Gina Cuffari is a dynamic and versatile musician who performs a
variety of roles in the New York City area as orchestral musician,
chamber musician, soloist, new music advocate, and educator. Praised
for having a “sound that is by turns sensuous, lyric and fast
moving” (Palm Beach Daily News), she is Co-Principal
Bassoonist of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. For over fifteen years, she
has performed and recorded throughout the USA, Europe and Asia with this
prestigious ensemble, and is honored to have recently been elected to an
Artistic Director position. Gina is also the Associate Principal/ Second
Bassoonist of the Lincoln Center-based Riverside Symphony, as well as a
frequent performer with Orchestra of St. Luke’s, American Composers
Orchestra, American Ballet Theater, and many more. In addition, she has
played in recent Broadway productions of Fiddler on the Roof, Sunset
Boulevard and My Fair Lady as a substitute bassoonist.
Gina’s passion for chamber music has led her to collaborate with many amazing musicians and ensembles over the years. She is currently a guest artist with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and is a member of the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players, Sylvan Winds, and Trio Cabrini – a clarinet, bassoon/voice, piano ensemble. She has always had a keen interest in new music, and has endeavored to support composers throughout her career. Gina has been a longtime collaborator with Alarm Will Sound – performing as bassoonist, vocalist and keyboardist – and has worked with many composers over the years, premiering a plethora of new works with the group. In NYC she has performed with Argento New Music Project and ACME, and has commissioned and premiered works that combine her two passions – singing and playing the bassoon – into one performing experience. Composers who have written for her include Jenni Brandon, Gregg August, Sunny Knable and Allison Loggins-Hull.
As an educator, Gina currently holds positions at New York University and Western CT State University where she teaches bassoon, coaches chamber music, and teaches a variety of other classes. She is a frequent guest clinician at Bard College for The Orchestra Now, and has taught masterclasses at universities throughout the United States. This is her first appearance at the SLLMF.
[2022]