Seth Krimsky, bassoon

Bassoonist and composer Seth Krimsky joined the Seattle Symphony in 1986, and was appointed to the position of principal in 1990. In addition, he has been an active chamber music performer, sharing an especially long and happy association with the Seattle Chamber Players. His second commission by this ensemble, “House of Mirrors,” was performed in May 2004. He has also appeared as principal bassoonist with the Mostly Mozart Orchestra of Lincoln Center and the Waterloo Festival Orchestra.

As a soloist, Krimsky has performed with orchestras and as a recitalist in Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo, Capetown, Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Talahassee, Kalispell (Mont.), and San Diego. His future engagements include the Seattle Symphony and the Glacier Symphony in Montana.

Krimsky received his bachelor of music degree in 1983 from the University of Southern California, where he studied bassoon performance with Norman Herzberg. He continued postgraduate studies at USC, with a special emphasis in baroque performance, under the guidance of Michael O’Donovan. During his studies, Krimsky was an active freelance musician, performing with such ensembles as the Santa Monica Symphony, Long Beach Symphony, Pasadena Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Glendale Symphony, Pasadena Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He also performed in summer festivals, including the Ojai Festival, the Bakersfield Music Festival, the Academy of the West, and the Tanglewood Festival. Krimsky also worked as a session player in Los Angeles recording studios and was the bassoonist in the Aleja Woodwind Quintet, award winners at the Coleman Chamber Music Competition and the Carmel Chamber Music Competition.

In 1984, he became the principal bassoonist for the Cape Performing Arts Board Orchestra of Capetown, South Africa, an opera and ballet orchestra that served the entire Cape Province. While in Capetown, Krimsky won the National Young Artists Competition and appeared as a soloist in Capetown, Johannesburg, and Durban, in addition to recording a series of performances for the South African Broadcasting Corporation.

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