A native of Denver, Colorado, Darrel Hale recently joined the Louisiana State University faculty as the Assistant Professor of Bassoon. Mr. Hale received a bachelors degree in bassoon performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder where he studied with Dr. Yoshiyuki Ishikawa. He continued his training at the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, OH where he studied extensively with William Winstead and Martin James.

An active orchestral performer, Mr. Hale has served as the principal bassoon of the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and most recently as the Acting Principal Bassoon of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with the Cincinnati Symphony, Dayton Philharmonic, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Chattanooga Symphony, and Cincinnati Symphony Chamber Players. As a fellow at the Aspen Music Festival, Mr. Hale performed as part of the Aspen Academy of Conducting Orchestra under Maestro David Zinman. For several years, he also played alongside his teacher and mentor, Per Hannevold, in the Aspen Festival Orchestra. A passionate chamber musician, Darrel Hale performs with the Timm Woodwind Quintet, and is a founding member of the Conundrum Reed Trio.