Ellen M. Barnum, B.A.

Bassoonist Ellen Barnum is a founding member of Vento Chiaro, a Boston-based woodwind quintet that performs across the U.S. and Canada. She maintains an active freelance career in the Boston, MA, and Buffalo, NY, metro areas, performing with many local ensembles including the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Buffalo Chamber Players.

Barnum joined the Music Department faculty in 2003. She teaches bassoon, coaches chamber music, and is also the personnel manager for the BSC Philharmonia. Additionally, Ellen teaches bassoon and music literature, is the coordinator for the ArtsCanisius series at Canisius College and maintains an active private bassoon studio.

Ellen received her bachelor of music and graduate performance diploma in bassoon performance from the Peabody Conservatory, and an artist diploma in chamber music from the Longy School in Cambridge, MA. She received several awards as a member of Vento Chiaro, including the Saunderson Award at the Coleman Chamber Music Competition and the Silver Medal at the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. Vento Chiaro is in residence at Boston University's Tanglewood Institute, a summer music program for talented high school musicians in Lenox, MA.