Dr. Darrel Hale is the Associate Professor of Bassoon at the University of North Texas and the Principal Bassoon of the Baton Rouge Symphony. Before coming to UNT, Dr. Hale taught for eight years at Louisiana State University. He also held a position as the Acting Principal Bassoon with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, in addition to performing with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Aside from his active career as a teacher and orchestral performer, Dr. Hale is committed to the commissioning and performing of works that expand the bassoon repertoire, including works written for him and his duo partner, mezzo-soprano Megan Ihnen, and a concerto written for him in 2020 by Mara Gibson entitled Escher Keys. Dr. Hale holds a doctorate from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. His teachers include William Winstead, Yoshiyuki Ishikawa, and Per Hannevold.