Return to Headlines

Ken East Grad Wins Principal Bassoon Job with Charlotte Symphony

A former Kenmore East High School musician has a lot to be proud of!

A.J. Neubert recently won the Principal Bassoon job with the Charlotte Symphony in North Carolina. He recently finished his studies at the Oberlin College & Conservatory, where he was a finalist in several national and international competitions, including a 1st place honor in the 2021 National Bassoon Excerpt Competition and a 2nd place honor in the 2021 International Double Reed Society Norma Hooke Young Artist Competition. He performed with the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Buffalo Philharmonic.

“In my years of teaching high school, I have had the good fortune to work with many bright and talented kids who have gone on to have wonderful careers in the music industry,” Aguglia said several years ago. “It is without hesitation that I say that A.J. is the finest of them all. What separates him from other students is how he seeks out knowledge and opportunities, transposes music to any key, plays all genres, and the amount of study he dedicates to being a musician.” 

The Charlotte Symphony is one of the premier music organizations in the Southeastern United States and is the oldest operating symphony orchestra in the Carolinas. Around 65 full-time musicians are a part of the Charlotte Symphony, which performs at concerts, broadcasts, community events, and robust educational programs.