A clip of Alistair on his bassoon playing S. Prokofiev’s Troika.

Alistair Picken

Alistair Picken began studying piano at the age of four, the violin at age six, and later the viola. At age 12 he discovered his true passion – the bassoon – and has never looked back. Alistair began his bassoon studies at the Colburn School with Sara Hiner and continued with Judith Farmer.  Alistair has participated in Master Classes with Billy Short, Victoria King, Miriam Gussek, and Ben Kamins. Mr. Picken received his High School diploma in June of 2022 from the Pacific Academy in Irvine, and a diploma from the Colburn Academy in June of 2023 where he studied with Richard Beene. In primary school, Alistair attended the Lycée International in Pasadena and speaks fluent French.

Alistair maintained a vigorous performance schedule throughout high school. He was Principal Bassoon of the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra Philharmonic, and performed as a soloist with the Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra. Alistair has also performed professionally with the Peninsula Symphony. Alistair was Principal Bassoon at Interlochen Center for the Arts in the summers of 2021 and 2022 and in 2019 he was the principal bassoon at the AIMS Festival in Solsona, Spain. Alistair was invited to perform at the Taipei International Music Festival in 2023.

Alistair won first prize in the Dan Stover Tristate Rotary Competition in June of 2022, and as first place winner in the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra Concerto competition,  he performed the Mozart Bassoon Concerto in May of 2023. He was also a semi-finalist in the Los Angeles Music Center’s Spotlight Competition.

In 2023, Alistair was awarded a Dean’s Performance Award, a Wegman Family Scholarship, and and Eastman Artist Scholarship, and began his post-secondary studies at the Eastman School of Music studying with George Sakakeeny.

Alistair’s Interests outside of music include the plays of Shakespeare, several of which he has performed, interpreting the roles of Petruchio in Taming of the Shrew, Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Duncan in Macbeth. He is also a volunteer docent at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum.