Biography

Dr. Rick Barrantes Agüero holds teaching positions at Temple University, University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College, Millersville University, The Music School of Delaware, and the Philadelphia International Music Festival. He is the principal bassoon of the New Jersey Chamber Orchestra and has performed with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, San Diego Symphony Orchestra, and Delaware Symphony Orchestra. He has played as a soloist with the Wilmington Community Orchestra, Temple University Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Chamber Orchestra, Delaware Youth Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Sinfonia, GGS Chamber Orchestra, and Youth Orchestra of Guatemala.

Barrantes Agüero previously served as bassoon teacher at the Interlochen Arts Camp, The Philadelphia Orchestra All-City Fellowship, Temple Music Prep, SiNEM/El Sistema (Costa Rica), School of Symphonic Music of Pérez Zeledón (Costa Rica), and the ANC Young Music Camp (Panama). He has presented master classes at The Glenn Gould School (Canada), University of Delaware, University of the Pacific, Guaranda International Music Festival (Ecuador), National Conservatory of Tegucigalpa (Honduras), and Youth Symphony Orchestra of Nicaragua.

Barrantes Agüero has also appeared with the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, York Symphony Orchestra, Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, Symphony in C, the Second Ending Ensemble, APEX Ensemble, Berks Sinfonietta, Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey, Toronto Concert Orchestra, and Niagara Symphony. During the summers, he has performed as principal bassoon with the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra (Switzerland), AIMS Festival Orchestra (Austria), Brevard Music Center Institute, Sewanee Summer Music Festival, and Youth Orchestra of Central America (Panama).

A graduate of the National Music Institute (Costa Rica), the Royal Conservatory of Music (Canada), and Temple University, his main mentors include William Short, Daniel Matsukawa and Glenn Einschlag. He is also a trained orchestral conductor.