An active freelancer, bassoonist/contrabassoonist William Safford has performed in various capacities, from orchestras to solo recitals, regionally and throughout the US. He is a founding member of the woodwind quintet Quintocracy, and also performs frequently with the Catskill Symphony, Albany Pro Musica, and other ensembles.

A proponent of the contrabassoon as a solo and chamber music instrument, Mr. Safford has commissioned several new works for the instrument by composers who include Mathieu Lussier, Allen Shawn, and James Cohn. He has performed at conferences of the International Double Reed Society (Ithaca, NY, Oxford, OH, New York City, Appleton, WI, and Tampa, FL), and the Glickman-Popkin Bassoon Camp (NC). An especially noteworthy performance was a quintet recital with members of the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, Cleveland Orchestra, and Atlanta Symphony.

Classical in the general sense, ranging from the Baroque to today. Most of my chamber music performances are with the wind quintet Quintocracy, but I also perform with harmonie ensembles, bassoon quartets, solo recitals, and more. Several works have been written for me, including for contrabassoon and piano, and bassoon trio (two bassoons plus contrabassoon).