David DeBolt

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David DeBolt is Professor of Music at Kent State University where he is the bassoonist of the Kent Woodwind Quintet/Quartet and the Kent Camerata. As a major orchestra principal, he performed for 16 seasons with the Kansas City Philharmonic under the batons of many internationally distinguished conductors. He also served as principal bassoonist of the orchestras of Birmingham, Tulsa, and Santa Fe Opera. He has performed at the Aspen, Sewanee, and Santa Fe chamber music festivals, as well as touring the Midwest with the Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet and the Kansas City Baroque Players, which he founded. He is also a frequent featured performer at conferences of the International Double Reed Society. His solo recitals have taken him to many European countries and to recital/master class engagements at leading music schools on three continents.

His recordings have brought praise from composers, bassoonists, and critics. The CD, David DeBolt: Bassoon Music of Twentieth-Century America led The Instrumentalist magazine to select DeBolt as the sole bassoonist on a list of exemplary recording artists along with Itzhak Perlman, Yo Yo Ma, and Wynton Marsalis.

He has made numerous concerto appearances with the Kansas City Philharmonic, the Tulsa Philharmonic Strings, and the Chamber Society Orchestra of Philadelphia, with which he recorded Vivaldi and Bond Concertos (CRS 8321). DeBolt has also taught at the University of Kansas, Tulsa University, and Sewanee Summer Music Center. He studied bassoon with Bernard Garfield (Principal, Philadelphia Orchestra), Harold Goltzer (New York Philharmonic), and with George Wilson at the Ohio State University, where he earned degrees.

“David DeBolt disclosed a handsome, mellow, and fluent tone…hauntingly poetic…delicious muted colors.” (The Kansas City Times)

“In addition to his fine technical facility and rich, full tone quality, DeBolt demonstrated a high degree of lyricism in his playing.” (Graz, Austria)

“DeBolt plays everything with consistently beautiful tone and lyrical grace… an impeccable recording.” David DeBolt: Bassoon Music of 20th-Century America (Crystal CD347)(Fanfare magazine)

“And soar he does, as David’s lyrical singing bassoon style comes to the fore. I give highest marks for this fine recording.” Vivaldi Concerti F. VIII no.3, No. 11, and Bond: Concerto No.6, with the Chamber Orchestra Society of Philadelphia (CRS 8321) (Klimko, The Double Reed)

“DeBolt plays with skill, elegance, and dramatic power.” A Musical Painting Comes to Life (Crystal CD 841) (McColley, Fanfare magazine)

Dave enjoys the Tuscan landscape on the way to his
Fiesole master class, Florence