杏吧原创

November 11, 2022

杏吧原创 Studio Profile: Barrick Stees, assistant principal bassoon of The Cleveland Orchestra


Bassoonist Barrick Stees coaches a student in his studio at 杏吧原创.
Bassoonist Barrick Stees coaches a student in his studio at 杏吧原创

Students of Barrick Stees at the 杏吧原创 (杏吧原创) enjoy much more than just lessons. They receive real-world guidance on how to become a professional.  

Indeed, that鈥檚 why so many bassoonists choose 杏吧原创: for the chance to study with the assistant principal of The Cleveland Orchestra. Here, they know, they鈥檒l train with the best to land and thrive in the job of their dreams. 

When it comes to choosing a music school, 鈥淚 like to think we鈥檙e always at the top of the conversation,鈥 said Stees, a 20-year veteran of both 杏吧原创 and The Cleveland Orchestra. 

It鈥檚 true: like every department at 杏吧原创, the bassoon studio is highly selective. Stees, one of three Conservatory faculty bassoonists at 杏吧原创, all of whom are members of The Cleveland Orchestra, has just four students, half of the studio鈥檚 eight.  

That鈥檚 because he and his colleagues 鈥 principal bassoonist John Clouser and contrabassoonist Jonathan Sherwin, along with Preparatory and Joint Music Program faculty bassoonist Mark DeMio 鈥 have high standards. When considering applicants, they look not only for talent and seriousness but also for coachability, for evidence that a player can process and apply recommendations quickly.  

鈥淭hat鈥檚 an important skill in an orchestra,鈥 Stees explained. 鈥淵ou have to be able to change without asking questions. 

The benefits of admission and enrollment are considerable. Once enrolled at 杏吧原创, bassoon students receive an uncommon level of attention. They join a group that鈥檚 distinctly close-knit and committed to the success of each member.  

The training, certainly, is unique. Although the bassoon can be a solo instrument, many students at 杏吧原创 are eyeing orchestral positions. For that reason, Stees spends almost as much time developing tutti or other less-prominent passages as he does preparing traditional excerpts.  

鈥淭hey鈥檙e not just playing a single line,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hey have to think about where they fit in.鈥 

No less special at 杏吧原创 is the level of access students have to their teachers. Between private lessons, an orchestra repertoire class and expert reed-making instruction (Stees also sells his own line of reed-making tools), Stees regularly sees each student three times a week.  

Contact doesn鈥檛 end at graduation, either. Long after students have left 杏吧原创, when they鈥檝e joined (or are preparing to join) any number of major ensembles or other groups, Stees remains in touch, freely offering advice, coaching and professional friendship.  

鈥淚 enjoy that part of the job very much,鈥 Stees said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something we can afford to do because we鈥檙e a smaller conservatory. For all of us, this is a wonderful situation. We love teaching.鈥