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COMPETITIONS
Download the guidelines and entry forms for the International Society of Bassists' biennial double bass competition, to be held June 8-9, 2009, at Penn State University, State College, Pennsylvania, Diana Gannett, professor of double bass at the University of Michigan, chair. The five divisions are Solo, Jazz and Orchestra, with competitors from age 19 to 30 (age 18-30 for jazz) and two divisions for younger bassists, Age 15 to 18 and Age 14 and Under. Go to http://www.isbworldoffice.com/competitions/performance.html.
The 2009 Stulberg String Competition will be held Saturday, March 7, 2009 at Western Michigan University. The application deadline is December 15, 2008. All string instrument students under the age of 20 are invited to apply. The 2009 judges are Miriam Fried, Ronald Leonard and Richard Young. For more information, application form and requirements, visit www.stulberg.org.
NEWS OF NOTE2008 high school graduate William Gowen of San Antonio just won an audition for section bass with the Austin (Texas) Symphony Orchestra. Way to go, William! The first performance of the fall season of The Workshop Series at David Gage is a clinic featuring Carlos Henriquez. Carlos Henriquez, who currently performs with Wynton Marsalis, has appeared with Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Benny Golson and many others. David Gage String Instruments presents an evening with Carlos Henriquez on September 17th, 7:15 PM, at 36 Walker Street, New York, NY. Tickets now on sale ($20 regular/$15 for students and seniors) at www.davidgage.com, by emailing info@davidgage.com, or calling 212-274-1322. Can't make it? Streaming and recording available through www.mikesmasterclasses.com. Todd Coolman has just released his latest recording, an ArtistShare project entitled Perfect Strangers. Todd spent over a year soliciting original jazz compositions from the public at large and formed a quintet to interpret them. This select group of individuals, known as the "Learning Community," then collaborated in the creative process, yielding very interesting results. The recording, accompanied by documentation of the entire process via streaming audio and video files, is available at: www.toddcoolman.com. Learn more about ArtistShare at www.artistshare.com. Arizona Bass Players, Inc. has established the David Walter Memorial Scholarship in Double Bass, for a graduate student to study double bass performance at any of the three state universities in Arizona, or other location by choice of the recipient. Claudia Barritt, David Walter's widow, is heading up the fund drive, with a goal of providing a graduate teaching assistantship salary for a maximum three years of graduate study. The endowment fund target is $200,000. The Fund has collected donations from David's former students and family members. To donate to the Fund, please contact Patrick Neher directly at abp@arizonabassplayers.org or call 520-891-0432. For more information go to www.arizonabassplayers.org. Virginia Dixon will be the teacher trainer for the first European Suzuki Association's Level One Suzuki Teacher Training Course for Double Bass. The course dates will be November 1-4, 2008, March 19-22, 2009 and October 31-November 3, 2009 at the Albertslund Music School near Copenhagen, Denmark. For more information, email esa@uk2.net or esa@europeansuzuki.org, or go to www.europeansuzuki.org. What is the best ride for your double bass on the road today? Jeffrey Koczela, professor of double bass at George Washington University in Washington, DC, says the Honda Fit works great. It's a 4-door, offers good mileage and can fit bass, driver and three other people (two people in the back seat, at least one of them should be small!) Says Jeffrey, "I can fit my bass on the 40% side of the 60/40 split back seat. The Toyota Yaris can do the same, but it's only a 2-door, and it's not easy to slide the bass in the 40% side due to the ceiling-mounted seat belt holder. Same issue with Toyota Matrix. One of my students got a ride with bass to his lesson yesterday in a Mini Cooper - now I want to see someone show up in a SmartCar!" In May '08, ISB member Gary Wicks auditioned for and won the spot as bassist for the Grammy award-winning vocal jazz group The Manhattan Transfer. He just spent the summer touring the US and Europe with The Manhattan Transfer, performing in Spain, Poland, Finland, Sweden, Italy, Portugal and Germany in just five weeks, with a quick side trip to play for a crowd of at least 15,000 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Upton Bass String Instrument Co. has a new location: 44 Taugwonk Spur, Unit 4, Stonington, CT 06378, telephone 860/535-9399, fax 860/535-9311, www.uptonbass.com. Leonid Finkelshteyn, principal bass with the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, Eastern Music Festival and Peninsula Music Festival, will give the world premiere of a new concerto by J. Mark Scearce on April 2, 2009 in Chapel Hill in Memorial Hall, and April 3 and 4 in Raleigh in Meymandi Concert Hall with the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra. The concerto, "Antaeus," is based on a Greek myth and was commissioned by the North Carolina Symphony. Lennie also thanks teachers who send students to the Eastern Music Festival this summer, and is planning to add more bass students for 2009. Stefan Krattenmacher has scheduled a grand opening of his new workshop on September 14, 2008. The Julia Hülsmann trio with jazz bassist Marc Muellbauer will perform, as well as a classical bassist in recital (TBA). For information go to www.krattenmacher.com. Atelier Constantin Popescu's Greenwich, CT shop has moved to 403 E. Putnam Ave., Greenwich/Cos Cob, CT 06807, 203/661-9500, www.atelierconstantinpopescu.com. Their Westport shop, with bass inventory, remains in the same location. FACULTY POSITIONS
Dr. Phillip W. Serna is joining the faculty of Valparaiso University, located in the Chicago/ Northern Indiana area. For more information go to www.valpo.edu/music/ or visit www.phillipwserna.com. Congratulations, Phillip!
Position available: Mercy High School in Farmington Hills, MI, has an immediate need for the 2008-09 school year for a part-time teacher of vocal music and orchestra. With benefits. Two choirs and a performance ensemble group, one orchestra class. Michigan secondary teaching certification and a major in music required. Candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and copies of transcripts, certification, and professional credentials to principal Carolyn Witte, mhs@mhsmi.org, or fax (248) 476-3691.
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 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 West Texas Bass Clinic, September 20, 2008, in Lubbock, TX, will focus on preparing area high school double bass students for All-State Orchestra tryouts, as well North Zone Region 16 bass students interested in auditioning for Middle School All-Region. Mark Morton, new assistant professor of double bass at Texas Tech University, will lead the clinic. Students will have an opportunity to perform a solo during an evening recital. The clinic is free of charge to attend, and is sponsored by Mark Morton, The American School of Double Bass, Boyce Wyrick, Coronado High School and the Lubbock Independent School District. For more information or a registration form, contact Laura Felton, lfelton@lubbockisd.org.
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: Joelle Leandre, 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
If you missed out on purchasing Daxun Zhang's first CD, they are still available by contacting Paula Reiley at Guarneri House, Reiley221@gmail.com. The price is $12 plus shipping. 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.
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.
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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