Summary
Eric Fassbender teaches bassoon, chamber music and sight-singing and ear training at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he is also the coordinator of the aural skills curriculum.
Fassbender performs regularly with the Reno Philharmonic, the Reno Chamber Orchestra, Trio Reno and several other orchestras and chamber ensembles in the area. He has performed at the 2017 national conference of the Society of Composers Inc. and gave a solo recital at the 2018 International Double Reed Society conference in Granada, Spain. Fassbender is an active commissioner and performer of new works for double reeds, including pieces employing electroacoustic sounds and pre-recorded media.
Fassbender received his doctor of musical arts at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, studying with Janis McKay. He received his master of music in double reed performance from the University of Nevada, Reno, studying with Christin Schillinger, Lindsey Bartlett and Andrea Lenz. He received his bachelor of science degree from Northern Michigan University, studying bassoon with Donald Grant.
An accomplished accordionist, Fassbender has appeared with the Reno Philharmonic and as soloist with the Reno Pops Orchestra. As a saxophonist with the Wisconsin-based Don Peachey Band, he toured from 2003 to 2006 and appears on the 2004 album What Goes on Here?
Fassbender lives in Reno with his wife Melanie, director of bands and chorus at O'Brien STEM Academy. He performs on a Fox 601 bassoon and a kingwood Yamaha 841 oboe.
Education
- D.M.A., Bassoon Performance, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- M.M., Double Reed Performance, University of Nevada, Reno
- B.S., Bassoon Performance, Northern Michigan University