 1 will air on JUNE 04, 2023.

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”.

You are invited!

When: June 4, 2023, 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this master class. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

If you wish to participate as a performer please contact us via the form below…

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

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