UNCSA graduate Baron Young takes his bassoon talent to Austria
Baron Thor Young’s journey from small towns to international stages is one of passion, perseverance and a deep love for music. A graduate of both the High School Academic Program and the undergraduate program in the School of Music, Young’s rise as a bassoonist has been marked by his dedication to his craft and a series of remarkable opportunities across the globe. From his unicycling antics around campus to performances in Brazil and Germany, Young has always embraced life’s challenges and joys with the same enthusiasm he brings to his music.
As he prepares to graduate in spring 2025 and embark on the next step of his journey — graduate school in Vienna, Austria at Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität der Stadt Wien and Fulbright Austria’s US Teaching Assistantship program — Young reflects on his evolution as a musician. “My goal is just to play bassoon professionally and get better at it every day,” he shares. “Everything else is just part of the process.”
From Tidewater roots to UNCSA
Young’s story begins in the Tidewater region, a culturally rich yet somewhat isolated area in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Growing up in small towns, music was a form of escape and expression. “I always really liked music, but I didn’t know I wanted to be a musician,” he explains. His first introduction to playing an instrument was in an elementary school music class, where he quickly mastered the recorder.
I am a musician because I feel like music communicates things that spoken language cannot.
Baron Young
In middle and high school, Young also became interested in linguistics, which he credits as a major connection to the world of music. “The transfer of communication is really interesting to me,” he explains. “Spoken language is very good at describing the physical world, but when it comes to your emotions it gets hairy. That’s where music comes into the conversation for me — I am a musician because I feel like music communicates things that spoken language cannot.”
In band class, Young was immediately drawn to woodwinds. After starting out on the clarinet, he shifted between different instruments, but none of them felt quite right until he got to the bassoon. “Once I played a bassoon, I knew it was the right fit,” he remembers. But choosing the instrument presented new challenges — particularly that his rural area did not have any knowledgeable bassoon instructors.
Although his early training was limited by the resources in his area, Young’s drive to improve on the bassoon led him to the UNCSA High School Academic Program. “It was my first time being surrounded by so many other people who were so good and passionate about music. It really pushed me to work hard.”
Returning to UNCSA
Though Young had a passion for music, throughout his middle and high school years he was certain he wanted to be a doctor. So, after graduating virtually from the high school program in May 2020, Young started his fall semester at UNC Charlotte pre-med.
While doing his studies in that first year, he came across a video of noted clarinet player Doreen Ketchens. “I first saw a video of her performing in my first day of my first band class and I thought she was amazing,” explains Young. “When I saw one of her videos again randomly, I got a feeling that I’m not supposed to be a doctor, I’m supposed to be a musician.”
This decision led Young to transfer back to UNCSA for his undergraduate degree. He adds that he was able to meet Ketchens this year, and it felt like a full circle moment. “They say don’t meet your idols, but they were not talking about Doreen Ketchens,” says Young.
Baron Young performing the Weber Bassoon Concerto in F major during the November 2024 Symphony Orchestra Concert. / Photo: Derrick Brady
While in the bassoon department, he has been taught by both Saxton Rose, who now serves as the Dean of the School of Music, and Stephanie Patterson. With his faculty, Young likens the experience of being an instrumentalist at UNCSA with being an apprentice. “The faculty set really high expectations, and you try and meet them as much as you can but often you feel like you can’t meet that 100% goal. But then all of a sudden, you’ve improved so much and you’re gigging with orchestras across the state,” he explains. “It’s intense but it’s helpful.”
While at UNCSA, Young has had a multitude of performance opportunities and even won the annual Concerto Competition in spring 2024, a prestigious event that attracts top musicians from across the school. His win earned him the chance to perform the Weber Bassoon Concerto in F major during the November Symphony Orchestra Concert, accompanied by the orchestra.
Around the same time, he also won his first-ever orchestral audition, earning the position of Principal Bassoonist with the Salisbury Symphony at the start of his senior year. He has performed in every concert of their season since—a professional milestone that has complemented his academic training with real-world experience.
Global experiences: Brazil, Germany and beyond
Young’s experiences traveling abroad for music performances have not only shaped but broadened his artistry. When first searching for international opportunities, Young learned about the Festival Campos do Jordão in São Paulo, Brazil, and knew he wanted to be a part of it. After securing funding from a Semans Art Fund Grant, Young boarded a plane for the first time and got the opportunity to play with musicians from around the world. “It was hard because it was my first time traveling somewhere where I didn’t have a firm grasp on the language, but the experience overall was amazing.”
He also took part in the International Chamber Music Academy in Ochsenhausen, Germany, an annual summer training program for musicians located in Southern Germany. Participating in the academy felt like a natural fit for Young. “I am a German minor and have been studying with Hans Gabriel for several years,” he explains. Young’s grandmother is the daughter of German immigrants, and he grew up hearing the language, which was part of his inspiration for learning it.
Both experiences were very eye-opening for Young as he noticed how classical music is interpreted differently across various cultures. “Around the world musicians are playing the same music, but they all have something totally different to say,” he explains.
Austria: The Next Step
Though he applied to graduate programs at several notable American universities, including Yale, Rice and Juilliard, Young’s international experiences heavily influenced his decision to pursue graduate studies at Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität der Stadt Wien (MUK) in Vienna. “Those experiences made me realize I want to be educated by a bunch of different schools of thought with music,” he says. “I'm going to Vienna because I want to have a complete renewal of what I need to understand when it comes to music.”
That same global outlook also led to another major milestone: Young was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Austria U.S. Teaching Assistantship. As part of the program, he will teach English to Austrian students, offering them not only language skills but also a living connection to American culture—an experience he sees as deeply meaningful for both himself and those he’ll teach.
UNCSA is an amazing place, and it prepared me to go to one of the best conservatories in the world.
Baron Young
Additionally, Young is looking forward to studying in a city that has been at the center of some of the greatest classical music. “I’m going to the place where Beethoven lived and worked so I’m looking forward to having a completely different understanding of music,” he says. He’s also looking forward to meeting new classmates and faculty from all over the world and credits his UNCSA training with getting him to where he is today. “UNCSA is an amazing place, and it prepared me to go to one of the best conservatories in the world,” says Young, adding “I’m excited to be the worst person in the room again.”
Throughout his journey, Young has remained deeply committed to the bassoon and its potential for personal expression. When asked about his aspirations, he is clear and straightforward: “I just want to play bassoon,” he says. “That’s my focus. I want to be the best bassoonist I can be, and I want to win a job that allows me to do that professionally.”
Young’s humble approach to his career reflects his deep love for his instrument and his unwavering commitment to improving as a musician. It’s clear that no matter where he ends up playing, his passion will continue to shine through his playing.
May 12, 2025