Work With Our Specialists

Meet Nick, Our Bassoon Specialist

Nick Ober

“There are two things I enjoy more than anything in my job. The first is getting to chat with bassoonists about the work we do and the struggles we share. There is nothing more invigorating and inspiring than talking with people who have boundless enthusiasm for the bassoon, no matter if it’s their favorite hobby or their professional calling. You can learn so much from talking with people about what they care about, and sometimes, you can even become better at your job as a result. The second thing I get a lot of satisfaction from is helping to solve peoples’ issues with their playing. Whether it’s the instrument, the bocal, the reed, or something else entirely, it is so rewarding to help someone find what they need and to help them feel better about what how they’re playing. That’s not only something that applies to my job at MMI, but is the reason I teach privately as well.”

Recently appointed as principal bassoon of the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra in Bozeman, MT, Nick’s aspiration is to be as versatile of a bassoonist as possible. Although primarily experienced as a symphonic player, he has also performed in Opera pits,  chamber groups, theatre and musical productions, and new music ensembles. Nick served as 2nd bassoon in the Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra in Eau Claire, WI, during their 21-22 season. He is also the bassoon instructor at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls. Most recently, he has had the opportunity to play with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in their 21-22 season. While obtaining his Master’s in bassoon at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, he helped launch the project Apres L’Histoire, a new music ensemble that performs and commissions works for the same ensemble used in Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat. He also co-founded the Seraphina Ensemble, a new music project focusing on living composers from underrepresented demographics. Nick was in the cast for the Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s production of Nell Gwynn in Fall 2018. He has also performed with numerous community ensembles in Chicagoland and the Twin Cities, from the Northbrook and Evanston Symphonies in IL, to the Medalist Concert Band and Encore Wind Ensemble in MN. With 5 years of experience as a barista, he is also excellent at recommending coffee to people. He has a keen interest in bringing the bassoon to genres it is not normally found in, such as jazz. Nick hopes to maintain a bassoon studio and help players of all kinds discover their passion for music.