January 20th, 2023: Ben Roidl-Ward was named one of the Washington Post’s “23 for ‘23: Composers and performers to watch this year.”

[Ben] just released his debut solo album, “Axis Mundi: New Works for Bassoon,” featuring performances of diverse works by Liza Lim, Luis Fernando Amaya, Tania León, Mathew Arrellin, Tom Kelly and José-Luis Hurtado that share intense physicality and presence through Roidl-Ward’s attentive performance.

- Michael Andor Brodeur, The Washington Post

Read the full article HERE.

Photo by Deidre Huckabay

Photo by Deidre Huckabay

Ben Roidl-Ward is the solo bassoonist of Ensemble Dal Niente and principal bassoonist of the Chicago Sinfonietta. He also serves as Assistant Professor of Bassoon at the University of Northern Iowa and as a Contemporary Leader with the Lucerne Festival.

December 2nd, 2022: “Axis Mundi: New Works for Bassoon” was named among Bandcamp Daily’s “Best Contemporary Classical on Bandcamp: November 2022.”

“Chicago bassoonist Ben Roidl-Ward has served as a formidable advocate for his instrument’s role in experimental music, and on his first album, he cements that work with a challenging program that definitely pushes the boundaries of his famously rheumy double reed.”

- Peter Margasak, Bandcamp Daily