Meet the Musicians: Luke Fieweger

By Leilani Polk

Before his introduction during an instrument “petting zoo” in fifth grade, Luke Fieweger says, “I literally knew nothing about the bassoon.” At the time, he was a new student and noticed a group of boys crowding around and talking about “this big, weird instrument sitting in the corner.” He decided to get their attention by trying to play it. “Of course, they were impressed, like, ‘Woah, that’s so crazy!’ So I thought that the bassoon was going to be my ticket to popularity.” He recognizes the irony, now. “It was not really the choice … to be cool, long term. But it turned into a career crazily enough.”  

The Chicago suburbanite played bassoon through middle and high school. A wrist injury during his junior year prompted him to think about his future. Of all the activities he’d participated in before hurting himself — including tennis — he missed playing bassoon the most.  

But his non-musical parents weren’t sold on the idea of music school, only allowing him to go if he also pursued a non-musical subject. He ended up in the joint five-year Bachelor of Arts/Master of Music program between Harvard University and the New England Conservatory, during which he earned a BA in biology from Harvard amid studying towards an MM at the Conservatory. “I got to have the normal Harvard experience as a four-year undergrad and concurrently, take lessons and studio classes at NEC.”  

He chose biology, but, he says, “It turned out to be my entirely-for-fun degree because I rarely use any of that information in my daily life.” He admits being a science major did shape his perspective on spirituality. “Learning about evolution and just, using a scientific mind and a new lens through which to approach the world, it changed me; it taught me that all things are explainable with the right questions. It’s a perspective that’s somewhat spiritually disappointing, like a loss of innocence, but also a relief in its own way.” 

After sharpening his skills at The Colburn School for a year, he landed at the Seattle Symphony, as Associate Principal Bassoon, in the 2019/2020 season.  

Outside of his musical pursuits, he’s been into cycling, and this past summer, he competed in two sprint distance triathlons in Seattle before doing a full Olympic distance (32 miles) at the Chicago Triathlon. He also enjoys going to raves, parties and shows at the city’s range of local venues, like a recent concert featuring The Dare at Neumos. In sum, Seattle music events “that are a totally different environment from the Symphony. I like the change of pace, the change of space, to remind myself that not all concerts are observed in complete silence.”  

He’s earned some notice in the more formal Benaroya Hall environs from at least one admirer, who wrote in to The Stranger’s I Saw U message board: “I saw u, banging bassoonist …  You played the Elemental Suite and Brahms’ Second on a brown bassoon. The way you rocked out on stage made my knees weak. Be my sweetie.” 

“That was the day that I felt the most popular,” he laughs, noting all the people who sent him a screenshot of the Instagram post. “I was like, ultimately this is why I first picked up the bassoon. For the attention. So it’s really come in full circle.”