The first Oberlin Conservatory of Music bassoon quartet was formed in 1994 and was called "Firewood". As interest in playing bassoon quartets grew at Oberlin more groups formed. In 2002 another quartet from Oberlin called "The Black Sheep" did a short tour of China and that solidified the trend of playing bassoon quartets at Oberlin. Since 2004 there has always been a group called The Oberlin Bassoon Quartet with rotating personnel. Since 2004 the OBQ has done extensive tours of China and Italy, and has played performances in other music schools around the country.
The members of the current OBQ are 4 sophomore bassoon majors at Oberlin from different parts of the US and abroad:
- Liz Bennett, Colorado
- Shelly Li, China
- Jake Purcell, Washington
- Brittney Walker, Illinois