Program PDF

Recently named one of 23 artists who are “changing the sound of classical music” by the Washington Post, Ben Roidl-Ward is the Assistant Professor of Bassoon at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He also holds positions as Principal Bassoonist of the Chicago Sinfonietta, Co-Principal Bassoonist of Sinfonia Da Camera, and Second Bassoonist of the Illinois Symphony. A leading performer of contemporary music, Ben is Solo Bassoonist of Chicago’s Ensemble Dal Niente and serves as a Contemporary Leader for the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland, where he performs throughout Europe with the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra, co-curates the annual Lucerne Forward! Festival, and teaches in the Lucerne Festival Academy. Ben’s dedication to working with and advocating for composers of his generation has led him to commission numerous works featuring the bassoon, and he has participated in the premieres of over 125 compositions to date. Read more...