CATRIONA MCDERMID - BASSOON

Catriona leads a varied career as a modern and period instrument bassoonist, keen educator and arranger. She received first-class honours for both her undergraduate degree at Oxford and Masters degree at Royal College of Music, where she studied with Joost Bosdijk, Julie Price, Andrea de Flamineis and Wouter Werschuren.

Catriona is in demand as an orchestral bassoonist, performing with leading period instrument ensembles such as Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Academy of Ancient Music and English Baroque Soloists, and playing guest principal with orchestras such as London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and RTÉ Symphony Orchestra. As a soloist Catriona is a former Countess of Munster and Handel House Talent artist. Catriona is also a passionate chamber musician, playing at festivals and venues nationwide such as Wigmore Hall, Bridgewater Hall and Ryedale Festival. As a baroque bassoonist she performs with Ensemble Molière and as a modern player she is a member of wind quintet Magnard Ensemble, current Making Music artists and previous Tillett Trust, Tunnell Trust and Britten Pears Chamber Music Residency artists.

Strongly believing in the importance of education and community work, Catriona regularly works on and leads a whole variety of projects, most recently leading Magnard Ensemble’s online early years show “Odd Dog Out”. Catriona is also an avid arranger/ composer and has several pieces published with both Wonderful Winds and Alry Publications.