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Woodwind

Head of Woodwind:
Keith Bragg Hon RAM, AGSM

Woodwind Department Administrator:
Louise Foley BMus

Telephone 020 7873 7320
Email woodwind@ram.ac.uk

Chris Cooper: Bassoon (PGDip)

(Picture: photo of Chris Cooper playing the Bassoon)

The variety here has been fantastic: two teachers for modern bassoon as well as contra, baroque and classical performance with principals from the OAE. I’ve played for world-famous conductors in both modern and period orchestras, and in some memorable chamber performances too. The department as a whole is very supportive, and of course being in London offers many opportunities.

I didn’t come to the Academy by the conventional route, which I think has helped to focus my mind now that I am here. First I started at Oxford, but soon realised that I wanted to devote much more time to performance. I took a late audition here, and worked in the ‘real world’ for the rest of the year. I’ve stayed here for my postgraduate year after the four-year BMus, and have also started to promote my ensemble and start a reed-making business—you need to manage a portfolio career these days.’


‘The Royal Academy of Music Symphonic Winds are a very impressive ensemble indeed, both in their ability to blend and in secure solo individuality. I don’t know of a finer performance on disc, and I enjoyed it enormously’
Gramophone, October 2004