Selected Former Students

“[Sakakeeny] has had an extraordinary class of alumni . . ."

- Andrea Kalyn, Dean of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music

Minnesota Orchestra, Principal Bassoon
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Former Principal Bassoon
University of Maryland, Former Bassoon Instructor
Houston Grand Opera, Former Second Bassoon

Imani Winds, bassoonist, founding member
Internationally known chamber musician and clinician

Kansas City Symphony, Second Bassoon
Buffalo Symphony Orchestra, Former Second Bassoon
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Former Second Bassoon

Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Principal Bassoon
Houston Grand Opera, Former Second Bassoon

International Contemporary Ensemble, Artistic Director and bassoonist
Internationally known soloist
Former New World Symphony fellow

Thomas Schneider

Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Principal Bassoon
Former New World Symphony fellow

Nicolasa Kuster

University of the Pacific, Associate Professor of Bassoon
Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition and Bassoon Symposium, Co-Founder and Director
Stockton Symphony Orchestra, Principal Bassoon
Former Civic Orchestra of Chicago fellow

Dr. Leigh Miller Muñoz

Kansas City Conservatory, Assistant Professor of Bassoon
Go Bassoon Reeds, Owner/Proprietor

Benjamin Atherholt

Louisiana Philharmonic, Assistant Principal & Contrabassoon
Houston Symphony, Acting Contrabassoon (2011-13)
Loyola University New Orleans, Bassoon Instructor

Michael Matushek

Louisiana Philharmonic, Second Bassoon
Tulane University, Bassoon Instructor
CityMusic Cleveland, Former Bassoon

Dr. Stephanie Patterson

North Carolina School for the Arts, Associate Professor of Bassoon
Columbus State University (GA), Former Assistant Professor of Bassoon
Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Principal Bassoon
Wichita State University, Former Visiting Professor
Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition, finalist (2005)

Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra, Principal Bassoon
Augusta Symphony (GA), Former Principal Bassoon
IDRS Gillet-Fox Competition, Honorable Mention (2004)

Staff Sgt. Briana Lehman

West Point Band, Principal Bassoon
Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition, 3rd Prize (2010)

Staff Sgt. Randy Fultz

United States Army Field Band

National Opera Theatre Orchestra (Beijing China,) Principal Bassoon

Orquesta Sinfonica Sinaloa de los Artes, Second Bassoon

Oberlin Conservatory, Assistant Professor of Bassoon
Round Top Festival Institute, bassoon instructor
DePaul University, Former Bassoon Instructor
Houston Grand Opera, Former Second Bassoon
Former Civic Orchestra of Chicago fellow

Yunle "Leon" Feng

Southwest University (China), Professor of Orchestral Conducting, Director of Orchestras
Hangzhou Youth Orchestra, Former Conductor

Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music, lecturer of Bassoon.
Former Assistant Principal Bassoon, National Symphony Orchestra
Former Principal Bassoon, Harrisburg Symphony
Atlanta Symphony, Guest Assistant Principal Bassoon
New York Philharmonic, Extra Bassoon
IDRS Young Artist Competition, 2nd Prize (2013)

Oleksiy Zakharov

New York City, active freelance musician
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Former Second Bassoon
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Former Acting Associate Principal

Yunfeng "Eric" Yao

Ningbo Symphony Orchestra (China), Principal Bassoon
Former Civic Orchestra of Chicago fellow

Amelia Del Caño

Louisiana Philharmonic, acting contra/Utility bassoon
Former New World Symphony fellow

Jenni Groyon Hill

Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, Second Bassoon
Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, Former Associate Principal and Second Bassoon
Former New World Symphony fellow

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, VP of Operations
Former Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, General Manager
North Carolina Symphony, Former Personnel Manager
Grand Rapids Symphony, Former Assistant Principal and Second Bassoon

The Florida Orchestra, Artistic Administrator
New World Symphony, Former Administrative Director
New York City Ballet, Former Associate Principal Bassoon

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Director of Operations
Louisiana Philharmonic, Former Director of Production
Tucson Symphony, Former Second Bassoon

Shuo "Shelly" Li

Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, Second Bassoon
Atlanta Ballet, Former Acting Principal Bassoon
Alabama Symphony, Former Acting Second Bassoon
Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition, 2nd Prize (2010)

Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Principal Bassoon

Louisiana Philharmonic, Acting Assistant Principal bassoon
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Former acting assistant principal bassoon
Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Acting Second Bassoon

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Principal Contrabassoon
Chautauqua Festival Orchestra, Second Bassoon
Washington D.C., Freelance Artist and Teacher

Kathy Kvitek Unlu

Department of State, Bureau of Legislative Affairs
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Former Second Bassoon
Former Civic Orchestra of Chicago fellow

Jennifer Devroye

Shaw, Fishman, Glantz & Towbin LLC, Attorney
Former New World Symphony fellow
Former Civic Orchestra of Chicago fellow

Concho Resources, Inc., Attorney
Houston Ballet Orchestra, Former Second Bassoon

Harvard Business School, PHD Candidate
Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition, 3rd Prize (2001)

Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra, Principal Bassoon
Latin American Bassoon Academy, Professor of Bassoon

Benjamin Roidl-Ward

University of Northern Iowa, Assistant Professor of Bassoon
Former Civic Orchestra of Chicago fellow
Loop38 New Music Collective, Founding Member
IDRS Young Artist Competition, 3rd Prize (2013)

Blue Moon Bassoon, Owner/Proprietor
Austin Symphonic Band, Executive Director
Bocal Majority Bassoon Camp, Instructor

Katherine Young

School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Instructor
Freelance Artist and Composer
Commissions by Spektral Quartet, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Third Coast Percussion, and many others

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