Jack Peña is the Principal Bassoonist of the Louisiana Philharmonic in New Orleans. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Jack began his playing the bassoon at age fourteen. Since then, he has appeared as guest Associate Principal with the Toronto Symphony and performed with the Milwaukee Symphony and Los Angeles Opera. In 2013, The New York Times hailed him for his “deft solo work” in performances at Carnegie Hall with the New York String Orchestra Seminar. Also an active soloist, Mr. Peña most recently appeared with the Louisiana Philharmonic in 2017 playing a showpiece that required him to wear a bear costume. Other solo performances include Villa-Lobos’ Ciranda das Sete Notas with the 2016 Spoleto Festival Orchestra and multiple appearances with the Colburn Orchestra from 2013-2015. His summers have been spent as acting Associate Principal Bassoon of the Colorado Music Festival and as a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center, Music Academy of the West, Spoleto Festival USA, and Aspen Music Festival and School. Jack received his undergraduate degree in 2015 from the Colburn Conservatory in Los Angeles where he studied with Richard Beene and spent a year at Rice University’s Shepherd School where he studied with Benjamin Kamins.