Fei Xie

Fei Xie serves as Adjunct Professor of Music at the University of Minnesota and holds the Norman B. Mears Chair as Principal Bassoonist for the Minnesota Orchestra. He previously served as Principal Bassoonist for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, becoming the first Chinese-born musician to hold such a position in a major American symphony. Xie maintains an active international performing career, appearing with orchestras worldwide including the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Houston Symphony, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

His research explores bassoon performance techniques, orchestral repertoire interpretation, and cross-cultural music integration. Xie specializes in bridging Western classical traditions with Chinese musical heritage, demonstrated through his artistic consultancy for the Minnesota Orchestra's Lunar New Year celebrations where he performs alongside Peking Opera musician parents Mei Hu and Zhengang Xie.

As an educator, Xie has taught masterclasses at conservatories across the United States, China, and Brazil. He served on the bassoon faculty of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States and coached the National Youth Orchestra of China. Xie holds performance degrees from Oberlin Conservatory (B.M.) and Rice University (M.M.), studying under George Sakakeeny and former Minnesota Orchestra associate principal Benjamin Kamins.

• Awards: International Double Reed Society's Gillet-Hugo Fox Competition Prize (2010)