Christopher Millard has had a distinguished career as a performer and educator. He recently retired from his position as Principal Bassoonist for Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra. Prior to his tenure with the NACO, Mr. Millard served 29 years as principal bassoon for both the Vancouver Symphony and the CBC Radio Orchestra.

In addition to his work at the University of Ottawa, he was a bassoon professor at Northwestern University for 7 years. He gives regular masterclasses at the National Orchestra Institute, Rice University, the Curtis Institute, Indiana University, Manhattan School of Music, and the New World Symphony. He was the bassoon instructor for Canada’s National Youth Orchestra for 20 years and taught for many summers at the Orford and Domaine Forget Academies. His ensemble coaching has included Gold Medalists at the Fischoff International Competition. A Juno award winner, he has recorded a broad range of repertoire including a volume in the prestigious OrchestraPro series of orchestral excerpts. Mr. Millard’s students occupy orchestral positions in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Vancouver, Halifax, Kitchener-Waterloo and Saskatoon symphonies, as well as orchestras in Houston, Indianapolis, Omaha, Memphis, Seattle, and elsewhere.

In addition to his work with the NACO, Mr. Millard was the Principal bassoon for the Grand Teton Festival Orchestra and made annual appearances with the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. He was the creator and host of the NAC’s classical musical podcast and has served on executive director and music director search committees for the NAC. Mr. Millard was a student of the legendary Sol Schoenbach at the Curtis Institute and coached extensively with the great French flutist Marcel Moyse. He is a noted authority on reed acoustics and a skilled woodwind technician.

Mr. Millard is the Lead Design Consultant for Backun Musical Services as they develop their upcoming line of student, college and professional bassoons.