I’m pleased to announce that the second annual Chicago Bass Festival will be taking place on Sunday, February 6, 2011 at Ravinia’s Bennett-Gordon Hall in Highland Park, Illinois from 9 am – 5 pm.  Also, the early-bird registration period has been extended to January 30.    Click here to register for this event.

The day will include master classes, performances, and clinics on a variety of topics (solo playing, orchestra, jazz, early music, young bassist workshops) from Chicago’s leading double bass performers and educators, and will feature retailers of double basses, bows, music, and accessories.

Bassists of all ages are encouraged to attend. Different sessions will be geared toward different experience levels, so anyone from a total beginner or an experienced professional will find value and benefit in the offerings and atmosphere of the Chicago Bass Festival.

A complete clinician lineup can be found here, and the complete schedule can be found here.

In order to participate in the master classes, you need to submit an MP3 of two contrasting pieces and indicate in which master classes you’d be interested in participating. Any two short pieces are fine (Suzuki or George Vance pieces, Simandl Etude, or anything that you’ve worked on in the past). These will be used to determine master class placement. The submission form is available here, and the deadline for submission is Tuesday, February 1.