Bassoon Reeds- About Me

Emma is currently on trial for the position of Principal contrabassoon in BBC symphony orchestra, 2nd bassoon in Bournemouth symphony orchestra and 3rd bassoon doubling contrabassoon in Malmo Opera orchestra. She was co-principal bassoon of southbank sinfonia 2011, and has also played principal bassoon with the Heritage orchestra, on tour with Australian musical comedian Tim Minchin.

Emma's orchestral training includes playing contrabassoon with the European Union Youth Orchestra on their Spring tour 2011. She has played on side-by-side schemes with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, BBC concert orchestra, and the Royal Opera house orchestra.

Emma studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London on the BMus course with a scholarship entrance, and graduated in 2009 with first class honours. Whilst at the Guildhall she enjoyed the inspirational teaching of Meyrick Alexander, Daniel Jemison and Gordon Laing for contrabassoon. As part of her course, she took an ERASMUS exchange to the Geneva Conservatoire in 2008, studying with Afonso Venturieri.

She has performed in masterclasses for Robin O'Neill, Helen Simons, Graham Sheen and Roger Birnstingl. In August 2010, she took part in a ten day masterclass in Sweden at the Aurora chamber festival with Ole Kristian Dahl.

When Emma is not playing or listening to classical music, she enjoys watching and listening to jazz and cheesy choons, cycling, swimming, movies old and new, and drinking unhealthy amounts of coffee with friends.