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NEWS OF NOTE
Go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/fromthetop/video/season-2/205.php to view Kiyoe Wellington's recent appearance on the PBS and NPR show "From the Top," performing "Reitba" by Francois Rabbath. Kiyoe, who won first prize in the Age 14 and Under Division of the 2007 ISB Double Bass Competition, is studying at Tanglewood this summer.  Fort Worth Symphony bassist Brian Perry and his wife welcome their new daughter and first child, Madeleine Page Perry. She was born Monday, June 23, 2008, weighed 7 lbs. 10oz, and measured 20 and 1/2 inches long from scroll to endpin. Look at her smiling from her very first day! The Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Symphony has suffered major damage from the recent flooding of the Cedar River. The orchestra reports that water reached a height of nine feet in its administrative offices, and all office equipment was destroyed. The staff moved as many instruments, records and other items as they could. The staff plus students and teachers from the Symphony School were successfully evacuated without injury. While upper levels of the building escaped the worst, the recently renovated Paramount Theater, home to the orchestra's concerts, suffered extensive damage. The search is on for temporary office and alternative venues for the school and the next symphony season. Stefan Krattenmacher has scheduled a grand opening of his new workshop on September 14, 2008. The Julia H�lsmann trio with jazz bassist Marc Muellbauer will perform, as well as a classical bassist in recital (TBA). For information go to www.krattenmacher.com.
Nico Abondolo and Timothy Eckert have joined the faculty of Azusa Pacific University, located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. APU offers undergraduate, graduate and artist certificate programs. Full scholarships are available. For more information go to www.apu.edu/music/ or email teckert@apu.edu. The Idyllwild (California) Arts Academy is still accepting applications from talented high school age bassists for the 2008-09 academic year. Study with Los Angeles Philharmonic principal bass Christopher Hanulik or San Diego Symphony principal bass Jeremy Kurtz, and perform with the critically acclaimed Idyllwild Arts Academy Orchestra, under the baton of music director and composer-in-residence Peter Askim. Visiting guest artists at Idyllwild include Stefano Scodanibbio, Mark Dresser, Richard (Dobbs) Hartshorne, Jeremy Kurtz, Matt Haimovitz, Fred Sherry, and the Julliard, Miro and Kronos quartets. Recent graduates have received full scholarships to Juilliard, Curtis, New England Conservatory, Oberlin and San Francisco conservatories. Scholarships still available, apply immediately. For more information go to http://www.idyllwildarts.org/academy/academy_admission.html. Jazz fans and bassists everywhere can enjoy more stories and photos by the late, great Milt Hinton in the new book "Playing the Changes: Milt Hinton's Life in Stories and Photographs," co-authored by David Berger. The book is available at bookstores everywhere from Vanderbilt Press.
JOB OPENING for bass instructor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador. A supportive environment, great colleagues and opportunity for growth. The position is a one-year, (two-semester) contract with option to re-new for a second year if both parties mutually agree. Teachers can usually save a substantial amount of their salary, as housing is included as well as local health insurance (in many cases better than the States), and round-trip airfare. The teaching load is mainly private students and a few ensembles. Although musicianship, performing skills and experience are important, the emphasis will be on teaching. Knowledge of Spanish a plus! Contact Jay Byron, jayb@usfq.edu.ec. Atelier Constantin Popescu has moved to a new location! The address and contact information: 403 e. Putnam Ave., Greenwich/Cos Cob, CT 06807, 203/661-9500, www.atelierconstantinpopescu.com. Really Good Music is pleased to announce the return and publication of Dave Anderson's music for double bass. Go to www.reallygoodmusic.com and click on "Artists," then Dave Anderson.
TRAVEL WITH YOUR BASS
The Transportation Security Administration is inviting fliers to post comments on a new blog, www.tsa.gov/blog. This is a golden opportunity for bassists to plead their case (or their trunk) in the "Gripes and Grins" section. Remember, be constructive and respectful when urging the TSA to help performers, teachers and students travel to jobs and music festivals and camps. What do we want? Consistent, reasonable, affordable guidelines for flying with our instruments, so that every trip to the airport isn't a roll of the dice. When do we want it? NOW!
In these days of airline mergers, the recent issue of National Geographic Traveler advises airline customers to stay informed about contracts of carriage. These contracts are the fine print documents that appear at the end of your e-ticket. Travel contracts of carriage for passengers and their luggage are subject to change without prior notification. Keep a copy of your contract on the day you bought your ticket with you when traveling, even though some airlines might superimpose new terms on the date of travel and not the date of ticket purchase.
STOLEN INSTRUMENTS
Nathan Peck's double bass was stolen from in front of his apartment building in Jackson Heights, Queens, on Friday May 30th at around 12:50 AM as he was returning from a gig. It was in a dark blue Soundwear gig bag. The word "Pfretzchner" is printed inside as well as a label that reads "new bass bar and re-graduation by Kichier Bros. Pittsburgh PA (49)" and a newer one with the name "Bill Merchant." The bass is a red/blondish color. There is a small chip in the scroll. It also has a Fishman Full Circle on it. Nathan needs your help in keeping an eye out for his instrument. He can be reached at 412-414-7774 (cell) or 718-565-6514 (home), or at www.myspace.com/nathanpeckmusic.
A double bass was stolen in Cagliari, Italy on March 26, 2002. Label says "Vincenzo Lucarini, Fecit in Faentae 19840." Height, 112 cm; lower bout width 71.05 cm; higher bout width 52 cm; band thickness 21.05 cm; neck length 42.05 cm. No corners, "pear" shape. If you have news call Rinaldo Asuni, +39 347 7882618, or email the ISB. Reward for return!
COMPETITIONS, MASTERCLASSES, WORKSHOPS AND FESTIVALS
The 15th annual OCU Summer Bass Camp will be held July 13-19 in the Wanda L. Bass Music Center on the campus of Oklahoma City University. Directed by John Schimek, the weeklong camp will focus on every area of "bassdom." High School and college-aged students are invited to participate as well as "non-traditional" students and orchestra teachers who may need a refresher course (last year, six orchestra directors attended!) If you like to play the bass for 10 hours per day, then OCU Bass Camp is for you! For information email jschimek@okcu.edu, or call 405/208-5149. Double bass studies at Ottawa Suzuki Strings "Sound Encounters" music camp in Ottawa, Kansas, June 11-20, 2008, will featured guest artist Harold Robinson, principal bass of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Also on the faculty will be Dennis Whittaker, principal bass with the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and instructor at the University of Houston, and bass instructor Kristi Knecht from Kansas City. Go to www.ottawasuzukistrings.org or contact Dennis Whittaker, (713) 743-3379.
The 13th annual Golden Gate Bass Camp takes place July 6-13 at the Valley Center for the Performing Arts, Holy Names University, in Oakland, California. Faculty includes Barry Green, director, Mary Knysh, Diana Gannett, Donovan Stokes, Inez Wyrick, Kristin Korb, John Clayton, David Young, John Kennedy, Dustin Williams, Richard Duke, Ed Williams, Pat Klobas and Alan Scofield. The Ray Brown Jazz Course, July 10-13, will be led by artistic director John Clayton, with a faculty that includes Pat Klobas, Kristin Korb, Richard Duke and Ed Williams. For information or to register, go to www.innergameofmusic.com/basscamp/.
George Vance's 2008 Summer Bass Workshop will be July 7-11 at Albert Einstein High School in Silver Spring, MD. Faculty members include Francois Rabbath, Anthony Bianco, Etienne Lafrance, Robert Oppelt, Robert Peterson, Tracy Rowell, George Vance, Ali Yazdanfar and luthier Christian Laborie. For more information call 301/588-9275, email George@slavapub.net or go to www.slavapub.net.
The 3rd Mittenwald International Masterclass with Jeff Bradetich is scheduled for August 4-9, 2008. Come to the historical town of Mittenwald, Germany, hometown of P�llmann double basses and Mike and Ralph Krahmer. Guest instructors include Timothy Dunin and Andreas Bennetzen, artistic director. For more information contact Andreas Bennetzen at info@dynamobass.dk, or go to www.music.unt.edu/mittenwald.
Double bass study is now on the schedule for the 23rd annual International Master Classes for Strings, Professor Petru Munteanu, founder. Gottfried Engels will be guest bass professor for the event, August 8-18, at the Kloster Schoental in Germany. For details and registration information, email Petru.Munteanu@gmx.de.
The first Wratislavia International Double Bass Competition, Gary Karr, Honorary Patron, will be held August 3-9, 2008 at the Academy of Music in Wroclaw, Poland. For information go to www.doublebass.vel.pl, then click on "Wratislavia," then "Rules." The public is welcome to observe. Cost for accommodations for one day on campus with breakfast and lunch, 22 Euros. Reservations due by the end of June. Email olkiew3@poczta.onet.pl. The Polish Double Bass Society, K. Lipinski Academy of Music and W. Lutoslawski Philharmonie in Wroclaw announces the Third World Bass Festival in Wroclaw, Poland, August 10-17, 2008. Participants will enjoy 28 classic and jazz concerts performed by 62 great musicians, and attend classic and jazz masterclasses, lectures and presentations each morning. Among the presenters will be Ron Carter, Francois Rabbath, Thomas Martin, Renaud Garcia Fons, Miloslav Jelinek, Frank Proto, Catalin Rotaru, Tom Knific, Jeff Bradetich, Irena Olkiewicz, Miloslav Gajdos, Tadeusz Gorny, Thierry Barbe, Tadeusz Wielecki, David Murray, Barry Green, Barre Phillips, Hans Sturm, John Schimek, Eric Hansen, Andrew Kohn, Peter Askim, Sonia Ray, Jiri Valenta, Dan Styffe, Gerard Przybyla, Karoly Saru, Dominik Schulz and many others. To view the schedule on the Polish Double Bass Society website http://www.worldbassfestival.pl or email olkiew3@poczta.onet.pl or grzegorz.olkiewicz@neostrada.pl.
The 2008 Vail Jazz Festival Summer Workshop in Vail, CO, August 23-September 1, holds a special music-in-residency program for 12 gifted and dedicated high school musicians. The faculty includes John Clayton, Jeff Clayton, Terell Stafford, Bill Cunliffe, and Lewis Nash. Full and partial scholarships are offered to students accepted into the workshop. For more information call 970/479-6146, or go to www.vailjazz.org.
The International Performers' Competition, hosted by the Czech Society of Bassists and the Brno International Music Festival, will be held September 14-20, 2008 in Brno, Czech Republic. For information and application go to www.mhf-brno.cz/mis/en/, or email jelinekmilos@volny.cz.
The 5th International Double Bass Competition "Johann Matthias Sperger" will be held at Ludwigslust, Germany, September 29 - October 5, 2008. Applications due August 15, 2008. For more information contact artistic director Klaus Trumpf, info@klaus-trumpf-sperger.de, or go to www.spergergesellschaft.de.
ABCDF, The French Bass and Double Bass Society, will hold the second-ever International Bass Symposium at the National Superior Conservatory of Paris (www.CNSMDP.fr), October 30 through November 3, 2008. Renowned artists of all genres - classical, contemporary, avant-garde and jazz - will give masterclasses, showcases, clinics, recitals and evening concerts. There will also be an exhibition of publishers, makers and bass shops, and a composition competition. The player's competition will have five categories: solo, orchestra, jazz, contemporary and mini-bass (ages 7 to 18 years). Among the dozens of guest artists scheduled are: Bozo Paradzik, Dan Styffe, Roman Patkolo, Jeff Bradetich, Teppo Hauta Aho, Daniel Marillier, Thierry Barbe, Joel Quarrington, Gottfried Engels, Diana Gannett, Miloslav Jelinek, Hans Sturm, Francois Rabbath, Paul Ellison, Tom Knific, Mark Morton, Catalin Rotaru, Rufus Reid, John Patitucci, Riccardo del Fra, Renaud Garcia Fons, Barre Philips, Stefano Scodanibbio, Tobias Gloeckler, David Sinclair, Rob Nairn, Joe Carver, Michael Greenberg, Richard Myron and many more. For more information go to http://www.contrebasse.com/en/news/index.html and www.bass2008.com. The Bass 2008 team can book the hotels for you, or you can register on contrebasse.com and post a message to find free housing with a Parisian bassist. Questions? Email Thierry Barbe at tbarbe@gmail.com.
ON SALE NOW
Go to www.vimpvideo.com to order a DVD of the 2007 ISB convention at Oklahoma City University. The DVD includes interviews, sights, and sounds of the largest ISB convention ever, plus performance clip extras and more.
Go to http://www.isbworldoffice.com/isb_shop/merchandise.html to purchase the new orchestra tuning version of Paul Ramsier's "Divertimento Concertante on a Theme of Couperin," and the new double bass piano reduction of Peter Askim's "Islands" Concerto (solo and orchestra tunings available). Order either online, or by printing out and mailing in the downloadable order form.
More posters, 2007 convention t-shirts and videos on sale at http://www.isbworldoffice.com/isb_shop/merchandise.html. Looking to sell your bass, bow, or CD? Use ISB Classifieds to help sell it! Check out the ISB website (click "Shop" on the toolbar) for more information!
Mark your calendars for the 2009 ISB convention, June 8 through 13, 2009 at Penn State University in State College, PA!
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