Richard Polonchak

Richard Polonchak is the former Principal Bassoonist of The United States Marine Band, "The President's Own", and The White House Orchestra in Washington, D.C. He has taught at eight universities and currently teaches at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. He is the Principal Bassoonist of The Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra and a founding member of Shepherd Three, Shepherd's Faculty Wind Trio. He is the author of Primary Handbook for Bassoon, a contributing author to The Woodwind Player's Cookbook and created the bassoon audio/text for Western International Band Clinic's "Embou-Sure".

Mr. Polonchak has worked extensively in bassoon factories in Germany helping the instrument makers redesign instruments exclusively for the American bassoonist. He has presented clinics, workshops and master classes in thirty-five states.

His articles on all aspects of the bassoon have appeared in The Instrumentalist, The School Musician,Woodwind World, The Double Reed, and Bandworld Magazine.