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E-Mail:
George.Sakakeeny@oberlin.edu
Office:
Bibbins 137
Office Phone:
440/775-8242
Address:
77 W. College St.
Oberlin, OH 44074
Visit also:
• George Sakakeeny - Photo
Gallery
Back to:
Woodwinds, Brass, and
Percussion Division.
George Sakakeeny
Professor of Bassoon
"Technique must always be driven by artistic vision. Imagine how the music must sound and let necessity be the mother invention when it comes to the development of your technique. My students work hard on all the basics: scales, arpeggios, tone production, articulation, reeds, and most importantly, the basics of phrasing. Without that, the rest has no purpose. To achieve our instrumental goals we primarily use the Milde Studies, along with solo repertoire and orchestral excerpts. Knowledge of excerpts and audition skills are tested three times each year through our ensemble auditions and through the annual spring mock audition. Strict professional standards of performance and behavior are expected and enforced in our bassoon studio to insure a top educational experience."
Performer:
George Sakakeeny is principal bassoonist of the Promusica Chamber Orchestra of Columbus and of the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra. He has appeared as soloist with orchestras throughout the United States, Europe and the Far East, including engagements with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Harmonia Classica Orchestra in Vienna at the historic Musikverein, and on a nationally televised concert in Japan under the baton of Seiji Ozawa. He has appeared as featured soloist with orchestra at two International Double Reed Conferences: the 1998 conference in Tempe, Arizona, and the 1999 conference in Madison, Wisconsin.
Sakakeeny is the artistic director of the Chamber Music at Oberlin series. This annual series of concerts presents Oberlin's distinguished faculty performers in chamber music concerts with invited guests, alumni and current students. |
Commissions and Premieres:
Peter Schickele's bassoon concerto, which was commissioned for Sakakeeny by conductor Timothy Russell and the Promusica Chamber Orchestra of Columbus, was the third major work for bassoon premiered by Sakakeeny. Viennese composer Alexander Blechinger's Fagott Konzert was written especially for him in 1997. In 1993 he performed the world premier of Michael Daugherty's Dead Elvis with the Boston Musica Viva.
Clinician:
As a clinician Sakakeeny has given numerous recitals and master classes at leading institutions in the U.S. and Europe, including the Eastman School of Music, and the State Music Conservatory of the Ukraine, the Tchaikowsky National Music Academy in Kiev.
In March of 2000 he will be the featured bassoon clinician at the Mid-South Double Reed Society Conference in Memphis. In August 2000 he will serve as the only American judge on the jury for the finals of the Gillette/Fox international bassoon competition to be held in Buenos Aries.
Recordings:
As soloist, Sakakeeny recorded Blechinger's Fagott Konzert for the Harmonia Classica label with the Kiev Cammerata. He is featured on the International Double Reed Society's 25th anniversary recording in a performance of the Villa-Lobos Duo for oboe and bassoon with Chicago Symphony principal oboist Alex Klein '87 on the Crystal Records label (www.crystalrecords.com ).
Background:
Sakakeeny studied with K. David Van Hoesen and graduated with a performer's certificate from the Eastman School of Music. He studied briefly with Bernard Garfield and Sherman Walt. In addition, he credits clarinetist Harold Wright and oboist James Caldwell as powerful formative musical mentors.
Personal:
Professor Sakakeeny enjoys hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire where he and his family spend each summer at their 59-acre estate known as "Saki's Hill."
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