Want to Join Us? Email Dr. S!
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 2020 - 2021
JOSH BALLINGER (he/him) is pursuing a Masters of Music in Bassoon performance. He received his BMus from James Madison University where he studied with Sue Barber. Josh has lived in northern Virginia for most of his life, and is excited to move to Ithaca! Josh's favorite part of Bassooning? Technique Juries!
SETH BARRETT (he/him), junior Music Education major, is from Pennsylvania. Seth was selected to play in a 2019 International Double Reed Society Conference Master Class, and participates in innumerable performances at IC. Seth's favorite part of Bassooning? Intonation Studies!
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's favorite part of bassooning? Dynamic Studies!
Livia Fallon (she/her) is a first-year Performance major . She is from Sharon, Connecticut where she lives with her folks and her cute cats! In addition to bassooning, Liv is a die-hard reed maker with a budding thread collection! Liv's favorite part of bassooning? Articulation Studies!
NATE FINKE (he/him) is a junior Music Composition major with performance emphasis. Nate is from Albany, NY. A composition student of Jorge Grossman, Nate has written many works for Bassooniversity and uses his lessons to not only improve as a performer, but to advise his works from a performer's angle. His favorite part of bassooning? Reeds!
BRADLEY JOHNSON (he/him) is pursuing a Masters degree in bassoon performance. Originally from Chicago, Bradley studied with Mary Beth Minnis during his undergraduate at Central Michigan University. Bradley was a finalist for the 2020 IC Concerto Competition during the same semester he started teaching his own lecture course: Class Bassoon. Bradley's favorite part of Bassooning? Buying a new bassoon!
DAN KORTE (he/him) is a sophomore 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 IC's Summer Music Academy. Dan's favorite part of Bassooning? Long Tones!
JAKE OZTAN (he/him) is a sophomore 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. Jake's favorite part of Bassooning? Ensembles!
ASH PLUMMER (he/him) is a first-year Performance Major with a Gender Studies Minor. From Spencerville, Ohio, Ash studied with Kari Pierson during high school. Ash visited Ithaca College for his audition ... during a blizzard... and still decided this family is right for him! Ash's favorite part of Bassooning? Milde!
DONALD SCHWEIKERT (he/him), sophomore performance major, hails from Long Island. As a high school student, Donald's primary teachers included Angela Santiago, Rachel Koeth, and Jessica Kunttu. An aspiring pit miusician, Donald also plays clarinet, flute, saxophones, and oboe! Donald's favorite part of Bassooning? Slow practice!
SAM SCHORER (he/him), freshman performance major, hails from Duxbury, Massachusetts. Sam aspires to be a bassooning conductor and looks forward to being an active pit player in Ithaca College's thriving opera and musical theatre programs. Donald's favorite part of Bassooning? Long Tones!
NOAH STROKA (he/him) studied bassoon with Martha Weber before matriculating to Ithaca College. From Binghampton, NY, Noah is a Bachelor of Arts student intent on pursuing a career in instrument repair. He is on a Leave of Absence during the 2020-2021 academic year as he attends RedWing Technical College for Instrument Repair! His favorite part of bassooning? Fixing them!
EDEN TREADO (they/them) is a junior Performance major from the DC-area. As an aspiring conductor, Eden excels in their music academic courses thriving on understanding music from all angles. Eden is an active chamber musician, having recently worked in both a Woodwind Quintet and Woodwind Trio. 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 major in Sound Recording Technology, so she particularly enjoys the recording elements of remote learning! Sierra's favorite part of bassooning? Practice recordings!