Nominated for a 2016 GRAMMY® Award for her role as a producer of composer Gernot Wolfgang’s chamber music CD Passing Through, critics have described bassoonist Judith Farmer’s playing as “impeccable” (American Record Guide), “masterly” (Fanfare Magazine) and “brilliant” (Kronenzeitung, Austria).
Judith enjoys a rich and varied career as a chamber musician, orchestra musician, soloist and teacher. Formerly principal bassoonist of the Austrian Radio Symphony Orchestra, she performed and toured regularly with the Camerata Academica Salzburg under Sandor Vegh and with numerous chamber music ensembles in Vienna. Ms. Farmer has appeared as a soloist in the U.S. and in Europe, including the Salzburg Festival, and has participated in chamber music festivals in Prussia Cove (UK), Martha’s Vineyard (MA), Salem (NY), La Jolla (CA), Oaxaca (Mexico), San Luis Obispo (CA), Beverly Hills (CA) and Garth Newel (VA).
Since moving to Los Angeles she has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, including as guest associate principal. She has played on the scores of over 200 major motion pictures and recorded with such artists as Daft Punk, Josh Groban, Billy Childs, Barbra Streisand and Neil Young. Ms. Farmer is currently principal bassoonist of the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, a member of the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra and the Long Beach Symphony.
Judith Farmer received her education at Indiana University and at the Hochschule fuer Musik in Vienna. She teaches bassoon at the University of Southern California and is an avid chamber musician, who enjoys collaborating with composers on new works and has had a number of works written and dedicated to her. Her recordings as a soloist and chamber musician are available on Albany, Centaur, Ex-House and Orfeo Records.