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Vision Statement:
The Matchstick Bassoon Quartet are a group of like-minded bassoonists, working in various facets of the music industry as performers, educators, composers, and arts administrators. We strive to use our platform to advocate for a more equitable and inclusive present and future of classical music.
As an ensemble, we seek to enrich our community through shared musical experience. In performance, we combine the whimsy inherent to the bassoon quartet with meaningful artistry that engages audiences from all walks of life. Our programming supports the work of living composers through the commissioning of new music for four bassoons.
We prioritize representing diverse musical voices while working to expand the catalog of original repertoire available for the ensemble.
We strongly believe in the importance of supporting young bassoonists and contributing to the pedagogical discourse for our instrument. Our educational programming includes workshops, masterclasses, and chamber music coachings for school- aged and college students. Our inaugural performance season features the premiere of Generations by emerging composer Daniel- Jericho Johnson (they/them) at Shenandoah University, as well as a performance tour in the D.C. Metro area.
Our Members:
Clair Cangialosi (She/Her):
Dr. Clair Cangialosi enjoys an active career as a performer and educator in the northern Virginia area. She has taught woodwind students in grades 4–12 as well as at the university level in private lesson and masterclass settings.
As a life-long band nerd, Clair is passionate about supporting current and future music educators in the development of their double reed pedagogy. In addition to her private studio, she is on the faculty at the Bocal Majority Virginia Camp.
Clair holds a Bachelor’s degree in music education (’17), Professional Performance Certificate (’18), and Master’s degree in bassoon performance (’20) from the University of Massachusetts Amherst as well as a Doctor of Musical Arts degree (’24) in bassoon performance from Shenandoah University. Her primary teachers are Janet Grice, Stephen Walt, Remy Taghavi, and Ryan Romine.
Fun Fact: Clair does yoga every day!
Ed Senn (They/Them):
Bassoonist Ed Senn is an artist who feels at home in a multitude of genres-- new music, chamber, orchestral, opera, and theatre-- they play it all.
Ed is also a dedicated educator, winning outstanding teaching awards from the University of Arizona in their work as a Music Theory instructor, and currently is an Adjunct Professor at South Carolina State University teaching bassoon and music appreciation.
They have played a variety of music in almost every region of the US and are expanding to playing in the European Union. Ed focuses on commissioning of new music by historically underrepresented composers and works for the developing bassoon player.
When not playing the bassoon, you can find them playing with their two cats Spammy and Poppyseed with their wife, Krista.
James Scott (They/he):
Currently, James is an active performer in the Northern Colorado region and beyond. They can be found playing music with everyone from the local band music scene to regularly performing with such groups as the Longmont Symphony Orchestra.
As a bassoonist, they advocate for more inclusion of chamber music and new music as viable respected forms of music. One of his biggest goals as a performer is to help bring to the forefront the music of traditionally underrepresented groups and give their talents the recognition they deserve- especially those who are non-binary or neurodivergent, as they can best speak to those experiences.
James is also an active composer and arranger with multiple works published and on the way through Imagine music publishing.
In their free time, James enjoys walking their cat Vanessa and baking for their partner Telly.
Fun fact: In high school James was in a punk-rock cover band on bassoon/ukulele!
Stephanie Tripp (She/Her):
She is currently in the second year of her Masters of Music performance degree at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. She holds a Bachelors of Music degree from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, NC.
Stephanie is an advocate for accessible music education, and showcasing the works of underrepresented composers.
When she is not playing the bassoon, Stephanie enjoys traveling, baking, caring for her plants spending time with her friends, family, and cat Scarlet
Fun fact: Stephanie is an avid Formula 1 fan and car enthusiast!
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