Richard Polonchak

Richard Polonchak brings to Custom Music company a varied background in bassoon which includes experience in performance, teaching and service/repair work.  He was the former Principal Bassoonist of both the United States Marine Band, "The President's Own" and the White House Orchestra, in Washington, D.C.  He also performed with the Marine Woodwind Quintet and "Trio d'anches" which recorded through National Public Radio in addition to appearing with both the band and orchestra as featured soloist.  A frequent bassoon soloist and clinician, he has served on the faculties of The University of the District of Columbia, Catholic University, James Madison University, Southern Oregon State College, (part of the American Band College) and the University of Virginia (Charlottesville).  His articles on the bassoon and bassoon playing have appeared in The Instrumentalist, The School Musician, Woodwind World, The Double Reed, and Bandworld Magazine.  He is the author of Primary Handbook for Bassoon (Meredith Music Publications/Hal Leonard Music).

Mr. Polonchak first studied bassoon with Arthur Kubey and then went on to study with Benjamin Spiegel at Duquesne University where he earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music.  He studied woodwind chamber music with flutist Bernard Goldberg.  He has also studied bassoon repair and maintenance with Lewis Hugh Cooper, designer of the Cooper-Puchner bassoon.  In the 1980's, through a personal interest in both Jungian Psychology and body-oriented psychotherapy, he became certified in Bioenergetic Analysis and has used this perspective to help musicians connect to a different aspect of learning the instrument.

A consulatant/clinician to Custom Music Company since 1977, Mr. Polonchak services the entire line of Kroner bassoons and contrabassoons.  In addition, along with Lewis Hugh Cooper, he has worked extensively at the factory in Germany designing the Kroner Model 450 bassoon available exclusively through Custom Music Company.

Presently, Mr. Polonchak teaches bassoon at Shepherd Univesity in Shepherdstown, West Virginia and performs with the Shepherd Three Faculty Wind Trio.

For information concerning Mr. Polonchak's availability for clinics, solos, recitals, master classes, and process-oriented performance workshops Contact Custom Music Company.