Travel Archives - Kathleen McLean

Upcoming Performance – Master Classes & Performance at Glickman/Popkin Bassoon Camp in North Carolina

The Glickman/Popkin Bassoon Camp is a ten-day summer camp for bassoonists 18 years of age and above, of any skill level.

I’m looking forward to participating again this year at the camp. Last year, because of Covid-19, everything unfortunately had to be cancelled. It could still be cancelled but we are assuming that things are good to go. It’s going to be an exciting summer filled with lots of ideas and exchanges with bassoonists all over the United States & Canada.

A Beautiful Environment Settled Among the Blue Ridge Mountains at the Wildacres Retreat

Because this camp is for all levels, it’s a really great environment with little pressure. There are beautiful views of the Blue Ridge mountains. Not only are there bassoon master classes but there are also reed making instruction classes and multiple performances every night with guest artists & large ensembles.

The camp is located at the Wildacres Retreat in Little Switzerland, NC.

To learn more about the 2021 Glickman Popkin Bassoon Camp in North Carolina, please visit their Facebook page.

McGill Bassoon Day 2020 in Montreal, Québec Canada

A great weekend working with some fine young bassoon students in Canada. I spent this Saturday giving a master class and performing a recital with colleagues from the Montreal Symphony and students at the McGill University.

McGill Bassoon Day 2020 - Benson Bell Bassoon Group

McGill Bassoon Day 2020 - Tanna Concert Hall

Playing Bassoon In The Backup Band for The Who at Ruoff Mortgage Center

I will be performing with the backup band at this event!

The Who announce special guests for first leg of the 2019 US tour

The Who will also be releasing their first album of new songs in thirteen years later this year. On stage, the line-up will be rounded out by familiar Who players featuring guitarist/backup singer Simon Townshend, keyboardist Loren Gold, bassist Jon Button and drummer Zak Starkey, and complemented by some of the best orchestras in the U.S. and Canada.

Date	05/18/2019
Time	7:30pm
Venue	Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
Location	Noblesville, IN, United States
Tickets	Get LiveNation Tickets or check StubHub

New Premiere Performance at the 2019 International Double Reed Society Conference in Tampa, Florida

I am pleased to announce that my proposal for a new concerto premiere for Bassoon & Strings will be performed in the evening on July 15th at the International Double Reed Society Conference. Visit the IDRS 2019 Conference website for more information!

IDRS 2019 ~ July 14-18, 2019, Tampa Florida at the School of Music of South Florida

2019 Tour with the International Chamber Orchestra of Puerto Rico

After two weeks spent in Puerto Rico, The International Chamber Orchestra of Puerto Rico (ICOPR) completed 8 concerts, several master classes, and reached out to many students, young children, and adults with disabilities.

The local community we visited appeared fascinated because they had never seen classical music instruments before. At rehearsal breaks the children would be paraded around the orchestra to look at our instruments. It was funny and it was almost as if we were, “animals in a zoo”. They were delighted and in many cases the students came up and touched the instruments. It was sweet!

We also had a chance to see the developments after Hurricane Maria. The people were so kind and warm. We heard stories of people without phone and electricity for seven months! Some people had to sleep in their cars at night. The only thing they had was a car and gas. No phone and no computer for that long! (Maybe that would be good?) The gift of music to the Puerto Rico community was really appreciated.

Throughout the weeks the principal players of the orchestra were giving master classes to the young aspiring musicians of Puerto Rico at each city we performed in.

On the odd off day, we visited beaches throughout the territory of Puerto Rico. There was a gorgeous surfing resort town called Rincón where we saw some super interesting waves. Some of us rented paddle boards, enjoyed the beach, and enjoyed the local dives. The visit inspired me to think I may want to move here for part of the year.

Here are some photos from the trip:

2018 Premiere Performance of “The Green Reed Which Bends in the Wind” by Chiel Meijering at the International Double Reed Society Conference in Granada, Spain

2019 Tour with the International Chamber Orchestra of Puerto Rico

This performance has now been moved to the Past Performances. Please see the blog post about this trip: https://www.kmbassoon.com/past-performances/2019-tour-international-chamber-orchestra-puerto-rico/

January 28th 2019 – February 10th, 2019

International Artists Converging in the Caribbean

An Annual Two Week Festival
Promoting Peace, Unity, and Brotherhood Among Nations

ICOPR

Visit the International Chamber Orchestra OF PUERTO RICO website for more info

Rehearsing with Joseph Petric, concert accordionist for upcoming premiere performance

While in Toronto last week, Joseph and I rehearsed together for the first time for an upcoming premiere concert in Auer Hall on March 31 for a piece written by Chiel Meijering scored for bassoon, clarinet, accordion and string orchestra titled “Tribulations of Modern Love” James Campbell, clarinet IU faculty member will join us as well as strings from the Jacobs School of Music with David Jang, conducting. Composer, Chiel Meijering will attend the premiere.

Bassoon Day 2018: Faculty/Guest/Student Recital
James Campbell, clarinet; William Ludwig, bassoon; Kathleen McLean, bassoon; Chiel Meijering, composer; Joseph Petric, accordion; Bram van Sambeek, bassoon

selfie in ballet studio

Joseph Petric

Rigoletto Performance at Four Seasons Center for the Performing Arts

It was great and rather exciting to be back in Toronto to play acting principal bassoon. I played one performance of Rigoletto with no rehearsal and it was a blast from the past as I was a member of the Canadian Opera Company from 1989-93. It is nice to work with old friends and hear the orchestra as I sat in the middle of the pit. It is always a nostalgic feeling to return to orchestra life for a brief moment in time.

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Canadian Opera Company

Four Seasons Center

clarinet section COC

CBC Building Toronto

St. Andrew’s Church

Glenn Gould

Photos of my travels

Over the years I’ve collected lots of wonderful memories of concerts, travel abroad, and spending time with other outstanding musicians. I thought I would share some of the with you:

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