Bassoonist Allison Nicotera is Assistant Professor of Bassoon at the University of Kentucky. As an educator, she is passionate about inspiring bassoonists of all ages to reach their fullest musical potential while realizing the value of their skill sets in all facets of life. An advocate for new music, she serves on the Board of Directors and is bassoonist with Exceptet, a seven-piece new music ensemble. Their debut album, Tree Lines, was released on New Focus Recordings in January 2025. Nicotera received her Bachelor of Music degree from The Hartt School, her Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School, and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan. When she’s not practicing, performing, teaching, or making reeds she enjoys gardening, tackling home improvement projects with her husband, and spending time with their young daughter, Frankie, and rescue dog, Bowie.