Martin Kuuskmann
EUR
Full Biography
Estonian-born bassoon virtuoso, Martin Kuuskmann's charismatic and entertaining performances throughout the world have earned him repute as one of the leading solo instrumentalists. The New York Times praised Kuuskmann’s playing as “dynamic…amazing…Kuuskmann played stunningly…” and in 2007 he received a Grammy Nomination for his recording of David Chesky’s bassoon concerto.

As a strong advocate for new music, Kuuskmann has premiered eight bassoon concertos written especially for him by Erkki-Sven Tüür, Eino Tamberg, Tõnu Kõrvits, Christopher Theofanidis, David Chesky, Gregor Huebner, Gene Pritsker and Charles Coleman, and is working on upcoming concertos by Miguel Kertsman and Matthias Müller. His collaboration with composers including Daniel Schnyder, Helena Tulve and jazz icon John Patitucci have lead to numerous new solo works from bassoon and string quartet to bassoon and electronics.  Kuuskmann has performed Michael Daugherty's madcap concerto "Dead Elvis" across the world nearly 50 times.

A sought-after soloist, Kuuskmann's past season included concertos by J.S.Bach, Mozart, Theofanidis and Tüür with orchestras such as Orchestre de la Suiss Romande, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, the Järvi Festival Orchestra, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, 1B1 Ensemble.  In June 2013 Kuuskmann appeared by the invitation of the International Double Reed Society at the IDRS conference in California, with the bassoon concerto by Stephen Paulson, a composer and solo bassoonist of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Kuuskmann has been a frequent soloist with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and has appeared with the New York Philharmonic, the Macao Orchestra, Nordic Symphony Orchestra, Absolute Ensemble, Riga Sinfonietta, Grazioso Chamber Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra of the Norrlandsoperan, among others. 

This upcoming season Martin Kuuskmann will appear on stage of the Usedom Festival (with Erkki-Sven Tüürs Bassoon Concerto and the Baltic Youth Philharmonic/Kristjan Järvi) as well as at the Carnegie Hall giving his debut with Theofanidis Concerto and the American Composers Orchestra under the baton of Roberto Spano. Further Martin Kuuskmann is going to release Erkki-Sven Tüür’s Bassoon Concerto (MDR Orchestra) and Theofanidis’ Bassoon Concerto (Northwest Sinfonia, Seattle). At the International Double Reed Society Conference in New York and the Glasperlenspiel Festival in Estonia Kuuskmann premiered two Bassoon Concertos by Gene Pritsker and Ülo Krigul. Besides his career as a soloist he will be teaching several masterclasses in the US (Maine) and Europe (St. Petersburg and Moscow).

A frequent guest in festivals, Kuuskmann appears regularly at the Järvi Summer Festival, Bremen Musikfest, Usedom Musikfestival as well as Landsberg, Kuhmo, Gaia, Umeå, Menuhin Festival Gstaad, to name just a few.  As an avid chamber musician Kuuskmann is a co-founder of Trio Mann along with oboist Christoph Hartmann (Berlin Philharmonic) and pianist Hendrik Heilmann, exploring a wide range of repertory from solo chamber music to trios.

Kuuskmann's latest recording of reconstructed bassoon concertos by J.S.Bach with co-soloist, violist Lars Anders Tomter and the 1B1 Ensemble, was released to high praise on Simax records in 2012.  His critically acclaimed solo cd "Nonstop" and other albums are available on ERP, Erdenklang, CCn'C and Chesky record labels.  In July 2012 Kuuskmann is to record the much awaited release of Theofanidis bassoon concerto with the Boston Modern Orchestra under the direction of Gil Rose.

A graduate of the Yale and the Manhattan Schools of Music, Kuuskmann's mentors include Stephen Maxym, Frank Morelli, Ilmar Aasmets and Rufus Olivier.  As an avid educator, Kuuskmann teaches at the Manhattan School of Music Contemporary Performance Program and at Cornish College of Arts in Seattle, serves as the woodwind coach of the Baltic Youth Philharmonic and teaches regularly at the Arosa Music Academy in Switzerland.  Kuuskmann is a founding member and solo bassoonist of the New York City based Absolute Ensemble.  An artist of Moosmann bassoons and Miller Marketing Company, Martin Kuuskmann plays on the Moosmann 222E model bassoon and on reeds by KJI and Légere. 
For more info please visit www.martinkuuskmann.com

2017/2018
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