Contrabass Conversations Episode 24 – Michael Hovnanian interview
This week’s Contrabass Conversations episode features an interview with double bassist Michael Hovnanian. Michael has been a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1989, and he serves as the president of Discordia Music (double bass music publisher). Michael also plays for the Gunnelpumpers, Chicago Bass Ensemble, Music of the Baroque, and the Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra. He authors the popular CSO Bass Blog, and he has served on the faculty for Northwestern University and the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Michael was also my bass teacher for my undergraduate and graduate degrees at Northwestern, and it was really great to get a chance to do this interview.
You will also get a chance to hear Michael play the Discordia Music edition of the Brahms Sonata in E minor on this episode. It is a great edition of a great piece, and Michael plays it beautifully. Enjoy!
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CBC 24: M. Hovnanian interview
Release Date: 6/10/07
Length: 27:35
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About Michael Hovnanian
Michael Hovnanian grew up in the Seattle area and started playing the bass in the public schools. His primary teachers were James Harnett and Ronald Simon of the Seattle Symphony. An early interest in solo playing led to performances with the Seattle Symphony, the Northwest Chamber Orchestra and the University of Washington Symphony. Michael attended the University of Washington and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the California Institute of the Arts where he studied with Frederick Tinsley of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In 1986 he joined the Victoria Symphony as Principal Bassist and in 1988 the San Antonio Symphony as a member of the bass section.
Since 1989 he has been a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In addition to playing in the CSO Mr. Hovnanian is active performing solo and chamber music in the Chicago area. He has appeared in the Chicago Symphony chamber concerts at Orchestra Hall and the Art Institute, with Chicago Pro Musica, and at the Winter Chamber Music Festival. Currently he is President of Discordia Music, a pulishing company specializing in new and arranged works for Double Bass. He is also a co-founder of the International Bottesini Society, an organization dedicated to promoting the legacy of that composer.
Michael’s blog: www.csobassblog.blogspot.com
Discordia Music: www.discordia-music.com
Gunnelpumpers: www.myspace.com/gunnelpumpers
Chicago Symphony Orchestra: www.cso.org
Chicago Bass Ensemble: www.chicagobassensemble.com
Ars Viva Symphony: www.arsviva.org
Music of the Baroque: www.baroque.org
INTERVIEW
-Gunnelpumpers tracks played:
Floobah I
Visit them online at www.myspace.com/gunnelpumpers
-Michael plays the Brahms Cello Sonata in E minor, mvt 1
Discordia Music edition (great bass publishing company–check them out!)
Sign-off
Related Posts:
- Lawrence Hurst interview part 1
- Ira Gold interview part 1
- Greg Sarchet interview
- Andy Anderson recital showcase
- Eric Hochberg interview
Comments
3 Responses to “Contrabass Conversations Episode 24 – Michael Hovnanian interview”
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Jason,
Well, listening to myself was less humiliating than I imagined. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to be on the podcast. I need to make sure credit is given where it is due. The bass playing on the Gunnelpumpers track is Mat Golombisky (He might make a great guest for the podcast BTW) the flute is played by Doug Brush. The bass players in Gunnelpumpers are Doug Johnson, Mat Golombisky and myself.
Thanks, and keep up the great work.
Sorry, Michael–I realized as I listened back that I had fumbled the Gunnelpumpers description and sort of melded it with talk about the Chicago Bass Ensemble. I’ll clarify and correct that on next week’s episode, and I’ll make sure to let people know that the bass/flute was Matt Golombisky and Doug Brush.
Bravo, Michael! I remember hearing you play the Brahms at Northwestern a few years ago, which is what inspired me to learn it on the bassoon. I found the interview very entertaining, too. It made me remember what it was like starting out on the audition circuit. Thanks for the podcast, Jason.