The first time she picked up a baton, about five years ago, the bassoonist Rebekah Heller had a revelatory moment. She was working with the New World Symphony as a coach, and decided that one of the selections required a conductor. “It’s like it woke something up in me. I was so present. I was so connected, and it made me realize that the work of a conductor is kind of the work I had been doing all along in my career, which is to act as a translator between the vision of the composer to the ensemble, and then with the ensemble as a translator to the audience.”

In this conversation with Classical Gas host Gail Wein, Heller talks about getting the “conducting bug”, as well as developing an obsession for music written for multiple bassoons. Her forthcoming album, “Righteous Rage” (Cantaloupe, July 2026) includes works by Steve Reich, Julius Eastman, Brittany Green and others, all scored for bassoon ensemble. She plays all the parts on the recording, and tells Wein about the advantages and the challenges of playing with herself.