Richard Svoboda has been the principal bassoonist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Boston Symphony Chamber Players since 1989. He is currently on the faculties of New England Conservatory of Music and the Tanglewood Music Center. He has also taught at the Sarasota Music Festival, the Grand Teton Orchestral Seminar, the Popkin-Glickman Bassoon Camp, and the Symphony School of America, and has given master classes throughout the world. Prior to his appointment to the BSO he performed for ten seasons as principal bassoonist of the Jacksonville Symphony, and studied with William Winstead, George Berry and Gary Echols.
Mr. Svoboda has appeared numerous times with chamber ensembles, as an orchestral soloist, and in recital. Among his solo appearances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra have been performances of John Williams's bassoon concerto Five Sacred Trees with the composer conducting, as well as the Weber Concerto for Bassoon under the baton of Seiji Ozawa. In October of 2007 he premiered Michael Gandolfi's Concerto for Bassoon with Yoichi Udagawa and the Melrose Symphony Orchestra.
A Nebraska native, Mr. Svoboda graduated with High Distinction from the University of Nebraska where he received a Bachelor of Music in Education degree. He is married and has four daughters.