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The Ithaca School of Music is known for its outstanding undergraduate teaching. You are guaranteed top-notch education and world-class, personalized arts experiences! Every day, our dedicated community of full-time faculty work to transform talented students into world-class professionals. Students study in state-of-the-art facilities that are as functional as they are inspirational. Over 25 ensembles present about 400 performances each year, both in our concert halls and on tour. Additionally, students live in a vibrant community surrounded by the stunning beauty of Ithaca and Cayuga Lake. Our graduates go on to incredible careers in performance, education, composition, recording arts, arts administration, and a wide variety of other music careers. Ithaca College continues to live up to its century-long reputation of excellence.
ITHACA BASSOONIVERSITY plays an integral role in the success of the School of Music!They are also a tight-knit crew who LOVE the many opportunities Ithaca offers for the BEST INSTRUMENT EVER! Contact Dr. S to set up a visit, or Skype lesson today!
Ithaca Bassooniversity 2019 - 2020
SETH BARRETT (he/him), sophomore Music Education major, is from Pennsylvania. Seth fully immerses himself in performance opportunities including his selection to play in a 2019 International Double Reed Society Conference Master Class and an approaching Marriage of Figaro gig with Opera Ithaca. Seth intends to pursue a career that balances his love for performance with his deep pedagogical training. Hear Seth perform with IC's Wind Ensemble, his Double Reed/Piano Trio, and with Bassoon Quartet 2302. Seth's favorite part of Bassooning? Recording for Festival Auditions!
CAM BILLINGS (he/him) is proudly from Maine where his musical studies included bassoon, saxophone, and jazz! A Bachelor of Arts major with a premed emphasis, Cam will eventually be Bassooniversity's resident doc! Cam is an active part of the School of Music, performing regularly in both Jazz and Classical genres. He also founded the Ithaca College Double Reed Improv Ensemble! Hear Cam with IC's Concert Band, Jazz Lab Band, and in Bassooniversity Quartet! Cam's favorite part of bassooning? Intonation studies!
NATE FINKE (he/him) is a sophomore Music Composition major with performance emphasis. Nate is from Albany, NY. A composition student of Jorge Grossman, Nate has written many works for Bassooniversity. He is currently working on a Bassoon Concerto for the IC Composition Concerto Competition, as well as a bassoon quartet. Nate uses his lessons to not only improve as a performer, but to advise his works from a performer's angle. Hear Nate perform with IC's Wind Ensemble and Bassooniversity Quartet. His favorite part of bassooning? Scales!
JULIAN GORRING (he/him) is a sophomore Music Education major . He is from New Jersey where he was an active and versatile musician. In addition to bassooning, he also plays tuba, which he marched with 7th Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. Julian also arranged music from an early age foreshadowing his love of collegiate music academics. Julian thrives in both Aural Skills and Music Theory. He is contemplating pursuing these fields in Graduate Study. Hear Julian perform in the IC Concert Band and the Bassooniversity Quartet. Julian's favorite part of bassooning? Reeds!
BRADLEY JOHNSON (he/him) is pursuing a Masters degree in bassoon performance. Bradley is a fantastic model for the undergraduates whilst maintaining great friendships with all in Bassooniversity. Originally from Chicago, Bradley studied with Mary Beth Minnis during his undergraduate at Central Michigan University. Bradley is training to be a future bassoon professor by honing his performance ability while he learns the ins and outs of teaching, research, and administration. A busy student, Bradley was a finalist for the 2020 IC Concerto Competition during the same semester he started teaching his own lecture course: Class Bassoon. Hear Bradley in the Symphony Orchestra, the Contemporary Music Ensemble, his Reed Quintet, and Bassooniversity Quartet. Bradley's favorite part of Bassooning? Etudes!
DAN KORTE (he/him) is a freshman performance major from Buffalo, NY where he studied bassoon with Mary Kay Ortolano. Dan is an emerging contrabassoonist in the field. He has performed on the instrument throughout the state, including as a student and counselor at Ithaca College's Summer Music Academy. Bassooniversity appreciates Dan's ever-cheerful dispostion and enthusiasm for all things Music. Hear Dan perform in IC's Wind Ensemble, as an instrumentalist for the Collaborative Piano Program, and in Ithaca Bassoon Quartet. Dan's favorite part of Bassooning? Long Tones!
JAKE OZTAN (he/him) is a freshman double major: Music Performance and Education. From New York City, Jake attended LaGuardia School of the Arts where he studied bassoon with Lenny Hindell. Jake is an aspiring pit musician and bassoon pedagogue who consistently entertains Bassooniversity with his wit and joviality. Hear Jake performing in Ithaca's Wind Ensemble, local musical productions, and as a part of Bassoon Quartet 2302. Jake's favorite part of Bassooning? Articulation Studies!
PAIGE RAMKISSOON (she/her) is a sophomore BioChemistry Major with a Bassoon Minor. Paige's fantastic attitude and energetic support of her colleagues are essential to Bassooniversity. From Pennsylvania, Paige studied with Anthony Fortuna during high school. Paige intends to enter into the research field whilst maintaining bassoon as an active, fun part of her life. Hear her peforming in IC's Concert Band and as a member of Ithaca Bassoon Quartet. Paige's favorite part of Bassooning? Weait Warm-Ups!
DONALD SCHWEIKERT (he/him), freshman performance major, hails from Long Island. As a high school student, Donald's primary teachers included Angela Santiago, Rachel Koeth, and Jessica Kunttu. Donald is an established multiple woodwinds player who is already an active pit player in Ithaca College's thriving musical theatre program. In addition to bassoon, Donald maintains proficiency in clarinet, flute, saxophones, and oboe. Hear Donald as a concerto soloist with the Sound Symphony (NY) on the Berwald, as well as in IC's Symphony Orchestra, the Doubler's Quartet, and Bassoon Quartet 2302. Donald's favorite part of Bassooning? Reeds!
NOAH STROKA (he/him) studied bassoon with Martha Weber before matriculating to Ithaca College. From Binghampton, NY, IC felt like home immediately. Noah is a Bachelor of Arts student intent on pursuing a career in instrument repair. He currently apprentices with IC's resident repairperson: Neil Adams. A gregarious individual with great fine motor skills, Noah will eventually become the Bassoon repair person for all of Bassooniversity! We look forward to it! Hear Noah perform in the IC Concert Band, Reed Quintet, and Bassoon Quartet 2302. His favorite part of bassooning? Wrapping Reeds!
EDEN TREADO (they/them) is a sophomore Performance major from the DC-area. As an aspiring conductor, Eden excels in their music academic courses thriving on understanding music from all angles. This is evident in their fantastic engagement with various genres of repertoire. Eden studies conducting with Andrew Kim and looks forward to their first conducting recital. As a bassoonist, Eden is an active performer and collaborator, joining multiple students recitals as a chamber and orchestral musician. Hear Eden in the IC Symphony Orchestra, Woodwind Trio, and Ithaca Bassoon Quartet. Eden's favorite part of bassooning? Fundamentals!
SIERRA WINTER-KLEPEL (she/her) is a Las Vegas-based bassoonist where she attended Las Vegas Academy for the Arts and studied with Bronson Foster. Sierra is pursuing a double major in Performance and Sound Recording Technology. Her love of both sides of her degree is evident in her active engagment in both the SRT Club and Bassooniversity. Sierra intends to maintain this balance throughout her career: using each field to enhance the other. Hear her perform in the IC Symphony Orchestra and in Ithaca Bassoon Quartet. Sierra's favorite part of bassooning? Scales!