top of page

Tristen Collinsworth

_MG_4870_edited.jpg

Tristen Collinsworth is a bassoonist, multi-woodwind specialist, and arranger who works to bridge the popular with the obscure. Originating from Tracy, California, he is studying to receive a Master of Music in music performance at Baylor University, studying with Dr. Ann Shoemaker, previously studying with Nicolasa Kuster. He is currently the Chief Orchestrator of Pacific Heavy Ensemble, a student-led group at University of the Pacific that combines a live orchestra and choir with a band to perform symphonic metal music.

​

During his four years at University of the Pacific, Mr. Collinsworth stayed active within the group of talented musicians at the Conservatory of Music. He acted as the principal bassoonist for the University Symphony Orchestra and the first bassoonist for the renowned Symphonic Wind Ensemble, touring with the group in March 2019 to Stanford University and Carnegie Hall. As part of the chamber music program at Pacific, he performed in several small ensembles, including the student bassoon quartet. He also played with the student-led Pacific Heavy Ensemble and 28/78 New Music Ensemble, both of which he was a founding member of. In May 2019, Mr. Collinsworth gained his first professional experience, playing second bassoon with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra.

​

Tristen Collinsworth will begin his two years at Baylor University in August 2021 as the graduate assistant for bassoon.

​

Because of his love of playing multiple instruments, Tristen has found passion in performing in the pits of musicals on several woodwind instruments. He played with Pacific Opera’s performances of Brigadoon on bassoon, Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble’s performances of Man of La Mancha on clarinet and bassoon, and Tracy Repertory Theatre’s performances of Seussical the Musical on flute, clarinet, baritone saxophone, and bassoon.

​

As an arranger, Mr. Collinsworth often writes music for his peers at University of the Pacific. As the Chief Orchestrator of Pacific Heavy Ensemble, he writes arrangements of scores provided by bands, transcribes scores by ear, and writes original orchestrations for existing songs, as well as creating original renditions of classical scores; this is all done while managing the rest of the orchestration team. He has also written arrangements for his chapter of Phi Mu Alpha and the soon-to-exist Pacific Pops Orchestra.

​

In his free time, Tristen enjoys hiking, cooking, and composing music. He is also an member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity and Pi Kappa Lambda National Honors Society.  He lives in Waco, Texas, near the Baylor University campus.

Notable Performances

Bassoon Solo Performances

Selected performances include: Mozart's Bassoon Concerto, K191; Weber's Bassoon Concerto, Op.75, and Andante e Rondo Ongarese, Op.35; Vivaldi's Bassoon Concerto in E minor, RV484; Hindemith's Bassoon Sonata; Eugene Bozza's Recit, Sicilienne, et Rondo; Henri Dutilleux's Saraband et Cortege; Alexandre Tansman's Bassoon Sonata

Awards

In Fall 2020, Tristen Collinsworth was named as one of four winners of the University of the Pacific's Conservatory of Music's concerto competition, and will perform Weber's Andante and Hungarian Rondo in September 2021. He was also named one of the winners of that year's honor's recital, performing the first movement of Mozart's bassoon concerto in Spring 2021.

Ensemble Performances

University of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra selected repertoire: Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony (principal bassoon with solo), Beethoven's 5th Symphony (contrabassoon), Berlioz's Syphomie Fantastique (3rd bassoon),  Jonathon Russell's Symphony for Orchestra and Piano (principal bassoonist; world premiere)

Chamber Performances

Pieces performed include: Villa-Lobos' Bachianas Brasilieras No. 6 for Flute and Bassoon; Walter Piston's Three Pieces for Flute, Clarinet, and Bassoon; and Paul Hanson's Bassoon Quartet #1

Musical Performances

Several performances each of: Seussical the Musical (baritone saxophone, clarinet, flute, bassoon); Man of La Mancha (bassoon and clarinet); Brigadoon (bassoon only)

Performances of Arranged Works

As Chief Orchestrator of Pacific Heavy Ensemble, over a dozen works arranged solely by Tristen have been performed. Proponent For Sentience I was performed by the group in Spring 2019, receiving praise from the band. Several members from PacHeavy, including Tristen, met with the band after a concert that October.

bottom of page