معرفی
Amanda Swain serves as an Adjunct Professor of Bassoon at Sam Houston State University's School of Music, where she has been a faculty member since 2019. She maintains dual professional positions as Principal Bassoonist of the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Second Bassoonist of the Houston Ballet Orchestra.
Professor Swain earned her Bachelor of Music from the University of Texas at Austin, studying with Kristin Wolfe Jensen, and her Master of Music from Northwestern University, studying with Christopher Millard. Her educational background forms the foundation of her comprehensive approach to bassoon performance and pedagogy.
Specializing in orchestral bassoon performance, Professor Swain brings extensive professional experience to her teaching in areas including traditional orchestral repertoire, contemporary music interpretation, and woodwind technique. Her performance career spans collaborations with major orchestras including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, and Jacksonville Symphony, providing students with insights from the highest professional levels.
Professor Swain has received significant recognition for her artistry:
- Second Place in the 2012 Fernand Gillet-Hugo Fox Bassoon Competition
- First Prize in the Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition (2010)
- Semi-finalist in the Heida Hermanns International Woodwind Competition (2007)
- Alternate for the Gillet-Fox International Competition for Bassoon (2010)
- Gold Medal in the Senior Wind Division of the Fischoff Competition (2011) as founding member of The City of Tomorrow
Beyond performance and teaching, Professor Swain demonstrates strong professional leadership as Vice President of the Regional Orchestra Players' Association (ROPA) since 2018 and as a member of the Executive Board of the Houston Professional Musicians' Association, Local 65-699. She has chaired numerous orchestra and negotiating committees, advocating effectively for musician rights and working conditions.
Professor Swain has shared her expertise widely as a guest artist, teacher, and speaker at institutions across the United States, including a semester as Guest Lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin in 2017.
