- Instrument Principal, Bassoon
Kevin Judge (he/him/his) is a bassoonist committed to bringing a variety of experiences to artistically engaged audiences. Mr. Judge’s work as a performer and teacher has led him to establish an international presence; his orchestral experience has given him the opportunity to perform in Carnegie Hall, Brazil, and France. In addition, he has performed with various orchestras across the country under the direction of Lorin Maazel, Leonard Slatkin, and Larry Rachleff. He is the principal bassoonist of the Des Moines Symphony and performs regularly with the Quad Cities Symphony, Orchestra Iowa, and the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony. He has attended distinguished classical music summer programs, including Music Academy of the West, Castleton, and the Sarasota Music Festival.
Mr. Judge’s passion for teaching has led him to serve on the faculty at Iowa State University. Prior to his appointment at Iowa State, he was awarded the William Akers Endowed Scholarship to pursue a Master of Music degree at Rice University under the tutelage of Benjamin Kamins. While attending the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, he was the Education Outreach Coordinator for the music program, helping elementary students in the Greater Houston Area to better understand classical music in an interactive environment. In 2008, Mr. Judge won first prize in the Iowa Center for the Arts Scholarship Competition at the University of Iowa, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree under the instruction of Benjamin Coelho.
Mr. Judge has been a member of the Des Moines Symphony since 2013.
