Margaret O’Leary
Bassoon
Maggie O’Leary is a second-year Bassoon Fellow at the New World Symphony. Prior to joining NWS, she served as Acting Section Bassoon of the Charlotte Symphony for the 2021-22 season.
She has previously held the position of Contrabassoonist with the Symphony in C (Haddonfield, NJ), and has appeared in concert with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Delaware Symphony. She has participated in the Verbier Festival Orchestra, Tanglewood Music Center, New York String Orchestra Seminar, Sarasota Music Festival, Music from Angel Fire and Aspen Music Festival, where she was the recipient of the Nancy Goeres Bassoon Fellowship. Her performances have been featured on NPR’s From the Top, Southern California’s KUSC Radio and Philadelphia’s WHYY.
A native of Southern California, Maggie began playing the bassoon at age 12 under the tutelage of Carolyn Beck. She received her bachelor of music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied with Daniel Matsukawa, and her master of music degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where she studied with Benjamin Kamins.
Maggie is passionate about sharing her love of music with children and young adults. During her time at Rice, she served as the bassoon instructor for the Galena Park and Cypress-Fairbanks school districts. While attending Curtis, she frequently performed recitals for children at the Philadelphia Ethical Society, and as a member of Music from Angel Fire, she gave master classes, lessons and informative programs for young musicians at schools all over New Mexico. When not playing bassoon or working on reeds, she enjoys going to museums, trying new recipes and spending time with friends.
