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.
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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.”
“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.”
“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.”