Bassoon-apalooza:
The Return of the Bassoons!
July 25th, 2026

The Salish Sea Bassoon Collective presents Bassoon-apalooza:  Return of the Bassoons!, a rare chance to see twelve bassoons on one stage!

Friday, July 25th, 2026 @ 7:00 pm

ArtSpring, 100 Jackson Ave., Salt Spring Island

It has been one year since the launch of The Bassoon Incubator Project, a unique initiative aimed at nurturing and growing the next generation of young bassoonists on Salt Spring Island.  Led by the Collective's founders, professional bassoonists Kerry Graham and Tracie Whitelaw, this novel program offers low-cost instruction, mentorship and instruments for young Island musicians wanting to learn this complicated and important double-reed.  In collaboration with local music groups and regional bassoonists, the Collective raised funds to purchase bassoons, and now has four students learning bassoon!  Thank you to Salt Spring for supporting this project and being so generous in helping these students get up and running on a unique musical instrument.

Bassoon-apalooza:  Return of the Bassoons! celebrates the success of the Bassoon Incubator Project and brings together Salt Spring Island's new student bassoonists alongside eight professional players for an unforgettable musical showcase.

From playful children's songs and rowdy sea shanties to dramatic tangos and classical favourites, this concert proves just how versatile, fun, and powerful this unique double-reed instrument can be. Come out for a fantastic evening of music, witness a true bassoon extravaganza, and cheer on the next generation of Salt Spring bassoonists!

Salt Spring Baroque has a particular interest in promoting the bassoon to the next generation because of the importance of this instrument in the genre of early music. Bassoons are a foundational and fundamental instrument in music from Renaissance-Baroque through to modern symphonic music.  The wind bands of the Baroque era consisted of only oboes and bassoons, and have developed over the past three hundred years into the concert band we know today (such as our local Bandemonium!).  Similarly with the development of the symphony orchestra.  It began with Louis XIV's court orchestra of the 17-18^th century which included as many as twelve bassoons. With more bassoonists on the Island, Salt Spring Baroque would be able to continue these long traditions, and be able to perform music specifically written for multiple bassoons.

This is a concert not to be missed and a great opportunity to support local music and young island musicians. See you there!