Biography

Dorian Antipa is a professional bassoonist-turned-repair-technician based in Great Falls, MT. Dorian’s business, Big Sky Bassoon, is a full service woodwind and brasswind band instrument repair shop which is expanding to offer instrument rentals in the coming year. As the name suggests, the shop specializes in bassoon repairs with customers shipping instruments from around the country. Since attending repair school at Minnesota State College Southeast, Red Wing, Dorian continues to work with and learn from master technicians, making regular visits to Paul Nordby Bassoon Repair in Indiana.

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Although it is no longer a full-time pursuit, Dorian continues to substitute with local orchestras and make solo and chamber music appearances. Previously he served as principal bassoonist with the Great Falls Symphony and a member of the Chinook Winds from 2016 to 2024. He is always excited for new and “weird” music and collaborations and commissioned two works for bassoon and percussion which he premiered with DuoXylo at the Festival of New American Music at Sacramento State. Dorian has performed extensively with orchestras in California, Connecticut, Illinois, and Montana and he can be heard on multiple wind ensemble recordings released by Naxos as well as the Chinook Winds’ 2022 CD which includes three previously unrecorded works for wind quintet.

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Dorian is a passionate teacher who enjoys working with musicians of all ages and abilities. For four years, he regularly made the long drive to Bozeman where he was the bassoon professor at Montana State University. Mr. Antipa previously served as a visiting professor at the University of Montana in Missoula and the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music in California. He has also taught at the Hartt Community Division in Connecticut, the Metropolis School of the Performing Arts in Illinois, and Great Falls College. With roughly 20 years of private teaching experience, Dorian continues to maintain a robust private studio of local bassoon students.