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Contrabassoon

Samuel Watson

Helen Rand Thayer chair, Boston Symphony Orchestra

Samuel Watson headshot holding a contrabassoon

About

Samuel Watson began his tenure as contrabassoonist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in October 2023 at the start of the 2023-2024 subscription season. As an orchestral musician, Watson has worked with acclaimed conductors such as JoAnn Falletta, Ruth Reinhardt, Carlos Miguel Prieto, Marin Alsop, and Robert Spano. Prior to joining the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Watson held similar positions with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and Toledo Symphony Orchestra. His principal teachers were Barrick Stees, assistant principal bassoonist of the Cleveland Orchestra, and Jonathan Sherwin, contrabassoonist of the Cleveland Orchestra.