William Hestand, Contrabassoonist and section Bassoonist with the New York Philharmonic, has taught bassoon, contrabassoon, and reed-making at New York University since the Fall of 2023. He also teaches contrabassoon at The Juilliard School.
Hestand joined the New York Philharmonic in 2025. Prior to joining the Philharmonic, he performed with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra beginning in 2014 and was appointed their Rostered Associate Bassoonist in 2023. Previously, he served as Second Bassoonist of The Cleveland Orchestra and as Principal Bassoonist of the Brooklyn Philharmonic and Albany Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed frequently with leading New York ensembles, including the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, American Ballet Theatre Orchestra, the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center, and in numerous Broadway productions.
In addition to his orchestral career, Hestand has performed extensively as a chamber musician and soloist in the United States and abroad. His performances have included appearances at the Salzburg Music Festival, Skaneateles Festival, Cape Cod Music Festival, and the Metropolitan Opera’s Carnegie Chamber Series. He has performed solo and chamber recitals in the Netherlands, Dominican Republic, and at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. He has recorded for numerous television and motion picture soundtracks, including the Academy Award-winning film Joker (Best Original Score, 2019). His performances can also be heard on numerous Live from Lincoln Center broadcasts with the Metropolitan Opera, including the Grammy-nominated 2019 production of Der Rosenkavalier.
Hestand holds a Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance and a Master of Orchestral Performance from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Patricia Rogers and Kim Laskowski. He also attended Interlochen Arts Academy, where he studied with Barrick Stees.