Michael Burns
Michael Burns holds the BM degree from the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand; the MM from the New England Conservatory; and the DMA from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Burns has performed in numerous professional orchestras, including the Cincinnati and the New Zealand Symphonies; and has played Principal in the Midland/Odessa, Richmond, and Abilene Symphonies, and the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. Currently he is principal bassoon in the Asheville Symphony and NC Opera. Prior to UNCG he taught at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory, Indiana State University, and Midland College. He remains active as a solo and chamber performer with numerous performances at International Double Reed Society conventions, recitals, and master classes throughout North America, China, Germany and the South Pacific, and is bassoonist in the EastWind Ensemble, Forecast Music, and the NC Collective. He has recorded for the Centaur, CAP, Telarc, EMI, Klavier, and Mark labels. In summers, Burns serves on the bassoon faculty of the InterHarmony International Music Festival in Tuscany, Italy and the Anchorage Music Festival in Alaska. He was formerly associated with the Eastern Music Festival and the Bands of America Summer Symposium. He is also an active composer with many of his pieces being published by TrevCo Music, Potenza Music and Effiny Music and frequently performed internationally. His mentors include William Winstead, Sherman Walt, Leonard Sharrow, and Colin Hemmingsen. He is archivist for the International Double Reed Society and was co-host for the IDRS 2003 Conference in Greensboro, NC. Burns is a Yamaha Performing Artist.