George Sakakeeny

Biography

Internationally recognized artist-teacher George Sakakeeny was recently appointed professor of bassoon at the Tianjin Juilliard School. He has been professor of bassoon at the Eastman School of Music for the past 10 years and held the same position at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music for 27 years. He has held the principal bassoon positions of numerous music festivals, Seiji Ozawa’s New Japan Philharmonic, the Opera Company of Boston, Promusica Orchestra of Columbus, and CityMusic Cleveland. More recently he has been serving as visiting guest principal bassoon with the Atlanta Symphony, and acting principal of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

Sakakeeny has appeared as a soloist with various orchestras on more than 50 occasions. Three major works for bassoon and orchestra have been composed for him: Libby Larsen’s full moon in the city in 2013, Peter Schickele’s Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra 1998, and Alexander Blechinger’s 1997 Fagottkonzert.

Professor Sakakeeny, an internationally sought after pedagogue, has taught guest master classes at the Paris Conservatory, Rice University, Tokyo University of Fine Arts, The Juilliard School, and held longer -erm residencies at the Shanghai Conservatory, Central Conservatory, Aspen Music Festival, Seoul National University, and the Conservatoire National Supèrieur de Musique et Danse of Lyon, France. For 7 years he served as guest bassoon professor for Venezuela’s El Sistema, was on the faculty of the Interlochen Arts Academy and Arts Camp for a total of 13 years, and he holds the title “Guest Professor” of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.

Sakakeeny’s numerous solo recordings include Blechinger’s Fagottkonzert, the Villa-Lobos Duo with oboist Alex Klein, and his recording of four modern works for bassoon and orchestra “full moon in the city.” These recordings and others are distributed by Spotify, Apple Music, and Naxos. They can also be found on YouTube and other free streaming platforms. He is the author of the iBook, Making Reeds Start to Finish with George Sakakeeny.

SPECIALTIES:

Reed making
Audition prep

LANGUAGES:

English

PLEASE NOTE: Due to Mr. Sakakeeny’s recent move to China, he will not be available for private lessons or masterclasses for a few months. Please check back for availability.