Jake Thonis made his solo debut with the Boston Symphony in 2013. He is currently the Principal Bassoon of the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, and he has performed as guest Principal Bassoon with the Charleston, Chicago, Houston and Winnipeg Symphonies as well as the Florida Orchestra and the Louisiana Philharmonic. Jake was acting Principal Bassoon of the Winnipeg Symphony during the 2025-2026 season. He was acting Principal Bassoon of the Florida Orchestra for the 2024-2025 season, previously serving as acting Associate Principal for 3 seasons. He has also performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Sarasota, Colorado Music Festival and Grant Park Orchestras, the Nashville and Hawaii Symphonies, and ProMusica Chamber Orchestra. He was previously a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.
An avid chamber musician, Jake has been an artist with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center since 2025. He has performed at Music@Menlo and Tippet Rise Art Center. Jake was an artist-participant at the Marlboro Music Festival from 2021 to 2022. He has also participated in the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society as part of the Gamut Bach Ensemble, and will participate in ChamberFest Cleveland next summer.
Jake began his studies with Janet Underhill in his hometown of Wellesley, Massachusetts, going on to study with Richard Beene, Benjamin Kamins, and Daniel Matsukawa at the Colburn School, Rice University, and the Curtis Institute of Music, respectively.
