dotan yarden, bassoon

Dotan grew up in a household filled with music. He began his formal training on the piano in first grade, switched to saxophone in fourth grade, took up the bassoon in seventh, and recently started singing. He has explored many elements of music, including woodwind doubling in pit orchestras, music theory, conducting, and composition. He also teaches music in Sunday school.

Dotan received his High School diploma from the Philadelphia H.S. for Creative and Performing Arts, where he was an instrumental music major and vocal minor. He started playing the bassoon since 7th grade, and has studied with Mark Gigliotti and Holly Blake of The Philadelphia Orchestra. He has also studied bassoon with Andrew Brady of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and conducting with Charles Peltz of The New England Conservatory of Music during his time at the Luzerne Music Center.

Dotan has participated in the The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, and he has held principal positions in The Philadelphia All-City Orchestra, Concert Band and the All Star Jazz Band, The Luzerne Music Festival Orchestra, The Philadelphia Sinfonia Players, and the Gold Orchestra at The Philadelphia International Music Festival. He has been selected to perform in the district, regional and all-state music festivals of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. He is also a member of The Temple University Night Owls Community Band, where he has performed on sax, bassoon, trombone, clarinet, and trumpet in recent years. Dotan also performs in various jazz combos and choirs, both in and out of school.

Dotan has appeared in about 70 performances throughout the 2016-2017 season,  including ensembles that performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, The Philly Pops, school and honors ensembles, and solo recitals. Upcoming engagements include The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra’s Season Finale Concert at The Kimmel Center on June 5th, The Brevard Music Center Jazz Summer Program (Baritone Sax), and The Brevard Music Center Classical Summer Program (Bassoon).

Dotan Yarden was recently graduated from Temple University’s Esther Boyer College of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education. While there he studied Bassoon and Conducting. He will move to Israel in August to start working at Givat Haviva International School (a public boarding high school) as a music teacher and in training and development of the boarding counselors.  

Dotan strives to find the perfect balance, following his passion for both jazz and classical performance, and sharing his love of music with others. His music teachers have been some of the most influential people in his life, and he is considering a career in music education while striving for excellence in his performance. Whatever the future may bring, he looks forward to passing on this amazing legacy of music to his children and his students.