Bassoon
The bassoon is the bass, tenor and often alto of the woodwind family. The instrument has been around for five hundred years; as a result, there is a wide range of music, from early Baroque to contemporary, for this beautiful instrument, which is close to the human voice.
At the Conservatorium van Amsterdam you will be taught by top teachers: several principal study teachers play in the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Benny Aghassi teaches baroque bassoon; he plays in famous ensembles such as the Freiburg Barockorchester, Musica ad Rhenum and Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra. KCO solo bassoonist Gustavo Núñez regularly gives master classes.
Section representative: Simon Van Holen
Teachers
Simon Van Holensection representative & principal subject &double bassoon
Andrea Cellacchi principal subject
Gustavo Nuñez regular guest teacher
The course is multifaceted; all aspects of the bassoon are covered. You will play bassoon repertoire from the Renaissance to the very latest music, from solo to orchestral. Much attention is also paid to chamber music, so you will play together with other woodwind players. Courses are given in reed making, orchestral playing and audition training, and there are regular master classes by famous bassoonists, such as Gustavo Núñez. You can also take lessons in baroque and contrabassoon.
Admission requirements
Audition candidates will be selected on the basis of a video recording to be submitted digitally via the application form. Recordings must be received by February 1st at the latest. The video repertoire consists of a diverse selection from the required audition repertoire of maximum 15 minutes.
Audition repertoire
- the following two etudes are obligatory: Ch.J. Weissenborn - Fagott-Studien II no. 35; A. Vaulet - 20 Studien etude no. 11
- one etude to be chosen from the following: A. Vaulet - 20 Studien; Ch.J. Weissenborn - Fagott-Studien II; E. Ozi - 42 Caprices
- three movements from three sonatas or pieces from different style periods; baroque/classical or romantic/20th-21st century
Total about 20-25 minutes.
After the two-year course, students will be ready to enter the professional music world at the highest level.
Admission requirements
Audition candidates will be selected on the basis of a video recording to be submitted digitally via the application form. Recordings must be received by February 1st at the latest. The video repertoire consists of a diverse selection from the required audition repertoire of maximum 15 minutes.
Audition
The candidate will perform a programme which may not exceed 30 minutes. He/she is required to play at least one piece from memory.
- one etude of the candidate's choice, to be chosen from: L. Milde - Concert Studies Op. 26 No. 2/3/5/9/14/17/20/24
- baroque sonata or concerto of the candicate's choice
- first and second movement from one of the following concertos (without cadenzas): W.A. Mozart, C.M. von Weber
- sonata/piece (or movements from) from the 1830-1970 period (ca. 10 minutes)
Total ca. 30-35 minutes.