Bassoonist and Director Ann Pesavento
Long-time professor of music and bassoonist Ann Pesavento will retire in May after thirty-three years of service to the Department of Music at Gustavus Adolphus College. Before she retires, she will preside over one final woodwind chamber concert in Jussi Björling Recital Hall on Sunday, May 1. The concert includes performances by The Kalmar Woodwind Quintet, The Quadrivium Winds, The Gustavus Saxophone Quartet, and, of course, The Senior Bassoon Quartet. Sunday’s Woodwind Chamber Concert begins at 3:30 p.m. in Jussi Björling Recital Hall. It is free and open to the public.
Sunday’s performance begins with the Quadrivium Winds and works by Haydn, Rossini and Eler. The Senior Bassoon Quartet, accompanied by harpsichordist David Fienen, follows with Michel Corrette’s three-movement work, Le Phenix. The Gustavus Saxophone Quartet, under the direction of John Engebretson, continues with Quatuor pour Saxophones by Faustin and Maurice Jeanjean. Sunday’s concert concludes with the Kalmar Quintet, accompanied by pianist Ruth Lin, and a performance of Theodor Blumer’s Sextet, Op. 45.
Pesavento, who would insist that the focus of the performance should be on the student musicians and not on her retirement, came to Gustavus in 1978. An accomplished bassoonist and teacher, Ann earned degrees from the University of St. Catherine’s, Butler University and her Doctor of Arts from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. In addition to her work in the classroom, studio or rehearsal studio, she has performed widely as a soloist or ensemble member including work with the Mankato Symphony Orchestra, the St. Peter Choral Society, the Minnesota Valley Sommarfest and countless faculty solo and ensemble performances.
Sunday’s woodwind chamber concert begins at 3;30 p.m. in Jussi Björling Recital Hall. The performance is free and open to the public.