Joseph Niesyto was born in Luton in 1961 and began playing the bassoon at the age of thirteen. From 1980–84 he studied at Trinity College of Music, London with Vernon Elliot and Michael Chapman, graduating as a Fellow. During this time he was awarded the Harold Clarke Prize for Woodwind players, the Gertrude Norman Prize, and first prize in the Chamber Music Competition. He works as a freelance bassoonist, performing and teaching in London and around the country. This year he has concerts planned in Spain, Gibraltar and Sweden, and in previous years has performed with orchestras in Germany and Italy. In addition to his experience as an orchestral player he regularly performs with several chamber music ensembles, and is a founder member of the Mandeville Wind Quintet. Recent solo performances have included the Vivaldi A minor Concerto for Bassoon, the Mozart Sinfonia Concertante for four wind instruments (with Hitchin Concert Orchestra), and the Mozart Bassoon Concerto with the Mandeville Sinfonia at St Martin-in-the-Fields. (May 1988)