Katherine Oliver

Katherine Oliver has been a member of the American Sinfonietta since 1994. Having served as principal bassoonist during the recent European Tour "2000", she will again serve as principal bassoonist this summer during the Bellingham Festival. Ms. Oliver also performs with the Des Moines Metro Opera Festival in Iowa.

At the age of 13, Ms. Oliver began her studies with Richard Beene and continued through high school at Wichita State University where she received a Bachelor of Music degree and, at the University of Michigan where she received a Master of Music degree. She began her orchestral career while still in high school playing 2nd bassoon with the Wichita Symphony. She later performed with the Windsor, Ann Arbor, Toledo Symphonies and, as principal bassoonist with the Virginia Symphony.

For four years she was a member of the New World Symphony under the artistic direction of Michael Tilson Thomas, and most recently as Assistant principal bassoonist with the Mexico City Philharmonic. Her orchestral engagements have taken her to Buenes Aires, Monte Carlo, Tel Aviv, Rio de Janeiro, Japan, and throughout Europe.

In addition to her many orchestral performances, Ms. Oliver served as a soloist with the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra, the New World Symphony and the St. Louis Symphony.
She has recorded with Argo Records, BMG Classics, and Summit Records.
A native of Derby, Kansas, Ms. Oliver currently resides in San Antonio, Texas working as a musician and teacher.