//  Origin:  Howell, MI

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//  Years Active:  2011 - Present

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Short Bio

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Praised for his “soaring expression” and “impressive technical command” (IDRS Journal 46, No 2), bassoonist Joseph Swift enjoys a varied career as a performer, educator, and recording artist.

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Joseph currently serves as principal bassoon of the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes, and has performed throughout the United States, Germany, Canada, and United Kingdom as an orchestral and chamber musician. He has performed with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, American Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Chamber Orchestra of New York, New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Ann Arbor Symphony, and Napa Festival Orchestra among others. He also earned a Silver Medal in the Senior Wind Division with the Vanguard Reed Quintet at the 2018 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.

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Joseph joined the faculty at Rowan University as Adjunct Bassoon Faculty in Fall 2025. Prior to this appointment he served as bassoon faculty at the Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts, also serving as director of the NJYS Double Reed Camp. He spends his summers mentoring young instrumentalists as bassoon faculty at the BridgeMusik Classical Summer Music Festival.

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His debut solo album Room to Breathe was released in March 2023 receiving high acclaim across distinguished musical journals. His collaboration with pianist Calvin Hu shines across 5 world premieres for bassoon and piano ignited by the lived experiences of 5 composers of various personal and professional backgrounds.

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An advocate for technological musical advancement, he is an endorsed artist with Key Leaves, bassoon specialist at Silverstein Works, and an official affiliate of KraftGeek.

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Dr. Swift holds degrees from Western Michigan University, the University of Michigan, and Stony Brook University. His primary teachers include Robert Williams, Gwendolyn Rose, Jeffrey Lyman, and Frank Morelli. When he's not playing and teaching, Dr. Swift enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter and their golden retriever, Dunkin.