IVY RINGEL is the Principal Bassoon of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Prior to her time in Indianapolis, Ms. Ringel served as the Principal Bassoon of the Atlanta Opera and the Des Moines Metro Opera. Ms. Ringel performed regularly with orchestras such as the Houston Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Chattanooga Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Louisiana Philharmonic, and the Jacksonville Symphony. She has held teaching positions at Butler University and Morehouse College, and taught masterclasses at Indiana University, Columbus State University, University of North Carolina-Greensboro and the Meg Quigley Bassoon Symposium.

Originally from Hillsborough, North Carolina, she started music on the violin at age 5, and then started bassoon at age 11. Ms. Ringel started studying bassoon formally 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. When she is not playing the bassoon or making reeds, Ms. Ringel enjoys cooking, baking bread, traveling, live music, and hiking.