CONSERVATORY of MUSIC
Bianca chambul
About
Born in Toronto, Bianca Chambul was appointed Principal Bassoon of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in June 2019.
Bianca has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra (England), the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Hamilton Philharmonic, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, and Toronto’s Tapestry Opera. She has appeared as a concerto competition winner with the Rice University Chamber Orchestra, the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. The 2022-2023 orchestral season marks her professional debuts as a soloist with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Alberta Baroque Ensemble.
In 2019, Bianca completed one year of her Master’s degree at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in Houston, Texas under the tutelage of Professor Benjamin Kamins. She obtained her performance undergraduate degree in 2016 at the University of Toronto, studying with Eric Hall, Principal Bassoon of Chicago’s Grant Park Orchestra and the Canadian Opera Company. Bianca received the William and Phyllis Waters Graduating Award, and was on the University of Toronto music faculty as a sessional bassoon instructor for the 2017 winter term.
Lessons
I would be delighted to be a part of your musical journey, whether it be introducing you to the bassoon or diving into the nitty-gritty details of excerpt preparation for youth orchestra, university, and professional-level auditions.
Lessons are available in person at the Alberta College Campus for children ten years of age and older and adult beginners, as well as intermediate to advanced students and university to professional-level players.
We will study the art of performing on the bassoon, with an emphasis on fundamentals, which include specific exercises for long tones, scales, intervals, and intonation, based on the Herzberg school of thought. This builds technique with the goal of fostering a high-level command of the instrument in solo, chamber, and orchestral repertoire. Developing a solid foundation on the bassoon also requires a detailed knowledge of reed-making, so I offer training in this critical skill.
It is my pleasure to offer the tools to guide you, but it is ultimately up to the student to do the assigned work each week.
I look forward to meeting you!
Request lessons to discuss lessosn availability and rates.
Education
- University of Toronto, Bachelor of Music Performance in Bassoon (2016); student of Eric Hall, Principal Bassoon of the Canadian Opera Company and Chicago's Grant Park Orchestra.
- 1 year of Master's degree completed in 2019; student of Benjamin Kamins, former Principal Bassoon of the Houston Symphony and Professor of Bassoon at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music
Performances / compositions / recordings
- Bianca Chambul, bassoon; Alexander Prior, ESO Chief Conductor Mendelssohn, Song Without Words, Op. 109. Recorded September 2020 at the Winspear Centre.
- Mozart Bassoon and Cello Sonata, K. 292. Self-produced in January 2021.
- Bassoon reed-making video series
- Rossini Bassoon Concerto, Rice University Chamber Orchestra, 2019
- Mozart Bassoon Concerto, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, 2023
Awards / grants / fellowships
- Music Academy of the West, Keston MAX Fellowship to perform with the London Symphony Orchestra (2022)
- University of Toronto, William and Phyllis Waters Graduating Award (2016)
- National Academy Orchestra, Apprentice of the Year (2015)
Professional associations and memberships
- Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Principal Bassoon (2019 to present)