Bassoonist Ryan Reynolds departing Akropolis at end of season

With heavy hearts, we announce that after 18 years of playing together, Ryan Reynolds will be departing Akropolis at the end of this season. Ryan will continue to perform with Akropolis throughout the majority of the season, culminating with the Akropolis Chamber Music Institute in June of 2027.

Ryan joined Akropolis in 2008 and is a founding member of the ensemble.

Ryan Reynolds: "Akropolis has given me some of the greatest artistic experiences I will ever know. To have built, performed, toured, taught, and dreamed alongside such extraordinary colleagues has shaped me profoundly as a musician and as a person. Leaving at the end of this season is deeply bittersweet, but it also feels like the right moment to carry these experiences into the next chapter of my life. I look forward to bringing everything I have learned with Akropolis to my students for the rest of my career, while also making space for new professional opportunities, and continued growth as an artist, educator, and person."

Ryan’s departure will leave a hole in our hearts forever, but we are so grateful for his dedication, artistry, and friendship over the last 18 years. We are excited for the next chapter in Ryan’s journey and will carry our memories with him always.

During Akropolis’ 26/27 season, Ryan will be giving the premiere of Jennifer Higdon’s new work, Rush Not The Reeds, with Chamber Music Tulsa on September 19, performing Johan De Meij’s concerto Un Momento Dado with the United States Army Field Band and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Wind Ensemble in the fall, in addition to performing the GRAMMY® award winning project Are We Dreaming The Same Dream? at both the Rosza Center and Performing Arts Houston, among many additional performances. Guest bassoonists Martin Kuuskmann, Monica Ellis, and Daniel Fendrick will join Akropolis in concert this fall.

Further details about the open bassoon position will be announced shortly on the Akropolis website.