Sue Heineman

bassoon

Sue Heineman has been principal bassoonist of the National Symphony Orchestra since September 2000. Prior to joining the NSO, she held positions with the New Haven, Memphis, New Mexico, and New Zealand Symphony Orchestras.

She has appeared as soloist with the NSO on numerous occasions, as well as with the Kennedy Center Chamber Players, comprised of principal players from the NSO. Ms. Heineman has performed as guest principal bassoonist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and is a frequent soloist at conferences of the International Double Reed Society.

A former member of the Aspen Wind Quintet, she has performed with the American Chamber Players, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Santa Fe Opera, and Metropolitan Opera. In summers she has played and taught at Aspen, Eastern Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, Mainly Mozart, Bowdoin, and Grand Teton Music Festival.

Originally from Philadelphia, Ms. Heineman holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Eastman and a master’s degree from Juilliard. She also completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Rochester, graduating summa cum laude with Phi Beta Kappa honors, and was the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship to Salzburg.

Her teachers include Shirley Curtiss, David Van Hoesen, Milan Turkovic, Judith LeClair, and Stephen Maxym.