George Sakakeeny, bassoon

George Sakakeeny is professor of bassoon at the Eastman School of Music, professor emeritus of the Oberlin Conservatory, and an artist faculty member at the Aspen Music Festival and School. In the past he has held the principal bassoon positions of numerous music festivals, the New Japan Philharmonic, the Handel & Haydn Society, the Opera Company of Boston, Promusica Chamber Orchestra of Columbus, and CityMusic Cleveland. More recently he has been serving as visiting guest principal with the Atlanta, and the Forth Worth Symphony Orchestras. Three major works for bassoon and orchestra have been composed for him: Libby Larsen’s Full moon in the city (2013,) Peter Schickele’s Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra (1998,) and Alexander Blechinger’s Fagottkonzert (1997.)

Professor Sakakeeny has taught guest master classes at the Paris Conservatory, Rice University, Tokyo University of Fine Arts, the Juilliard School, and held longer term residencies at the Shanghai Conservatory, the Central Conservatory, Seoul National University, and the Conservatoire National Supèrieur de Musique et Danse of Lyon, France. For 7 years he served as guest bassoon professor for Venezuela’s El Sistema. He also holds the title "Guest Professor" at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.

Sakakeeny’s numerous solo recordings include Blechinger’s Fagottkonzert, the Villa-Lobos Duo with oboist Alex Klein, and his recording of four modern works for bassoon and orchestra "full moon in the city." He is the author of the iBook Making Reeds Start to Finish with George Sakakeeny. Find out more at his Website: www.sakakeenybassoon.com.