Conor Bell, Principal

Bassoon, Principal

Dr. Conor Bell enjoys a diverse career as an educator, chamber musician, and orchestral musician. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Bassoon at West Texas A&M University. What excites him most about the bassoon is its incredible versatility. Conor shares, “I love the bassoon’s flexibility. Our sound quality is very adaptable; we can be mellow and soothing, or joking and sarcastic, or soaring and triumphant.”

Conor holds both doctoral and master’s degrees from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, with minors in music theory and arts administration. He is fortunate to have studied with many wonderful teachers, including William Ludwig, Kathleen McLean, Tina Carpenter, and Christopher Millard. –

Bell is a dedicated chamber musician, currently performing with the Elicio Winds alongside his wife, oboist Kathleen Carter Bell, and the Æther reed quintet.Recent chamber performances include conferences for the College Music Society, the International Double Reed Society, the National Flute Association, and community outreach concerts at various venues throughout the South.

When he is not playing music, he enjoys a wide range of hobbies that keep life exciting. He loves reading, especially in the fantasy genre, which carries over into TV, movies, and video games. Staying active is also important to him—he enjoys weightlifting, yoga, running, and racquetball. Cooking is another passion; experimenting with different recipes and trying his hand at baking bread and making pasta from scratch has become a delightful adventure! The Amarillo Symphony is thrilled to have Dr. Bell as their principal bassoonist.