Katie Seidel has won two positions since her move to Iowa causing her to recently resign as the second bassoonist of Illinois Symphony Orchestra. She is the second bassoonist of Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra and Austin (MN) Symphony. She just completed her fifth season with Sinfonia da Camera, her fourth season with The Prarie Ensemble, and her third season with Baroque Artist of Champaign-Urbana. She also sat principal of Danville Symphony Orchestra for the 2010-2011 season. Additionally, Katie has been acting as a substitute bassoonist for neighboring orchestras in the Midwest, which includes Peoria Symphony Orchestra and Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra. As a performer, Katie has toured throughout the United States, Brazil and China. She has performed live on the "The Show" (WRFU-LP) with the Mascaix Woodwind Quintet (which has since separated). She also enjoys playing in the orchestra pit for opera as well as musical theater.  During summer of 2011, she performed in a production of West Side Story. Katie has participated in summer festivals as well as numerous master classes, notably with Jeff Kessecker, Kristen Wolfe Jensen, L.Hugh Cooper and Robert Barris.

Katie has ten years teaching experience including beginning bassoon, instructing advanced players, and coaching ensembles at the university level. Katie received her Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance and a Women Studies Minor from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and completed her Master's in Bassoon Performance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her primary teachers include:

During her masters program, Katie was recognized with a nomination for the Krannert Center Debut Artist Competition and as an alternate for the University of Illinois School of Music Concerto Competition. Katie has recently moved to Decorah, IA with her husband Benjamin Yates (low brass faculty at Luther College) is teaching privately, performing, substituting with orchestras and is working as an administrative assistant in the Music Department at Luther College. 

Katie Seidel plays on a Fox 660 with a Heckel CC 2 XL bocal.

Upcoming Performances

02/04/2012
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony

02/09/2012
Faculty Recital: Benjamin Yates

02/26/2012
Austin Symphony Orchestra


"If we were a medical school, and you were here as a med student practicing appendectomies, you'd take your work very seriously because you would imagine that some night at two AM someone is going to waltz into your emergency room and you're going to have to save their life. Well, my friends, someday at 8 PM someone is going to walk into your concert hall and bring you a mind that is confused, a heart that is overwhelmed, a soul that is weary. Whether they go out whole again will depend partly on how well you do your craft"
-Quote taken from an address given to parents of incoming students at The Boston Conservatory