Backstage: Jim Compton Backstage: Jim Compton | Omaha Symphony Watch & Listen Blog Donate Omaha Symphony - Music Director Thomas Wilkins Donate Events and Tickets ❮ BACKEVENTS AND TICKETS Calendar 2022/2023 Season Series Packages Subscriber Info Student Rush Group Sales Symphony | Anywhere Symphony Anywhere ❮ BACKSYMPHONY ANYWHERE Symphony | Anywhere Learning Library Omaha Symphony App Plan Your Visit ❮ BACKPLAN YOUR VISIT Venues Holland Center Strauss Performing Arts Center Concert FAQ Public Health Update: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Venue Guidelines Omaha Symphony Promise Learn & Engage ❮ BACKLEARN & ENGAGE Teachers & Students Community Programs Learning Library FAQ for Educators Omaha Symphony App About ❮ BACKABOUT Conductors Ankush Kumar Bahl Music Director Ernest Richardson Resident Conductor & Principal Pops Conductor Thomas Wilkins Music Director Laureate The Omaha Symphony Orchestra Orchestra Mission and IDEA Statement of Intent Symphony History Board of Directors Governing Members Staff Guilds Employment Auditions ❮ BACKSEARCH Watch & Listen Blog Backstage: Jim Compton Behind-the-scenes with the Omaha Symphony Not up close but still personal: Jim Compton From Offstage to Backstage, we're excited to introduce you to another member of the Omaha Symphony! Last week, the musicians of the Omaha Symphony were back on stage performing Home for the Holidays with the Omaha Symphony, which will be broadcast December 23 and 25 on WOWT Channel 6! They've worked hard on this program, and we can't wait for you to see it! We pulled Omaha Symphony Principal Bassoon Jim Compton aside for some portraits backstage and a little q-and-a session. Originally from Long Beach, CA, Jim has been with the Omaha Symphony since 1987 after he wrapped up his time performing in the Oklahoma Symphony. Jim talked to us about alternate careers, how he chose the bassoon, and his favorite (and the goofiest!) Thomas Wilkins memory. How did you choose your instrument? In 7th grade I was last chair clarinet in the band, so my band director asked me to switch to bassoon. He gave me a reed, a book, a bassoon, and a phone number of a teacher and said “That’s all I know about the bassoon.” It took a while to figure out how to put it together but after one day I was better on bassoon than three years of clarinet. What do you like to do when you're not playing music? When not doing music one of the things I love to do is ride my bicycle on the endless supply of gravel and dirt roads this part of the country has to offer. If you weren't a professional musician, what career would you have chosen? If I had not become a musician, I may have studied architecture or engineering. Or been a carpenter, machinist, or gone into a trade to build and fix things. It's Maestro Wilkins' last season as Music Director of the Omaha Symphony—any memories you'd like to share? Thomas Wilkins has been a great mentor and friend during his tenure. He has been so kind and generous to me. One of my musical highlights with him was playing Dead Elvis – I get to wear a costume and play this crazy bassoon solo. One time, Maestro called me on the phone and I’m thinking, “Wow! The Maestro is calling me!” Well… he wanted to know where the city dump was. Catch Jim and the rest of the musicians of the Omaha Symphony this spring—check out our full spring 2021 line-up here. Meet the rest of the orchestra here. Ticket Office 1200 Douglas Street Omaha, NE 68102 402.345.0606 Get Directions Administrative Office 1905 Harney Street, Suite 400 Omaha, NE 68102-2318 402.342.3836 Get Directions Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram News Series Sponsors © Copyright 2022 Omaha Symphony.