Cullen Blain

Cullen Blain is a dedicated musician and educator based in San Diego. He has performed locally with ensembles such as the La Jolla Symphony, North Coast Symphony, and New City Sinfonia. In Northern California, he has played with the SF Bay Area Rainbow Symphony (BARS), the Google Orchestra, Peninsula Symphony, and Redwood Symphony. Some of his professional engagements include performances with West Bay Opera, Dayton Philharmonic, Cincinnati Chamber Opera, Springfield Symphony, Queen City Opera, Kentucky Symphony, Thomaston Opera House, and Warner Theater productions. Cullen studied bassoon under the guidance of William Winstead, Martin James, Brian Kershner, and Donald Bravo. He holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) and a Master of Music in Bassoon Performance from the College-Conservatory of Music, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Central Connecticut State University. He has performed under the direction of renowned conductors such as Keith Lockhart and Paavo Järvi, and alongside iconic acts like The Who and Four Tops. Additionally, he has had the honor of performing with jazz legend Lew Soloff and the Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. As an educator, Cullen’s leadership and teaching experiences highlight his commitment to expanding access to music education through significant community outreach and engagement. His extensive teaching career includes roles such as teaching PK-8th grade general music, serving as the Music4Schools Program Manager at the Community School of Music and Arts, and currently, working as the School District Program Manager at Bertrand's Music Enterprises. Cullen’s teaching philosophy centers on personalized instruction tailored to each student’s unique needs and goals, emphasizing a solid foundation in technique, musicality, and theory while encouraging creativity and personal expression.