NewBassoon Institute
2026 NewBassoon INSTITUTE AT APPALACHIAN STATE uNIVERSITY
BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA
The 2026 NewBassoon Institute took place June 8-14, 2026, hosted by David Wells at Appalachian State University
Faculty: Lynn Hileman, Rachael Elliott, Stephanie Patterson, David Wells
Michael Harley (on leave 2026)
newbassoon.org
2026 NewBassoon Institute Highlights:
Faculty Recital of contemporary solo, duo and bassoon quartet music
Featuring the world premiere of two bassoon quartets from the 2026 NewBassoon Commissioning Prize competition:
“If I could unfurl into the sun” (2026) for bassoon quartet by Aliayta Foon-Dancoes, 2026 NewBassoon Commissioning Prize Winner
“Insistent Drips” (2026) by Edmund Song, 2026 NewBassoon Commissioning Prize Honorable MentionNewBassoon Performance Competition Finals
Featuring five performers competing for cash prizes totaling over $1,700 USD
Many thanks to Forrests Music for their support of this year’s NewBassoon Performance Competition“Arboretum” with Brad Balliett
Once again, bassoonist & composer Brad Balliett joined us for the 2026 performance of his large-scale multi-bassoon piece, “Arboretum”. This year’s performance featured 13 bassoonists spread throughout the Belk Library at Appalachian State University
(the persistent threat of thunderstorms saw our planned Greenway performance moved to the safety of the library)Roundtable with App State Composition Faculty: Roger Zare, Andy Hannon, and Nick Cline
Closing Concert Faculty & Fellows
An ensemble improvisation opened the show, with music of Jessie Cox and Eva-Maria Houben woven into a seamless improvisation developed over the course of our week together. The remainder of the concert featured bassoon fellows performing solos, including the 2026 NewBassoon Performance Competition Winners, followed by the grand finale: 2026 faculty and fellows performing Frederic Rzewski’s classic ode to independence, “Les Moutons de Panurge”.
rehearsing “Arboretum” in Broyhill Music Center
rehearsing Rzewski’s “Les Moutons de Panurge”
contemporary techniques workshop
2026 NewBassoon Institute masterclass
performing Brad Balliett’s “Arboretum” at the Belk Library at Appalachian State University
outdoor improvisation workshop
2026 Faculty and Fellows in Schaffel Recital Hall at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina
Faculty and Fellows performing Terry Riley’s “In C” with bassoons, contrabassoons, marimba and vibraphone (a first??!) at the 2024 NewBassoon Institute.
2023 NewBassoon Institute fellows and faculty
NEWBASSOON INSTITUTE AT THE University of michigan school of music, theatre & dance
ann arbor, mi
The 2023 NewBassoon Institute at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance gets underway this weekend in Ann Arbor! 2023 Faculty: Jeffrey Lyman (faculty host at University of Michigan) together with Michael Harley, Lynn Hileman and Rachael Elliott.
2023 Newbassoon institute PERFORMANCES
Sunday, 6/11 at 5 pm
NewBassoon Institute Opening Faculty Recital
Watkins Lecture Hall (Room 1350)
Earl V. Moore Building, 1100 Baits Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Wednesday, 6/14 at 8 pm
House concert in Temperance, MI
7 pm reception, 8 pm concert
featuring EK Duo, with bassoon music from the faculty & fellows of NewBassoon Institute
Thursday, 6/15 at 11 am
13 bassoons performing Brad Balliett’s “Arboretum”, an outdoor, site-specific musical installation in which each bassoonist is next to, and playing music inspired by, various trees found in the Arb
Nichols Arboretum "Heathdale" area, near Washington Heights entrance
Ann Arbor, MI
Friday, 6/16 at 4 pm
Bassoon Solos Concert, performed by NewBassoon Institute fellows
Watkins Lecture Hall (Room 1350)
Earl V. Moore Building, 1100 Baits Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Saturday, 6/17 at 12 pm
”Bassoon Rebellion” Closing Concert of chamber music and large ensemble pieces
Watkins Lecture Hall (Room 1350)
Earl V. Moore Building, 1100 Baits Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Brad Balliett introducing his multi-bassoon piece, “Arboretum” to students at Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor, Michigan
NewBassoon Institute ensemble performance of “Arboretum” opens with the chorale before we disperse into solos and pairs throughout the woods.
Brad Balliett’s “Arboretum” performed live at Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor, Michigan
June 15, 2023
Preview on Youtube >
2019 NewBassoon Institute
The 2019 NewBassoon Workshop, took place June 1-8, 2019 as part of the National Music Festival in Chestertown, Maryland.
2019 ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
Performance master classes and private lessons by Michael Harley, Lynn Hileman, Rachael Elliott, Saxton Rose and guest artist, bassoonist and composer Brad Balliett
The Dark in the Song Performance Competition Final Round
Full faculty recital of solo and chamber works including the world premiere of a new works for Dark in the Song by Kamala Sankaram and Viet Cuong
Performance opportunities include a Fellows Concert, community concerts in Chestertown & nearby towns, and at the annual summer outdoor performance held in the pristine Adkins Arboretum
Workshops on contemporary bassoon literature and techniques, including circular breathing
Panel discussion on grant writing, commissioning, and entrepreneurial activities for performers
Large ensemble showcase: Louis Andriessen’s iconic Workers Union will be performed by all bassoon fellows in the NewBassoon Institute and National Music Festival, together with Jeff Keesecker and Dark in the Song
Presentation on the Pedagogy of Extended Techniques
Performance/demonstration on performing with various electronic systems including live looping
Rehearsing Louis Andriessen’s “Workers Union”
2018 NewBassoon Workshop
Twelve bassoon fellows from across the U.S. came together for this year’s workshop, including undergraduate and graduate students as well as professional bassoonists. It was an outstanding group of people, and we enjoyed the chance to work together not only in masterclasses and lessons, but also socializing over meals at the Fish Whistle and daily (or twice daily!) visits to Evergrain Bread Company for espresso and baked goodies.
We were joined by guest artist Jeffrey Lyman, Professor of Bassoon at the University of Michigan, who performed with us on two faculty chamber music concerts and shared his vast knowledge of contemporary repertoire. An outstanding educator with extensive knowledge of the modern and contemporary repertoire, Jeff was generous with his insights on the music and shared many useful suggestions for approaching various techniques we’re confronted with. His class on Stockhausen’s In Freundschaft was a highlight of the week.
2018 NewBassoon Workshop at National Music Festival in Chestertown, MD
2018 NewBassoon Institute highlights include:
Two faculty recitals of solo and chamber works for bassoon by Dark in the Song with Jeffrey Lyman, including the world premiere of Takuma Itoh’s Sunburnt for bassoon quartet
Fellows Concert featuring the world premiere of three bassoon quartets (composed for Dark in the Song), a quartet improvisation, and a fellows & faculty performance of Fredric Rzewski’s monumental Les Moutons de Panurge
A performance of Michael Gordon’s Rushes with NMF bassoon mentor, Jeff Keesecker, and two NewBassoon Institute fellows at the Sultana Education Foundation (picture chemistry benches in the back with science experiments for kids, and tanks of turtles and fish looking on)
Two masterclasses on solo repertoire including fellows performing excerpts of Fujikura’s Calling, Philippe Hersant’s Hopi, Sebastian Fagerlund’s Woodlands, and William Winstead’s Enigma, among others
Interactive seminars on contemporary improvisation; electronics and live looping; Stockhausen’s In Freundschaft; and a career and audience engagement discussion
Private lessons by Michael Harley, Lynn Hileman, Rachael Elliott, and Jeffrey Lyman
A farewell gathering including a picnic, swimming and games hosted by one of our generous host families