George Amorim, one of the 2010 Chicago Bass Festival clinicians and Assistant Professor of Double Bass at the University of Texas-Pan American, will be hosting the third edition of Viva el Bajo later this week. Check it out if you can! I see that Jeff Eckels will be appearing–he’s a great jazz bassist, and I took over his job at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater back in 2002 (that feels like eons ago!):

Registration Form – Viva el Bajo 2010.pdf

Dear Orchestra Director/Bassist,

It is my pleasure to invite you and your students to attend the third edition of ¡Viva el Bajo! South Texas Double Bass Master Class, which will be held at the University of Texas-Pan American on Friday May 21 (college) and Saturday May 22 (all bassists).

It is with great honor that I welcome once more to the Valley Jeff Bradetich, Professor of Double Bass at the University of North Texas and Cleveland Institute of Music. Jeff Bradetich will work closely with our bassists in master classes and individual lessons and will perform in our closing recital on Saturday evening.

I am also thrilled to host Jeffry Eckels as our first jazz artist to ¡Viva el Bajo! 2010. Jeffry is one of the most sought-after jazz bassists in America today and has just been appointed Professor of Double Bass and Jazz Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Mr. Eckels will work with pre-formed jazz combos as well as individual lessons and improvisation sessions.

And as for the Young Bassist Program I am happy to welcome one of our own local talents, Ms. Sonya Martinez who since Fall 2009 has been teaching the ¡Viva el Bajo! Mini Bass Project. Ms. Martinez is a certified Suzuki Instructor by the Suzuki Association of the Americas and was trained at the Colorado, Chicago and Stevens Point Suzuki Institutes. Ms. Martinez studied with the pedagogues Virginia Dixon and John Kennedy and is a candidate for a Masters Degree at UTPA. The Young Bassist Program will include classes in technique, repertoire, and ensemble playing suited just for the developing young bass player, including beginners.

In the next couple of days you will be able to check a detailed schedule for ¡Viva el Bajo!2010 on our website www.vivaelbajo.org. In the meantime, please encourage your students to apply before the deadline for arrangements will be made according to the number of students enrolled. Registration fee for ¡Viva el Bajo! 2010 is $40.00 per participant, which will include admission to all events for each division, lunch and an afternoon snack on Saturday May 22.

Since this year jazz students and combos will be able to participate, I would ask you to forward this notice to your fellow band directors. The first two editions of ¡Viva el Bajo! were very successful because of your support and participation, and I believe that this year’s edition will be even better! I know that you will welcome our guests with open arms and join me in making this another memorable event. Thank you again for your support, and I look forward to seeing you and working with your students in a few weeks!

Should you have any questions or concerns, please, do not hesitate in contacting me.

¡Viva el Bajo!,
George Amorim

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