Hailed for his "exquisite artistry," "stunning interpretations" and "flawless performances," New Zealand-born bassoonist Michael Burns enjoys a multi-faceted career as a performer, teacher and composer. He is Professor of Bassoon at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Yamaha Performing Artist. He has recorded for the Centaur Records, CAP, Telarc, EMI, Klavier and Mark labels, and his solo CD, Primavera: Music for Bassoon and Piano by Bassoonists, was released to critical acclaim in mid-2009 on the Mark Masters label. Burns holds a B.M. from the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand; a M.M. from the New England Conservatory; and a D.M.A. from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He is an active performer as a soloist, chamber group musician and orchestral musician with numerous performances at International Double Reed Society conferences as well as recitals and masterclasses throughout North America, Germany, Italy, China and the South Pacific. Burns performs as principal bassoon with the Asheville Symphony and the North Carolina Opera and serves as bassoonist in the Eastwind Reed Quintet, Gemini Winds, Blue Mountain Ensemble, Forecast Music and NC Collective. He also performs regularly with the North Carolina, Greensboro and Charlotte Symphonies and as a guest with the Ciompi Quartet and Mallarme Chamber Players. In the summer, Burns has been associated with several festivals, including the Clazz International Music Festival in Tuscany, Italy; Eastern Music Festival; Music for All Summer Symposium; Affetti Festival; New England Music Camp; and the Bocal Majority and Operation (O.B.O.E.) Camps.
Previously, Burns has performed in numerous professional orchestras, including the Cincinnati and New Zealand Symphony Orchestras and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. He has held principal positions with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Midland-Odessa Symphony, Richmond Symphony and Abilene Philharmonic. He also has taught at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Indiana State University and Midland College.
Burns is also an active composer with many of his pieces being published by TrevCo-Varner Music, Potenza Music and Effiny Music. His compositions are frequently performed throughout the United States and internationally.
Burns has published articles and reviews in The Double Reed (journal of the International Double Reed Society), the TBA Journal (publication by the Texas Bandmasters Association), North Carolina Music Educator (journal of the North Carolina Music Educators Association for which he served as Woodwind Notes Editor from 1995-2007), Notes (journal of the Music Library Association) and on the Yamaha Educator Series online. His mentors include William Winstead, Sherman Walt, Leonard Sharrow, Sidney Rosenberg and Colin Hemmingsen. He is the archivist for the International Double Reed Society and was cohost of the 2003 IDRS Conference in Greensboro, NC.
