Professional Background :
In addition to her responsibilities as Assistant Director, Susan Hess teaches bassoon and performs with the Northwest Wind Quintet and the Intermontane Bassoon Trio, a trio consisting of faculty from University of Idaho, Central Washington University and Washington State University. She is the principal bassoonist of the Walla Walla Symphony. She has been a member of many musical organizations, including the Boulder Bach Festival, Colorado Music Festival, Colorado MahlerFest, Ernest Bloch Music Festival, Solstice Wind Quintet and Colorado Wind Quintet (faculty ensemble at University of Colorado). As a free lancer, Susan has performed with the Spokane Symphony, Delaware Symphony Orchestra, Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia, and with various other groups in the East Coast and Colorado. She earned her doctorate and bachelor's degrees from the University of Colorado and her master's degree from Florida State University.

Her principal teachers have been William Winstead, Robert Olson, John Wetherill and Ryohei Nakagawa. When not making reeds, Susan enjoys hiking, biking, eating fine food and reading.