Canada’s most visible bassoonist, Nadina Mackie Jackson has drawn attention and accolades both for her vivid style and extraordinarily musical performances. A popular teacher, Nadina works with the University of Toronto and the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory.

1. What are we interrupting (i.e. what music-related activity are we taking you away from to write this)?

Well, it is after midnight (Thursday, May 23), yet in my fantasies, I really should be making a new reed or practising one of the concerti that I have to play next season...or the wild, wonderful music for the upcoming Toronto Summer Music Festival!

2. What, if anything, are you most looking forward to as an audience member between now and September 7?

Hearing the hot new band Alabama Shakes live at Echo Beach on June 20! The lead singer Brittany Howard is raw and gorgeous and the band is tight and beautiful...they are electric in live performance. (alabamashakes.com/audio/)

3. How about as a music maker/player?

I have a lot to be excited about...playing a Vivaldi concerto in a California winery in June for the International Double Reed conference and playing chamber music at the TSMF with some of my absolute favourite wind players and André Laplante. Oh, and a cameo appearance with the folk star Valdy on September 7 at the Rose Theatre in Brampton!

4. What are you already preparing for musically beyond the summer? And (how) do your summer plans tie in with these longer term plans?

The summer is the best time to imagine that I have enough time to get ready for everything! I am most excited about having eight concerti to perform next season, including three premieres…a bassoonist’s dream! Other fun projects include reviving my nascent recorder-playing skills in the double concerto (Carnets de Voyages) by Alain Trudel for Guy Few and I that we will play with Orchestra London in the fall. Lots of teaching and touring the Berio Sequenza XII to a number of US and Quebec universities in the fall. Next season will also bring me some inspiring new collaborations, including a series of shows with Valdy (“Folk to Baroque”) and a show for two percussionists and bassoon with Bev Johnston and Mark Duggan. And of course many concerts and tours with my cherished trumpeter and pianist Guy Few...this summer is giving me some valuable preparation time for a lot of traveling and performing next season.