The Breaking Winds Bassoon Quartet is what happens when four classically trained musicians mix serious skill with unexpected fun. This all-female, genre-bending group blends classical music with pop, comedy, and quirky instruments like kazoos and melodicas. Formed at the Eastman School of Music, they rose to fame in 2011 with their viral YouTube hit Lady Gaga Saga—yes, four bassoons doing Gaga.
Since then, they’ve performed with elite ensembles like the West Point Band and Eastman Wind Ensemble, and appeared at events like IDRS, the Beijing International Bassoon Festival, and major conferences across North America. International tours have taken them to China, Japan, Thailand, Spain, and beyond.
With 3.5 million YouTube views, features on NPR and MTV, two albums, and even a bassoon-themed card game, The Breaking Winds prove classical music can be both fun and top-tier. They continue to redefine what it means to be a modern chamber group.