Ole Kristian Dahl (b. Trondheim, Norway) is currently professor of bassoon at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst - Mannheim. He began playing bassoon at the age of twelve, and at sixteen began studying with Robert Rønnes at the University of Stavanger (Norway). He continued his studies at the Conservatoire Superieur de Musique - Genève (Switzerland) with Professor Roger Birnstingl where he won first prize at the CIEN Riddes Schweiz competition in 1998. In the same year he won his first job as co-principal bassoon in the Malaysian Philharmonic in Kuala Lumpur, and completed his studies in Geneva. During his time in Malaysia, Ole continued his studies at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater, und Medien - Hannover (Germany) with Professor Dag Jensen.

In 2000, Ole won the solo bassoon job in the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Copenhagen (Denmark), and in 2002 won the same position in WDR Symphony Orchestra - Cologne (West Deutsche Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester - Köln). In 2016 Ole began as acting solo bassoon in the Swedish National Orchestra - Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, a role he swapped with Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra in 2023. In addition, he has played as guest Principal with the Berlin Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, NDR Hamburg, DSO Berlin, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and Norwegian Chamber Orchestra. He has also performed with the Linos Ensemble.

As a dedicated educator, Professor Dahl has taught at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, Folkwang Universität in Essen, and in 2008 won the professorship at the Hochschule für Musik in Mannheim (Muho Mannheim) where he currently teaches as the successor of the renowned Professor Alfred Rinderspacher. Ole has been Visiting Bassoon Professor at the Royal College of Music, London, since 2017.

After 16 years in Muho Mannheim his students hold/have held 80 jobs in orchestras such as Münchener Philharmoniker, NDR Hamburg, Danish, Swedish and Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestras, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Stockholm Philharmonic, Deutsche Radiophilharmonie, Rotterdam Philharmonic, CBSO Birmingham and Hallé Orchestra Manchester, La Monnaie Opera Bruxelles and New Zealand Symphony.

Ole’s passion for teaching has resulted in a high demand for masterclasses all over the world.

His former students are now teaching in DKDM Copenhagen (Halvorsen/Stevensson), HFM Trossingen (Ekdahl), Hague (Tuls), Birmingham (Henriques), Poznan (Adamczyk).

Ole plays a fourteen-thousand Heckel with a CC1XL bocal.