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June 8-14, 2026

The NewBassoon Institute

Appalachian State University | Boone, NC
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A week-long immersion in
contemporary bassoon performance

The NewBassoon Institute is a collaborative summer workshop exploring the role of the bassoon in the 21st century music, for both seasoned new music practitioners and bassoonists just beginning their contemporary music journey.

Workshops

Learn essential contemporary performance skills in hands-on workshops on extended techniques, electronic music, improvisation, peak performance, and more.

Lessons & Masterclasses

Get one-on-one mentorship from leading performers and teachers of contemporary bassoon music, and get coaching from faculty and fellow participants on the pieces and techniques you most want to explore.

Competitions

Take center stage in the NewBassoon Performance Competition, and hear the latest works for bassoon quartet from our 2026 Composition Prize Winners.

Performances & Premieres

Go beyond traditional venues to perform solo, chamber, and large ensemble works in pubs and public spaces, as well as the recital hall.

2026 theme

minimalism /
maximalism

This summer, we’ll explore the range of contemporary bassoon music through the lens of two defining movements of 20th and 21st century music: minimalism and maximalism.

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featured work

Brad Balliett's Arboretum

Join us as we head to the woods for a NewBassoon tradition—performing Brad Balliett’s Arboretum.  

bassoons in the blue ridge

Boone, North Carolina

Home of Appalachian State University’s Hayes School of Music, Boone, NC is a lively college town nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains with a vibrant downtown, outdoor adventures, and rich Appalachian culture.

Sunrise in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blowing Rock, NC
Boone, North Carolina. American architecture with streets and historical buildings in Blue Ridge Mountains. Popular tourist destination.
Lynn Cove Viaduct on the North Carolina Blue Ridge Parkway displayed in peak leaf color
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Alumni experiences

"I was inspired at every performance I attended to become the very best bassoonist I could imagine. I now believe in the expressive power of properly mastered extended techniques, which is for me an endless invitation to discovery."
—Tia Wortham, Co-Principal Bassoon, US Navy Band
"I remember coming home from the NewBassoon Institute and realizing it had changed the way I played ‘classical’ pieces. I was playing like a beast. Get ready to be impressed by what comes out of your horn post-institute. You’ll be amazed."
—Emily Mastenbrook, Sarajevo Philharmonic
“The NewBassoon Institute was one of the highlights of my summer! The opportunity to work with such skilled artists who have a specialty in contemporary music is something you really can’t find anywhere else, particularly for bassoon! I highly recommend it.”

—Dan Wolfe, 2018/2019 American Prize winner, instrumental music