Information below taken from https://abbeychamberconcerts.org/event/bassoon-workshop-day-with-catriona-mcdermid-sunday-3-august-2025-in-dorchester-near-oxford/

A great chance to work with Catriona McDermid – all details below. The day is aimed at amateur bassoon players of all ages, and teachers. Please get in touch if you, your students, or your son or daughter would like to attend. Suitable for all ages. Grade 5/6 minimum.  Secure your place by buying a ticket (BOOK TICKETS link below).  Please also email payne.simon@gmail.com if you would like to take part in a masterclass (an accompanist is provided).

The format of the day will include ensemble playing, short individual master-classes  and a detailed Q&A session where Catriona hopes to be able to cover all sorts of topics ranging from articulation to breath control, intonation to vibrato, how to get the most from practice and as many more thorny issues as requested!  Catriona may also give a short recital.  You will be able to ask questions throughout the day.

Please tell us your approximate standard so that we can organise ensemble pieces more effectively.  We can email out parts in advance if you want (so you needn’t be anxious about sight-reading, and so you will get more out of group playing).

Catriona leads a varied career as a modern and period instrument bassoonist and keen educator. She performs with leading period instrument ensembles such as English Concert, English Baroque Soloists, Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique and Academy of Ancient Music. She is also in demand as a modern orchestral bassoonist, playing guest principal with orchestras such as London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and RTÉ Symphony Orchestra.

Catriona is also a passionate chamber musician, playing at festivals and venues nationwide such as Wigmore Hall, Bridgewater Hall and Ryedale Festival. She is a member of the first ever BBC New Generation Baroque Ensemble, Ensemble Molière and also a member of wind quintet Magnard Ensemble, previously artists for Making Music, Tillett Trust and Tunnell Trust.  As a soloist Catriona is a former Countess of Munster and Handel House Talent artist.

Strongly believing in the importance of education and community work, Catriona regularly works on and leads a whole variety of projects, most recently Ensemble Moliere’s early years workshop, The King’s Animals. Catriona is also an avid arranger and has several pieces published with both Wonderful Winds and Alry Publications.

PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN MUSIC STAND.

Arrangements for the day:

TIMINGS
The Hall will be open from 09.30 to 18.00
Refreshments from 09.30.
The workshop will start at 10.00, and end by about 16.00/16.30.
Lunch roughly 12.30 – 13.30

REFRESHMENTS

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided for the breaks during the day, and are included in the cost.
Please bring your own lunch. There are also a nice hotel, a deli and a Co-op in Dorchester High Street.

VENUE

The Village Hall in the beautiful village of Dorchester-on-Thames (see particularly Dorchester Abbey).
Parking is quite easy in the roads near the Village Hall, in car parks, and on the main street. SEE MAP

TRAVEL/MAPS

Dorchester-on-Thames is a village on the River Thame in Oxfordshire, about 3 miles northwest of Wallingford and  8 miles southeast of Oxford.  The Hall is marked on the map.
Dorchester Village Hall, 7 Queen Street, Dorchester OX10 7RA.  SEE MAP
NB this is the Dorchester in Oxfordshire, near Oxford, not the one in Dorset!