George Sakakeeny

George Sakakeeny is professor of bassoon at the Eastman School of Music, and formerly held that position at the Oberlin Conservatory for 28 years. He has served as principal bassoon at numerous music festivals, the New Japan Philharmonic, the Handel and Haydn Society, the Opera Company of Boston, Promusica Chamber Orchestra of Columbus, and CityMusic Cleveland. He has served as acting principal bassoon of the Annapolis Symphony and guest principal with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Three major works for bassoon and orchestra have been composed for him: Libby Larsen’s full moon in the city, Peter Schickele’s Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra, and Alexander Blechinger’s Fagottkonzert.

Professor Sakakeeny has taught guest classes at the Paris Conservatory, Rice University, Tokyo University of Fine Arts, and The Juilliard School, and has held residencies at Shanghai Conservatory, Central Conservatory, Seoul National University, and Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et Danse in Lyon. For seven years he served as guest bassoon professor for Venezuela’s El Sistema.

Sakakeeny’s recordings include Blechinger’s Fagottkonzert, Villa-Lobos’s Duo with oboist Alex Klein, and full moon in the city, with four modern works for bassoon and orchestra. He is the author of Making Reeds Start to Finish with George Sakakeeny. www.sakakeenybassoon.com.