Norbert Nielubowski

Chicago native Norbert Nielubowski joined the Minnesota Orchestra in 1987 as second bassoon and became the orchestra’s contrabassoonist in 1993. In 2014 he and his bassoon section colleagues were featured in performances of Dietter’s Concerto for Two Bassoons, with then-Principal Bassoon John Miller, Jr. playing all three movements, and Nielubowski, Co-Principal Bassoon Mark Kelley and J. Christopher Marshall joining him for one movement each.

Nielubowski has extensive chamber music and solo experience, including numerous performances as part of Sommerfest and the Orchestra’s additional chamber music series. He is co-artistic director of the Musical Offering, a chamber ensemble consisting primarily of Minnesota Orchestra members. He also serves on the faculty of the University of Minnesota where he teaches bassoon and coaches wind chamber music.

Before joining the Minnesota Orchestra, Nielubowski served as contrabassoon of the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra, as well as principal bassoon of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra and the Contemporary Chamber Players at the University of Chicago. In the past several years he has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Saint Louis Symphony, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Opera Orchestra. He has worked as a studio musician in Los Angeles and Chicago on various projects, including several motion picture soundtracks. His principal teachers have been Willard Elliot, John Miller and Louis Skinner.