Music in the Round May Festival - Meet the musicians: Amy Harman (bassoon)

After a failed early career as a cellist, Amy has had much better success as a bassoonist. Former Principal Bassoon with the Philharmonia Orchestra, she is now Principal of English National Opera and the Aurora Orchestra, as well as a member of Ensemble 360. A particular highlight has been performing with Birmingham Opera as a ‘flying soloist’ from a trapeze suspended above the audience.

Amy’s chosen to include Roxanna Panufnik’s Cantator and Amanda in this programme, which tells the story of an ill-fated love affair between a 14th-century monk and the young maiden Amanda. She will also introduce Nielsen’s Wind Quintet, an entertaining piece that captures the character of the musicians he wrote it for, including a wonderful ‘argument’ between the bassoon and clarinet.