School of Music Website
The UNCG School of Music is recognized as one of the most prestigious institutions in the nation and current publications have identified us as one of the “best buys” in college education. The School of Music occupied its new state-of-the-art facility in the fall of 1999, and with over 600 students and over 50 full-time faculty we combine a large enough size to have all necessary amenities while maintaining small class sizes and a strong sense of community. We have an active performing faculty and excellent student ensembles such as the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Symphony and University Bands, and Chamber groups of all sizes, including wind quintets, quartets, trios, and bassoon ensembles!
Unlike more specialized programs in conservatory-type institutions or more general curricula encountered in most departments of music, studies in the UNCG School of Music complement rigorous professional training with that broad liberal education necessary for students to function as informed, responsible citizens and to communicate effectively as musicians.
UNCG Double Reed Studios Promo Video
2023 Graduate Assistantship Flier: 2023-GAFlyers-WOODWINDS
Follow us on the UNCG Bassoon Studio Facebook and Instagram pages: 
UNCG Double Reed Days:
Held annually in January. These events bring together double reed enthusiasts from throughout NC and beyond to work with the UNCG Faculty and esteemed Guest Artists.
Undergraduate Programs
Scholarships are available to talented undergraduate music majors and are based upon the entering audition. You should plan on applying early and auditioning as soon as possible. I would suggest that Undergraduate applicants take the SAT as soon as possible if you have not already done so. There are academic scholarships available, which can offer far more financial help than the School of Music alone. If your grades are good at school and you have a good SAT/ACT score and apply prior to December 1st then you may be eligible for our top academic awards, the Blue and Gold (Merit Award) scholarships.
Graduate Programs
Graduate students are considered for merit-based scholarships awarded in the form of an assistantship or academic Fellowships. Graduate assistants in bassoon have been responsible for playing in the Graduate Wind Quintet, helping with woodwind methods class; coaching various chamber music groups; performing in large ensembles; and, in some cases, teaching advanced majors in Dr. Burns’s absence. Recent graduates of doctoral programs at the UNCG School of Music have experienced excellent career placement upon completion of their degree programs, whether performing on the international opera stage, touring with major military bands, serving as public school music supervisors, or assuming artist/teacher faculty positions in respected colleges and universities.
International Students
The School of Music at UNCG and the International Programs Center cooperate to offer international students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels a supportive and nurturing environment. Prospective students are reminded that they must meet all School of Music entrance requirements as well those of the International Programs Center and either Undergraduate Admissions, or the Graduate School. For more information please visit the UNCG International Programs Center website.
The Bassoon Class at UNCG
Represented by students from across the United States and Overseas who are pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in performance or music education or as majors in another field with a minor in music. The School of Music holds an annual Student Artist/Concerto competition, and there are numerous opportunities for additional solo performances and recitals. Our graduates have attended some of the most respected universities and music conservatories in the world, and our undergraduate music education graduates have a 100% placement rate.
As well as receiving weekly private lessons with the bassoon professor, Dr. Burns, bassoon students at UNCG enjoy the following benefits:
- Weekly studio repertoire class
- Annual bassoon studio recital
- Two weekly hour-long reed classes offered by the professor. One specifically for freshmen.
- Reed room equipped with 2 profilers, tip profiler, shaper, mandrels, drying rack, tip guillotine, scoring machine, etc.
- Bassoon students may borrow UNCG instruments including professional as well as student models and also have access to UNCG's two Fox contrabassoons.
- 2-6 Credit lessons for majors are one hour per week.
- 1 Credit lessons for secondaries are 1/2 hour per week or one hour every two weeks.
Students regularly attend faculty concerts, guest artist recitals, as well as master classes. Outside of the school, students find the Greensboro/Triad area to be rich in a variety of cultural offerings throughout the year with many performance opportunities. Bassoon students have been performing with the Greensboro Symphony, the Winston-Salem Symphony, the Salisbury Symphony, the Hickory Symphony, the Piedmont Winds, the North Carolina Ballet, the North Carolina Opera, the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, The Carolina Chamber Orchestra, the Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra (faculty orchestra of the Eastern Music Festival), and the North Carolina Symphony. Additionally, there are many other opportunities for free-lancing and teaching. We were particularly excited to host the International Double Reed Society’s conference in the summer of 2003 with nearly 1,200 of the world’s top oboists and bassoonists gathered here at UNCG for that event.