Rebecca Cain is the second bassoonist of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, a position she has held since 2000.  Originally from tiny Davidson, North Carolina, Rebecca received both a Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance and a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Oberlin College before completing her Master of Music degree at Arizona State University.  Rebecca isa foudning member of Music from Greer, and a member of the Paloma Winds, a woodwind quintet based in Tucson. She has also performed at the International Double Reed Society Annual Convention and at festivals in Sarasota and Banff, and recital was the guest for Double Reed Weekend at Western Kentucky University.  In addition to performing with the TSO, Rebecca is the Orchestra Personnel Manager for the orchestra and teaches for TUSD in the Opening Minds Through the Arts Program.

When did you start playing your instrument? I started playing the bassoon the summer before 9th grade--20 years ago this summer!

Why did you choose the bassoon? I'm not really sure.  I was kind of bored of the clarinet and I guess I thought the bassoon would be cool.

Are you from a musical family? Yes.  My mother and her three brothers are all professional musicians.  She and two of the brothers are organists and choir directors; the third brother is an opera singer.  My grandfather plays the piano and sings, though not professionally.  My younger brother is getting his DMA in clarinet.

Do you play any other instruments? Piano.  I used to play clarinet and violin when I was a kid.

What makes your instrument special? It has 9 keys for the left thumb! 

What advice would you give to kids learning to play your instrument? Get a private teacher even if it's only for a few lessons.  If you're learning to play the bassoon, you are likely to be the only kid in your band or even the only one at your school and your band director probably won't know much about the bassoon.  It's easy to learn some incorrect things from the start, so it's better to have help from someone who can really play the bassoon.

When did you know you wanted to be a musician? The first time I played in an orchestra.

If you could play a different instrument, what would it be? Probably the viola, but I can't really imagine playing anything but the bassoon.

Favorite composers: Mozart and John Adams

Funny Musical Experience: Once in a concert I played Finlandia when I should have been playing Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet.  They start VERY differently.  It wasn't funny at the time at all, but now I think it's very funny that I did something so crazy.

What might your career be if you hadn’t chosen to be a musician? A teacher or some sort of orchestra management

Hobbies: Knitting, triathlons, reading

Hometown: Davidson, NC

Interesting personal fact: I also have a BA in religion and in junior high school I did synchronized swimming.

What are your three favorite movies? Amadeus, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, To Kill a Mockingbird

What good book have you read most recently? I loved The Art of the Turnaround.

Favorite Tucson restaurant: I don't know if I can choose just one, but I really love Las Margaritas on Grant Rd.

Desert island must-haves:  ipod, swimming suit (it is a desert island, after all), a very long book