Jo Mattinson

  • Instrument

    Bassoon

  • Outside of BPO, what is your occupation?

    I am semi retired and work part time as an assistant in the Music Department at the School where I was previously the accountant for many years.  

  • How long have you been a member of BPO?

    Since 2014

  • What inspired you to take up your instrument?

    My father played the bassoon in the RAF Central Band and was on the extras list for professional orchestras.  He was a "one-stop shop" for all matters bassoon.  For many years he was a reedmaker extrordinaire and I never go anywhere without meeting people who played on his reeds.  As we were growing up my brother and I both thought that playing the bassoon was a normal part of life.  

  • How did you come to join the orchestra?

    I was asked to play third bassoon in Die Valkure in October 2013, in St John's Smith Square, which was a very enjoyable experience, so I was delighted when Mike Syrett asked me back for another concert later in the season.

  • Most treasured occasion with the BPO?

    We played Symphony in C by Stravinsky and Brahms Second Symphony in the 2018/19 season.  It was a wonderful experience to play these great works in such a good orchestra, and with my friend Becky Eldridge who was playing first bassoon.  Very special.  I had tears at the end.

  • Any moments you would rather forget?

    We played a chamber concert at Routh Hall in Bromsgrove.  Normally I am hidden at the back (which I prefer) but on this occasion I was in full view of the audience.  As I turned the page I managed to tip all of my music onto the floor in the middle of the tricky Enescu piece which we were playing.

  • Favourite composer? Least favourite composer?

    My favourite composer is Sibelius.  My least favourite composer is Einaudi.

  • Work(s) you would like to play before you die?

    I would like to play (and be able to play ?!) the Fourth Symphony by Shostakovich.