Erich Heckscher

Erich Heckscher is Principal Bassoon of the National Philharmonic Orchestra and the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, and served as Acting Second Bassoon with the National Symphony Orchestra for the 2011-2012 season. He was formerly Principal Bassoon with the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Second Bassoon with the Alabama Symphony and Houston Ballet Orchestras, and appeared as Guest Principal Bassoon with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in January, 2000. Other appearances include the Dallas, Virginia, Charleston and Richmond Symphony Orchestras, the Atlanta Opera, Tulsa Opera and Des Moines Metropolitan Opera. Erich is also Principal Bassoon of the Britt Festival Orchestra in Jacksonville, OR, and has participated in festivals in Durango, Sarasota, Breckenridge, Chautauqua and College Park. He has a Bachelor of Music in bassoon from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with K. David Van Hoesen and John Hunt, and a Master of Music in bassoon from Southern Methodist University, where he studied with Wilfred Roberts. Erich has been Adjunct Professor of Bassoon at the University of Maryland and woodwind coach for the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras at Strathmore Hall since 2012. He has maintained private studios in Dallas, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., and was Adjunct Professor of Bassoon at Texas A&M University Commerce in 1998.