CHRIS WATFORD is a Boston/New York based bassoonist concerned with the expansion of the instrument's capabilities. Praised for bringing "smooth varnish" (The Boston Globe) to his performances with a "clear consistent tone," Watford works to advance the instrument's relevance within varying contexts. As a specialist in contemporary music, his performances explore the limits of extended techniques, microtonality, and electroacoustics, with a focus on extreme sonic identities and the exploitation of the instrument’s acoustic peculiarities.

Watford has worked closely with many leading composers including Pierluigi Billone, Salvatore Sciarrino, Tristan Murail and Franck Bedrossian, and has commissioned and premiered numerous works exploring the range and potential of the instrument. He is a member of Boston's acclaimed new-music sinfonietta Sound Icon and appears regularly with ensembles throughout New England and New York.

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