Warmup for Wind Instruments
Joe DeRaad started his musical career at 10, playing Alto Saxophone. By 15 it was evident he had a flair for wind instruments and the band director sent him home with a bassoon for summer vacation. A year later, he started his professional performing career playing bassoon with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra in Rochester, MN. He received a scholarship to the University of Minnesota for bassoon, where he was Principal Bassoon in the University Symphony Orchestra and the Concert Band Ensemble. He also played saxophone, clarinet, and bassoon professionally in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, including Broadway shows like “Hello Dolly” and many others, and was a member of the sax section of a Big Band. Joe was also Principal Bassoon with the Minneapolis Civic Symphony and the St. Paul Civic Orchestra.
