Boston-based bassoonist Jake Thonis made his solo debut with the Boston Symphony in 2013 and has gone on to perform as guest Principal Bassoon with the Charleston, Chicago, Houston and Winnipeg Symphonies, as well as the Florida Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Mr. Thonis is currently the acting Principal Bassoon of the Winnipeg Symphony. He was acting Principal Bassoon for the Florida Orchestra for the 2024-2025 season, previously serving as acting Associate Principal for 3 seasons. He has also performed with the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, the Grant Park Orchestra, the Hawaii Symphony, and the Louisiana Philharmonic, and was previously a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

An avid chamber musician, Mr. Thonis was an artist-participant at the Marlboro Music Festival from 2021 to 2022. He made his debut in 2024 at Music@Menlo and Tippet Rise Art Center, and returned to Music@Menlo this past summer. He will make his Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center debut this November. He has also participated in the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society as part of the Gamut Bach Ensemble.

Jake Thonis began his studies with Janet Underhill in his hometown of Wellesley, Massachusetts, going on to study with Richard Beene, Benjamin Kamins, and Daniel Matsukawa at the Colburn School, Rice University, and the Curtis Institute of Music, respectively.