Paul Rafanelli

Over more than 30 seasons with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, bassoonist Paul Rafanelli has performed frequently on the Orchestra’s Chamber Music series; he has also performed with the Seattle Chamber Music Society, Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival, and the Seattle Chamber Players. He has been a concerto soloist with the Seattle Symphony and the Northwest Chamber Orchestra. Before joining the Seattle Symphony in 1992, Mr. Rafanelli was a member of the Charleston (SC) Symphony Orchestra. Earlier in his career, he performed in Spoleto, Italy, with the Festival dei Due Mondi and in Charleston with Spoleto Festival USA.

He is thrilled to return to Walla Walla for the Festival or any time of the year to enjoy the enological and culinary riches. Fascinated by the magic of Food and Wine pairing, he enjoys vegetable gardening, cooking, and opera and welcomes any opportunity to speak Italian.

Mr. Rafanelli is a Seattle native and received his training at the University of Washington, Manhattan School of Music, and The Juilliard School. From 1998 to 2014, he served on the faculty of the University Puget Sound, where he was the Affiliate Artist in bassoon. In October 2021, he joined the faculty of the University of Washington as Artist in Residence.

His bassoon was made by the Wilhelm Heckel Co. in Wiesbaden, Germany, in 1985.