I'm back from Switzerland after a fantastic recital in Muri and a brilliant experience from the Muri Competition. Thank you for all the support from friends, family, and the great people at Fox bassoons. Now onwards and upwards! Plans for a recital in August with the repertoire from the Muri, and further travels abroad. Not to mention the heart of the Auckland Philharmonia season! Great things to come.
After a few years of playing the flute, Ingrid enrolled in a summer program at the Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan, USA, to further her knowledge on the flute. While there, she decided to branch out and try a new instrument. Originally interested in jazz and the saxophone, Hagan signed up for an introduction to a new instrument course, only to then make what she has called in many interviews " The happiest mistake of my life" and instead choose the very strange and exotic bassoon. Reflecting on her decision many years later, Hagan says "I was immediately drawn to the warm, melodic sound of the bassoon. It was so unique and different- it spoke to me. I am not entirely sure that I chose the bassoon at all. I think it chose me".
When Hagan turned 15 years old, her very supportive parents bought her first bassoon and encouraged her to audition for the renown performing arts school 'Walnut Hill' in Natick, Massachusetts, USA. Although Hagan had been playing less than one year, Walnut Hill admitted her, with scholarship, into their program. Leaving Vermont, her hometown, and heading to the Greater Boston Area, Hagan then received what she calls "the best and most important training of my life". Hagan studied with Janet Underhill for three years before graduating in 2003.
With very intense classical training in high school, Hagan decided to try something new for college and head to Arizona State, to experiment with jazz and alternative music, under the guidance of Jeffrey Lyman. Although she had a very valuable year, Hagan decided to transfer schools and head back to the East Coast in 2004, attending the Manhattan School of Music. There, Hagan spent three years finishing her degree under the wing of Principal Met Opera bassoonist Whitney Crockett.
Directly after finishing her degree with Crockett, Hagan decided to try her luck and audition for the New World Symphony in Miami Beach. Hagan was one of the youngest members, at 22, to be accepted into the prestigious and competitive three year program. During these three years Hagan really honed her orchestral skills. Led by Maestro Michael Tilson Thomas, she performed weekly concerts with soloists like Gil Shaham, Yo-yo Ma, Emmanuel Axe, Joshua Bell, Itzhak Perlman, and Yefim Bronfman just to name a few. Grooming her for a spot in a top orchestra, Hagan took as many auditions as possible while in Miami, advancing in several before winning a trial for principal bassoon with the Norrkoping Symphony in Sweden. Although she didn't end up winning that position, Hagan knew that playing abroad was something she was interested in. Soon after, Hagan won a contract with The Auckland Philharmonia of New Zealand, which then led to winning an audition for their principal bassoon position in 2011.
Hagan has spent many summers performing with ensembles in Aspen, Breckenridge ( USA),and Stuttgart, Germany, performing with orchestras, chamber groups, soloing, and recording. She has travelled to Venezuela, Cuba, Panama, Guatemala, Germany, Sweden, and New Zealand to perform with various orchestras. She has entered two competitions and was the Second Place ( tie) winner of the Meg Quigley competition (2007) and a Gilet/ Fox competition honorable mention winner (2012). Hagan has been featured several times on National Public Radio in the US, and filmed on shows such as Good Morning Miami and also TV3 New Zealand. She can be heard weekly performing live with the APO on Radio New Zealand.
Although the bassoon is often perceived as an ensemble instrument, Hagan has soloed several times with full orchestra, playing the Mozart Concerto ( ASU Orchestra and Breckenridge Orchestra). Recently Hagan stepped out in front of the Auckland Philharmonia to improvise electrically on a hip-hop track written by Syah Folau called " Carina Street". Hagan is convinced the bassoon is an extremely versatile instrument and makes it her life goal to make the bassoon a more widely recognized instrument in all of it capacities.
Hagan currently resides in Auckland, New Zealand where she holds the position of Principal Bassoon in the Auckland Philharmonia. She is also on the artists faculty of the Auckland University and performs regularly with the Auckland Chamber Orchestra. When Hagan isn't performing or teaching, she spends her time riding her motorcycle, surfing, scuba diving, hip-hop dancing, and trying new wines.
Hagan plays on a Fox series #601 with two Leitzinger bocals, one a 'v' Silver plated #1 ( NZ and Europe playing) and an 'n' Gold Plated #2 ( USA playing).
Johann Freidrich Fasch
Sonata in C Major
II. Allegro
Ingrid Hagan - bassoon; Sarah Watkins - piano
listenJohann Freidrich Fasch
Sonata in C Major
III. Andante
Ingrid Hagan- bassoon, Sarah Watkins- piano
listenSaia Latu
Save My Heart
from Remix The Orchestra Volume 5
Saia Latu-vocals, Ingrid Hagan-bassoon, Miranda Adams-violin
listenUpcoming Events
Past Events
for more information, contact Ms. Hagan at:
info@ingridhagan.com
info@ingridhagan.com