Rebekah Heller is a renowned classical music artist who has made a significant impact in the world of contemporary music. Born in 1981 in Berkeley, California, Heller grew up in a family of musicians and was exposed to music from a young age. Her father, Joel Heller, was a composer and her mother, Karen Rosenak, was a pianist. Heller began playing the bassoon at the age of 12 and quickly developed a passion for the instrument. Heller attended the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan for high school, where she studied with Barrick Stees. She then went on to study at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she earned her Bachelor of Music degree. While at Oberlin, Heller studied with George Sakakeeny and performed with the Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble. After graduating from Oberlin, Heller went on to pursue her Master of Music degree at the Yale School of Music. While at Yale, she studied with Frank Morelli and performed with the Yale Philharmonia. Heller also participated in the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival and the Tanglewood Music Center. In 2004, Heller joined the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), a New York-based ensemble dedicated to performing contemporary music. She quickly became a core member of the ensemble and has been an integral part of its success over the years. With ICE, Heller has performed at major venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Barbican Centre in London. Heller has also collaborated with many prominent composers, including Steve Reich, John Zorn, and Kaija Saariaho. She has premiered numerous works written specifically for her, including Marcos Balter's "Pessoa" and Dai Fujikura's "Poison Mushroom." In addition to her work with ICE, Heller has also performed with other ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She has also been a guest artist at many music festivals, including the Lucerne Festival, the Ojai Music Festival, and the Mostly Mozart Festival. Heller has received numerous awards and accolades for her work as a musician. In 2011, she was awarded a fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. In 2013, she was named a MacArthur Fellow, receiving a "genius grant" for her contributions to contemporary music. In 2017, she was awarded the Avery Fisher Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in classical music. Throughout her career, Heller has been a passionate advocate for contemporary music. She has worked tirelessly to promote new works and to expand the repertoire for the bassoon. Her performances are known for their technical precision and emotional depth, and she has inspired countless musicians and audiences around the world. In addition to her work as a performer, Heller is also a dedicated teacher. She has taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of California, San Diego, and has given masterclasses at many institutions around the world. She is currently on the faculty of the Mannes School of Music in New York City. In conclusion, Rebekah Heller is a remarkable musician who has made a significant impact in the world of contemporary music. Her dedication to new works and her technical prowess have earned her numerous awards and accolades, and she continues to inspire audiences and musicians around the world.

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