Local virtuoso - Keith Buncke to become principal bassoonist of the Atlanta Symphony at age 20

Congratulations are in order for Keith Buncke, who is a junior at the Curtis Institute of Music. Buncke beat out 90 other bassoonists for the principal bassoonist position with the Atlanta Symphony. Buncke grew up in Lake Oswego and played with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, the Portland Youth Philharmonic, and the Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra. Here are links to two articles that report his most recent success: the first is from the Interlochen Academy, and the second is from The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts where Buncke recently completed an artist residency.

I skimmed through the Atlanta Symphony news releases and found that this tidbit:Michael Gandolfi’s new work, Sinfonia Concertante, will be premiered April 30 and May 2, 2015, and has been commissioned to honor Robert Spano’s parents. The work will feature four ASO musicians: Principal Oboe Elizabeth Koch Tiscione, Principal Bassoon Designate Keith Buncke, Principal Clarinet Laura Ardan, and Principal Horn Brice Andrus.