DePaul University

Rob Kassinger and Alex Hanna, bass faculty

General Statistics

    • US News Ranking: #124 (tie) in National Universities
    • US News Overall Score (out of 100): 43
    • Tuition & Fees 2016-17: $37,626
    • Room & Board 2016-17: $13,387
    • Total Enrollment: 23,539
    • Acceptance Rate (from 2015): 72%
    • Student – Faculty Ratio: 16:1
    • 4 year graduation rate: 56%
    • % of undergrads receiving Financial aid: 69%
    • Average Financial Aid: $11,932

Double Bass Statistics

  • Average number of undergraduate bass students: 6
  • Average number of graduate bass students: 6
  • Studio Class, Orchestral Repertoire Class

What Alumni Are Doing

  • Andrew Pedersen (Houston Symphony, 2017)
  • Chicago Symphony Substitute List

Perspectives from Students and Alumni

Q: What are some favorite memories about studying at this school?

A: Bass section coaching, mock auditions

Q: If there’s anything else you’d like us to share about studying bass at your school?

A: Many of our students also are members of the Chicago Civic Orchestra, the training orchestra of the CSO, making for an intensive symphonic learning experience.

About The Bass Faculty

Robert Kassinger was appointed to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1993. Prior to Chicago, Rob performed as assistant principal bass with the Colorado Symphony and also played with the New Orleans Symphony.

In addition to the CSO, Rob performs with the Revolution Ensemble, the Orion Ensemble, Fulcrum Point, Ars Viva, Music of the Baroque, the Callisto Ensemble, MusicNow, and broadcasts on WFMT and WTTW. Most recently he has been a featured guest with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, and has performed Schubert’s Trout Quintet with Daniel Barenboim.

Born in Boulder, Colorado, Rob began his bass studies with Frank Carroll at the University of Colorado, and in 1985, he moved to New York to study with Homer Mensch at the Manhattan School of Music, where he received his Bachelor of Music. He later went on to study with Bruce Bransby at Indiana University. Some of Mr. Kassingers most influential experiences as a student were his two years as principal bass of the New York String Orchestra Seminar, conducted by Alexander Schneider, and the two summers he spent as a fellowship student at the Aspen Music Festival, studying with Stuart Sankey and Bruce Bransby.

Rob’s experience as a jazz performer include performances with Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Kenny Burrell, the Woody Herman band, Conte Candoli, Charlie Rouse, Teddy Edwards, Harold Land and Bobby Lewis. In 1998 and 2000, Rob toured India with the Chicago Jazz Express, and can be heard on their recordings “Voyage to India” and “The Rhythm Section.” He is also featured on Daniel Barenboim’s “Brazilian Rhapsody” on the Teldec label, and “Kabbalah Blues/Quantum Funk” by the Revolution Ensemble. Rob’s latest project has given him a chance to spend more time with the bass guitar. His alternative rock group NYCO has released its debut album Two, available through nycomusic.com and at Itunes.com.

Rob is Professor of Double Bass at DePaul University, in addition to being a guest instructor at Indiana University, 2006 and 2007. He is also in demand as a coach and master clinician, serving in this capacity for the Juilliard School, the Manhattan School of Music and the 2007 International Society of Bassists Convention.

Alexander Hanna was appointed principal bass player of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in June 2012. Previous to coming to Chicago, Hanna served as principal bass of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

A native of Bowling Green, Ohio, Hanna has performed with the Philadelphia, Cleveland and Boston Symphony orchestras and also was a prize-winning Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center. He studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and joined DePaul’s faculty in the fall of 2012.

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