Bassoonist Dana Brink enjoys a varied musical life of freelance performing and teaching in West Virginia.
Dana is currently an Adjunct Instructor of Woodwind Pedagogy and Music Theory in the School of Music and Instructor of Bassoon, Chamber Music, and Music Theory in the Community Music Program at West Virginia University. She earned a master’s degree in bassoon performance from the Yale School of Music as a student of Frank Morelli and dual bachelor’s degrees in bassoon performance and political science from the Eastman School of Music/University of Rochester, where she studied with George Sakakeeny and John Hunt. Dana regularly performs with orchestras throughout West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
Dana is passionate about expanding the repertoire for bassoon chamber ensembles, especially by composers historically underrepresented in the Western canon. She is a co-founder of the Bridge Bassoon Duo, specializing in contemporary classical music for two bassoons, and the creator of the Bassoon For All YouTube channel, dedicated to recording the many excellent works for solo and small ensemble bassoon which previously lacked high-quality, easily accessible recordings. She is also the bassoonist and Director of Marketing and Communications of the Wild Prairie Winds.
When she’s not playing bassoon, Dana loves to sew, knit, hike, and do yoga.
Photo by Harold Schapiro.