Members of the Bassoon Ensemble with Professor Laura Koepke (center).
The Fredonia Bassoon Ensemble has been selected to perform at the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Winter Conference in Rochester, NY.
The ensemble’s appearance is slated for Thursday, Dec. 4, at 4:30 p.m., and will feature two works composed by current student bassoonists.
The Fredonia Bassoon Ensemble, established in 2011, is a curricular chamber ensemble of bassoon majors. The lively and energized group of bassoonists meet weekly for rehearsals where they work on original music composed for bassoon ensemble, as well as arrangements and transcriptions. They frequently premiere new works that are composed specifically for them. The Fredonia Bassoon Ensemble performs a recital every semester and has performed off campus on many occasions since its inception.
"As a person who aspires to pursue bassoon performance, being able to play amongst other bassoonists exclusively gives me a unique experience, allowing me to listen and learn how to control my instrument, in a course that wasn't offered at any other school I was looking to attend.” - first-year Music Performance major Karina Tate
Student Karina Tate, a first-year Music Performance major, spoke of her experience as a member of the ensemble. “The Fredonia Bassoon Ensemble was definitely a draw for me as an incoming freshman. As a person who aspires to pursue bassoon performance, being able to play amongst other bassoonists exclusively gives me a unique experience, allowing me to listen and learn how to control my instrument, in a course that wasn't offered at any other school I was looking to attend.”
School of Music Professor Laura Koepke noted, “I am extremely proud of this group of bassoonists, and we are deeply honored to have been selected to perform at the 2025 NYSSMA Winter Conference. The concert program we have chosen for the conference is captivating and includes two original compositions, written by Airlea Deutscher and Michael Gallagher, current members of the bassoon ensemble.”
