Ole Kristian Dahl (b. Trondheim, Norway) is currently professor 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 solo 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). Since 2016 Ole has been acting solo bassoon in the Swedish National Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony. In addition, he has played with the Berlin Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, NDR Hamburg, DSO Berlin, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Oslo Philharmonic, and Norwegian Chamber Orchestra. He has also performed with the Linos Ensemble.