Dr. Robert (BJ) Bedont is a native of Taylorsville, Utah. He earned a BMus in music education from the University of Utah, and both MM and DMA degrees in bassoon performance from the University of Arizona. His playing has been described as: "wonderfully clean and well articulated...His lyricism and finely crafted expressions show that the bassoon is indeed a remarkable melody instrument."  

A dedicated educator, Dr. Bedont serves on the faculty at Salt Lake Community College where he teaches the bassoon studio and classes in music history and music theory. His private instrumental studio students consistently appear in region, district, and state music ensembles. He is also a sought after clinician and adjudicator. 

As a performer Dr. Bedont regularly performs as a freelance bassoonist with the Ballet West Orchestra, the Utah Festival Opera Company, the Choral Arts Society of Utah, the Grand Theatre in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Symphony, America West Symphony, the Paradigm Chamber Orchestra, the Wi-Five quintet, and is the Music Director and Conductor of the Cottonwood Heights Arts Council summer musical productions.
BJ has performed as soloist with the America West Symphony, Paradigm Chamber Orchestra, Bay View Music Festival, The Utah Philharmonia, the University of Arizona Chamber Winds, and the Utah Wind Symphony. 
His primary teachers have been Richard Chatelain, Jill Marderness, and Dr. William Dietz.

Dr. Bedont's "day job" is a marketing manager for the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera. In that capacity he produces advertising radio, tv, print, and digital ads, and produces the Ghost Light Podcast. 
When not performing or teaching you'll find Robert chasing his three kids and two dogs with his high school sweetheart, Allison.