The Minnesota Orchestra has appointed FEI XIE principal bassoon, effective with the start of the 2017-18 season. Fei Xie (pronounced Fay Shee-eh) fills the position previously held for 45 years by John Miller, Jr. Since 2012, he has served as principal bassoon of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, after joining that orchestra as second bassoonist in 2008. He previously was a member of the Houston Grand Opera, principal bassoonist of the Mansfield Symphony in Ohio, and guest principal bassoonist with the Houston Symphony and Baltimore Chamber Orchestra. He is currently on the faculty at the University of Maryland and will be the bassoon coach for the inaugural season of the NYO-China (National Youth Orchestra of China) this summer. He also served as a faculty member at Campos do Jordão International Music Festival in Brazil for two seasons. His parents and uncle are renowned Peking Opera musicians. He started piano lessons at age three and began bassoon studies when he was 13. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin Conservatory and a master’s degree from Rice University. His primary teachers are George Sakakeeny and Benjamin Kamins, who was associate principal bassoon of the Minnesota Orchestra from 1972 to 1981.
Posted June 8, 2017
