We just wrapped up an exhausting but exhilarating Board of Directors meeting for the International Society of Bassists earlier this afternoon and are headed off in a few minutes to an excellent Brazilian steakhouse.
Think that we board members are all just a bunch of slacker musicians? Well, we’re not! Here we are hard at work on all matters bass-related:
(left to right clockwise: Jim Ferguson, Robert Black, Douglas Mapp, John Schimek, David Murray, Hans Sturm, Madeleine Crouch, Rob Nairn (obscured), Scott Haigh, Lynn Seaton)
Board Members
What a great bunch of folks on the ISB board! There’s such a high level of creativity and excitement at these meetings, and excellent new ideas seem to flow out of people nonstop during the course of the day.
The members of the ISB Board of Directors constitute some of the leading voices in the double bass world and cover a wide range of specialties. They include:
- Hans Sturm (CBC guest) – ISB president and Ball State University bass professor
- Rob Nairn – (dbb.org interview here) ISB President-Elect and 2009 Convention host
- Tom Knific – ISB Past President and host of the 2005 Convention
- Lynn Seaton (CBC guest) – University of North Texas bass professor
- David Murray (CBC guest) – Butler University and Bad Boyz bassist
- Robert Black – Hart School of Music and Bang on a Can member
- David Gage – luthier
- Mark Dresser – jazz bassist
- Jim Ferguson – jazz bassist
- Catalin Rotaru (CBC musical guest) Arizona State bass professor
- John Kennedy – double bass teacher
- Jeremy Kurtz (CBC guest) – San Diego Symphony Principal Bass
- Scott Haigh – Cleveland Orchestra bassist
- Chris Kosky – Air Force Band
- Douglas Mapp – Rowan University bass professor and active bassist
- John Schimek – Oklahoma City University bass professor and 2007 Convention host
- Marcel Villaflor – ISB treasurer
- Thierry Barbe – ABCDF mastermind and Paris Opera Principal Bass
The 2009 Convention
This year’s convention at Penn State is looking like it will be the largest convention ever for the ISB. More master classes, more performances–more of everything! I highly recommend checking out this convention regardless of your age or ability level. You’re never going to find such an amazing cross-section of the double bass world in one location. Whether classical or jazz, student or teacher, German or French bow, Pops or Carlsson, standing or sitting, there’s sure to be more than you can possibly imagine. Check out the International Society of Bassists website for more information. Registration starts soon!
Here’s a photo of fellow board member (and bass teacher extraordinaire) John Kennedy and me during a relaxed moment today:
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