Boston-based bassoonist Jake Thonis made his solo debut with the Boston Symphony in 2013 and has gone on to perform as guest Principal Bassoon with the Charleston, Chicago, Houston and Winnipeg Symphonies as well as the Florida Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Jake is currently the Acting Principal Bassoon of the Winnipeg Symphony. He was the acting Principal Bassoon for the Florida Orchestra for the 2024-2025 season, previously serving as acting Associate Principal for 3 seasons. He has also performed with the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, the Grant Park Orchestra, the Hawaii Symphony, the Louisiana Philharmonic, and the Nashville Symphony, and was previously a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.
An avid chamber musician, Jake made his debut with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in 2025. He has performed for the last two summers at Music@Menlo, and has been an invited artist to Tippet Rise Art Center. Jake was an artist-participant at the Marlboro Music Festival from 2021 to 2022. He has also participated in the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society as part of the Gamut Bach Ensemble.
Jake began his studies with Janet Underhill in his hometown of Wellesley, Massachusetts, going on to study with Richard Beene, Benjamin Kamins, and Daniel Matsukawa at the Colburn School, Rice University, and the Curtis Institute of Music, respectively.
Jake Thonis 