At age 50, Kerry Graham was living what many would consider a rich and full life, working internationally as a chemical engineer and doing pretty well.  But music, and especially the bassoon, kept tugging at her sleeve. She wanted to go back to school to learn the bassoon.

 “When are you going to do that?” her husband asked.

It registered.

“I up and quit my job,” she recalled during a recent conversation. “I came back to Canada and I bought a bassoon.”

Now 65, she is still at it. She began her second act with a year of intensive private study before entering the University of British Columbia. She went on to earn a bachelor of music and a master’s degree in Baroque music.

Along the way, she expanded her focus beyond the modern bassoon to historical instruments, including the Baroque bassoon and the Renaissance dulcian, immersing herself in early music performance practice.

Today, from her home on Salt Spring, an island of just 10,000 people outside of Vancouver that is reachable only by ferry, Kerry maintains an active musical life, one with chamber music at the center.

She performs with a local chamber orchestra, coaches amateur ensembles, and travels weekly to Vancouver and Victoria to play with Baroque orchestras and chamber groups.

In 2021, she founded Salt Spring Baroque, a concert and educational series dedicated to professional chamber music, workshops, and lectures, further anchoring early music in her local community.

For Kerry, chamber music is not simply repertoire—it is a way of building connection, sustaining curiosity, and continually rediscovering music across time, place, and collaboration.

We talked with Kerry about her musical life. The questions have been edited for conciseness and clarity. – Bob Goetz

What attracted you to the bassoon?

It’s a very cool instrument. I love the sound, the timbre of it. In orchestras especially, you sit there a lot. But then when you have something to play, it’s always some kind of a beautiful solo. I heard a lot of those and I love that idea.

Did you have any prior musical experience before taking up the bassoon at 50?

Yes. I started playing clarinet when I was 10, played it through school and continued throughout the 25 yrs I was working as an engineer, in various community groups. I also started piano when I was 14 and kept playing it on and off.

What first drew you to chamber music?

Chamber music lets me engage deeply with the music and the people I’m playing with. In Baroque music especially, every part matters, and the bassoon often plays a foundational role. I love the intimacy, the conversation between players, and the way historical instruments force you to listen and adjust constantly.

How does playing chamber music differ from orchestral playing for you?

In chamber music, there’s nowhere to hide. You’re fully responsible for your line, your tuning, your timing, and your musical choices. That kind of accountability is exciting. It also creates a stronger sense of collaboration because decisions are made together, in real time.

What role does chamber music play in your life on Salt Spring Island?

It’s essential. The island has a small but vibrant musical community, and chamber music is how we make things happen. It allows for flexibility, creativity, and meaningful projects without needing large institutions or resources.

What’s the difference between a modern bassoon and a Baroque bassoon?

My Baroque bassoon has four keys, while my modern bassoon has 34. On a Baroque bassoon, you do a lot of things with your mouth instead of pushing down buttons. Over the years, as the bassoon developed, they just kept adding keys, so that the pitch would get better and the intonation would become easier.

I also play the Renaissance version of the bassoon which is called the dulcian. That’s kind of what I do now.  It’s even more archaic. It has only one key. It’s a hunk of wood that you try to make sounds out of.

Why do you keep returning to chamber music throughout your career?

Because it’s endlessly rewarding. Every group is different, every program is different, and the music always reveals something new. It keeps me learning and connected, which is why I never get tired of it.

What would you say to someone considering chamber music later in life?

Just do it. It’s never too late to start or to go deeper. Chamber music is about curiosity, listening, and shared passion—not age or credentials.