Ivy Ringel is the Principal Bassoon of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Originally from Hillsborough, North Carolina, she started music on the violin at age 5, and then switched to the bassoon at age 11. Ms. Ringel started studying bassoon seriously in high school with Michael Burns, the bassoon professor at UNC-Greensboro. She then earned her Bachelor of Music degree and Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with John Hunt and Charlie Bailey. For her Master of Music degree, Ms. Ringel attended Rice University, studying with Benjamin Kamins.

Prior to her time in Indianapolis, Ms. Ringel served as the Principal Bassoon of the Atlanta Opera Orchestra and the Des Moines Metro Opera Orchestra. As an active freelance musician and teacher in the Atlanta area, she held a teaching position at Morehouse College, and taught masterclasses at Columbus State University (GA). Additionally, she ran a private studio and taught group classes at several Atlanta-area middle and high schools. Ms. Ringel performed regularly with orchestras such as the Houston Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Chattanooga Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Louisiana Philharmonic, and the Jacksonville Symphony. Additionally, she is the first prize winner of the 2014 Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition. When she is not playing the bassoon, Ms. Ringel enjoys cooking, traveling, live music, and hiking.