TS DUO features mezzo-soprano Megan Ihnen and bassoonist Darrel Hale. Their collaboration began with a shared passion for exploring the rich possibilities at the intersection of classical and contemporary classical music. Megan and Darrel first joined forces in a recital of new music alongside Elena Lacheva and Stephanie Gustafson Amfahr, featuring works by Alec Wilder, William Winstead, Mara Gibson, Hannah Rice, and Jenni Brandon. This collaborative experience catalyzed the formation of the TS Duo, allowing Megan and Darrel to delve deeper into the nuanced interplay of their respective instruments.
Darrel Hale is a highly skilled performer and educator, known for his virtuosity as a bassoonist. He is currently the principal bassoonist of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and serves as Associate Professor of Bassoon at the University of North Texas. Previously, he taught at Louisiana State University and served as acting principal bassoon for the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with notable orchestras like the Fort Worth Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, and Louisiana Philharmonic.
As a dedicated teacher, Hale has presented masterclasses at prestigious events such as the International Double Reed Society Conference and the Meg Quigley Symposium. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a DMA from the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, where he studied with renowned instructors like Yoshiyuki Ishikawa and William Winstead. Hale’s career combines performance excellence with a passion for teaching.
Megan Ihnen is a “new music force of nature.” Her performances thrive on elaborate sound worlds and fully-developed dramatic interpretations. A gifted narrative and non-narrative musical storyteller, Megan’s performance work explores the depths of memory, nostalgia, the perception of time, and complex relationships. Passionate about contemporary chamber music and opera, Megan has worked with individuals and ensembles around the globe including: International Contemporary Ensemble, Fifth House Ensemble, Great Noise Ensemble, Rhymes With Opera, and Synchromy. She is deeply committed to the belief that new music should be performed and loved in communities of all sizes. She has recently traveled to and performed on SPLICE Festival, Oh My Ears, ÆPEX Contemporary Performance, Detroit New Music “Strange Beautiful Music Marathon”, Omaha Under the Radar Festival, Works and Process at the Guggenheim Series, and New Music Gathering. Her voice and saxophone duo Megan Ihnen & Alan Theisen present… has traveled to twenty four cities in the US since 2017. Learn more about Megan at https://meganihnen.com/.
