Fort Worth Symphony’s acting principal bassoonist, George Sakakeeny, holds the title professor of bassoon at the Eastman School of Music, and formerly held the same position at the Oberlin Conservatory for 28 years. He is also an artist faculty member of the Aspen Music Festival and School. In the past he has held the principal bassoon positions of numerous music festivals, the New Japan Philharmonic, the Handel & Haydn Society, the Opera Company of Boston, Promusica Chamber Orchestra, and CityMusic Cleveland. More recently he has been serving as guest principal bassoon of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Three major solo works for bassoon and orchestra have been composed for him: Libby Larsen's full moon in the city (2013,) Peter Schickele’s Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra (1998) and Alexander Blechinger’s Fagottkonzert (1997.)

Professor Sakakeeny has taught guest master classes at the Paris Conservatory, Rice University, Tokyo University of Fine Arts, the Juilliard School, and held longer term residencies at the Shanghai Conservatory, the Central Conservatory in Beijing , Seoul National University, and the Conservatoire National Supèrieur de Musique et Danse of Lyon, France. For 7 years he served as guest bassoon professor for Venezuela's El Sistema. Starting in 2025 he will conduct biannual performing and teaching residencies at the Tianjin Juilliard School.

Sakakeeny's numerous solo recordings most notably include Blechinger’s Fagottkonzert, the Villa-Lobos Duo with oboist Alex Klein, and his album of four modern works for bassoon and orchestra "full moon in the city." He is the author of the iBook Making Reeds Start to Finish with George Sakakeeny.

In his spare time, he enjoys motorcycling, biking, gastronomy, and performing music with his highly talented son, FWSO percussionist Nick Sakakeeny.

Find out more at his Website: www.sakakeenybassoon.com.