About the MBA
The Minnesota Bassoon Assocation (MBA) was founded in 1983 by bassoonists John W. Miller, Jr., Bill Jones, Dr. Reuben Berman, James Preus, and Chuck Ullery. Based in Minnesota's Twin Cities, the organization brings professional bassoonists to the area for recitals, workshops, and master classes, and provides bassoon resources to all members.
Meet The Board
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John Miller has enjoyed a legendary music career in Minnesota. John held the position of Principal Bassoon in the Minnesota Orchestra from 1971 until 2015. As a chamber musician, he is one of the founders of the Bubonic Bassoon Quartet, which has published numerous works for small bassoon ensembles and performed their original arrangements around the United States. Mr. Miller has been featured on professional recordings of the Mozart, Vivaldi, Vanhal, and Hummel bassoon concerti, even contributing directly to the first published version of the Hummel Concerto. John's principal teachers include Louis Skinner, Arthur Weisberg, Stanley Petrulis, Sherman Walt, Stephen Maxym, and Thom de Klerk. He is entering his 50th year as an instructor of bassoon at the University of Minnesota, contributing directly in some way to the formal bassoon education of each of the board members of the MBA. John is a founder of the Minnesota Bassoon Association.
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Norbert Nielubowski
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Norbert Nielubowski has established a long and fruitful orchestral career around the United States. Norbert joined the Minnesota Orchestra in 1987 as second bassoon and became the orchestra’s contrabassoonist in 1993. Before he came to Minnesota, he held positions in the Chicago Lyric Opera, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, and the Contemporary Chamber Players at the University of Chicago, and has contributed to a number of feature film soundtracks with studio orchestras in Los Angeles and Chicago. Norbert is co-artistic director of The Musical Offering, a chamber music collective of professional musicians based in the Twin Cities. He often performs with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Minnesota Opera and frequently finds freelance work in local ensembles. Norbert's principal teachers include Willard Elliot, John Miller and Louis Skinner. He is currently instructor of bassoon at the University of Minnesota. Norbert is also an accomplished woodworker and professionally repairs bassoons.
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Coreen Nordling
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Coreen Nordling is one of the most active freelance bassoonists in Minnesota. Coreen has held the position of Principal Bassoon in the Minnesota Opera Orchestra since 1985. She frequently performs with the Minnesota Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Mill City Opera, and Minnesota Pops Orchestra, and can often be seen with touring groups that perform in Minnesota. A sought-after private teacher, Coreen teaches a studio of both Bassoon and Piano students. Coreen's principal teacher was John Miller, the MBA's President and Founder.
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Ye Yu is an in-demand teacher, performer, and reed maker. After graduating from Sichuan Conservatory in China and serving as an instructor there, he completed his Master of Musical Arts degree in Bassoon Performance under MBA President and Founder John Miller at the University of Minnesota. A sought-after soloist and performer in both the United States and China, Ye Yu has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, South Dakota Symphony, and Wuhan Opera, to name a few. He makes and sells his reeds through his company, Golden Bamboo.
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Ariel Detwiler
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Ariel Detwiler is quickly developing a multifaceted music career in the Twin Cities. A freelance bassoonist, private teacher, woodwind doubler, and reed maker, she has performed with numerous orchestras, bands, and chamber groups, and has won two concerto competitions. Recently, she performed as a soloist with the University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble, the Encore Wind Ensemble, and the Minnetonka Symphony Orchestra. Ariel currently holds four adjunct bassoon professor positions in Minnesota and Iowa, and sells bassoon reeds through her company, ACDC Reeds. Ariel recently graduated (ABD) with her Doctor of Musical Arts in Bassoon Performance from the University of Minnesota under MBA Officer Norbert Nielubowski. She also holds an MM from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music under William Ludwig and a BM from DePauw University under Kara Stolle.
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