Bassoonist Michael Kroth
is currently Associate Professor of Bassoon and Director of Wind Chamber
Music at the Michigan State University College of Music. Active as a
solo, chamber and orchestral musician, Michael has performed in recitals
and concerts throughout the United States and Germany. His performances
of both serious and novel works for bassoon have been well received
by audiences and critics, and he has been praised for his beautiful
tone and expressive playing. Michael recently performed the world premiere
of Dana Wilson’s The Avatar: Concerto for Bassoon and Chamber
Ensemble. He was featured at the International Double Reed Society Convention
in Ithaca, NY in a second performance this work.
Michael is also the principal bassoon with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra,
a Faculty Artist at the Colorado College Summer Music Festival (Colorado
Springs, CO), and member of the Peninsula Music Festival (Door County,
WI). He performs regularly with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and the Grand Rapids Symphony.
Kroth earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Bassoon Performance from
Ithaca College studying with Edward Gobrecht. He continued his studies
receiving a Master of Music degree in Bassoon Performance from Temple
University where he studied with Bernard Garfield, Principal Bassoon
of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He has also studied with Ryohei Nakagawa
as a bassoon fellowship student at the Aspen Music Festival.
Prior to his appointment at Michigan State University, Kroth served
as principal bassoon with the South Dakota Symphony and solo bassoon
in the Dakota Wind Quintet. He has held positions as principal bassoon
with the Air Force Academy Band and the Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra,
and has performed with The Philadelphia Orchestra. Former teaching positions
include Augustana College (SD), the University of Sioux Falls, University
of South Dakota, and The Colorado College.
Kroth performs regularly as a guest artist, teacher and lecturer throughout
the country, and has presented recitals and master classes at venues
that include the Eastman School of Music, the Interlochen Arts Camp,
and the International Double Reed Society Conventions in 2007 and 2008.
His performances can be heard regularly on National Public Radio, Colorado
Public Radio, Minnesota Public Radio, and South Dakota Public Radio.
He has released recordings on the Sound Works, Ultrasound, AFSC, and
HCS labels.
