Born 1965
in Bury, Lancashire, Stephen Marsden began his bassoon studies aged
ten with Charles Cracknell, principal bassoon with the Halle
Orchestra, first privately and then as a student at the Junior
Department at the RNCM. He continued his studies as a pupil
at Chetham`s School of Music in Manchester from 1981-1983 with
David Chatwin, principal with the BBC Philharmonic, and also with
Martin Gatt, principal with the LSO. In 1983 he was awarded a
scholarship to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
with Martin Gatt and Graham Sheen of the BBC Symphony
Orchestra.
From 1979 to 1983 was a member and principal
bassoon of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and from
1984-1985 a member of the European Youth Orchestra. Also in
1985, he was a finalist in the Shell/LSO woodwind scholarship, and
a prize winner with the British Wind Quintet at the Internationaler
Musikwettbewerb, Munich.
In 1986 Stephen was appointed principal
bassoon with the orchestra of Welsh National Opera. Since joining
the WNO, he has also played as a freelance guest principal with
RLPO, CBSO, BBC NOW, RSNO, and the Philharmonia Orchestra. He has
also performed as a soloist on many occasions in concertos by
Mozart, Weber, Hummel, Berwald, Vivaldi and Strauss.