The School of Music is excited to announce Eleni Katz as a bassoon teaching faculty member starting Fall 2025. A graduate of UW–Madison and Yale, and an accomplished bassoonist, Katz has established herself as a prominent soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. Her “thoughtful and expressive” (San Diego Union Tribune) approach to music making has led her from performances by the bright blue waters of Bermuda to the lights of Carnegie Hall.

“As a Madison native and a UW–Madison alumna, I could not be more honored and excited to join the Mead Witter School of Music and the Wingra Wind Quintet this fall,” Katz said.

Katz is a winner of the 2022 Concert Artist Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition and has performed with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Nu Deco Ensemble, the Jupiter Chamber Players, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, the Sarasota Orchestra, and as a member with the New World Symphony.

Other recent appearances include La Jolla Music Society’s SummerFest, Bridgehampton Chamber Music Series, Lake George Music Festival, Phoenix Chamber Music Society, Death of Classical: The Crypt Sessions, and Newport Classical. Her approach to playing the bassoon has been described as “uncannily human” (The Royal Gazette) and she has always believed the bassoon should strive to emulate the organic resonance of the human voice.

“Eleni will bring a wide range of chamber and orchestral playing and we are excited for her to join us,” said Dan Cavanagh, director of the School of Music.

Professor of Bassoon Marc Vallon plans to retire from the School of Music this spring.