I am the second bassoon at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (London) and you'll find here my reflections on playing the bassoon (in particular second bassoon) and the world of music in general. It might be of interest to bassoon students, teachers, amateurs and fellow professionals. Although this site is U.K. based, I hope there is something here for those from elsewhere.

On this page I'll put anything of current interest e.g. forthcoming concerts, events, recordings, vacancies, general gossip etc. So if you have any bassoon news, please send me an e-mail .

I am very pleased that after long and thorough process we have now appointed Miriam Gussek as Joint Principal Bassoon at the Royal Opera House. Personally, I am grateful to have had the wonderfully enriching and rewarding experience of working with so many great players that we have had on trial and I now look forward to having Miriam as a colleague.

In September this year, the Aeolus International Competition for Wind Instruments has the Bassoon as one of its categories. See http://www.aeoluswettbewerb.de/en/preview.html and 
http://www.aeoluswettbewerb.de/pdf/aeolus_programm_2012.en.pdf .

'Saying of the Month' for February:
'We should never confuse enthusiasm with capability' General Peter Schoomaker US Army Chief of Staff (b. 1946).

I sell the bassoon reeds that I make. These are exactly the same as those I use at the ROH. For more information, please click here.