Hope College

• State: Michigan
• Private School
• School Website
• Map Link

Melissa Strauss, bass faculty

• Email Melissa
• Melissa’s Website

General Statistics

• US News Ranking: #108 (tie) in National Liberal Arts Colleges
• US News Overall Score (out of 100): 52
• Tuition & Fees 2016-17: $31,560
• Room & Board 2016-17: $9,690
• Total Enrollment: 3,376
• Acceptance Rate (from 2015): 72%
• Student – Faculty Ratio: 11:1
• 4 year graduation rate: 65%
• % of undergrads receiving Financial aid: 57%
• Average Financial Aid: $18,680

Double Bass Statistics

• Average number of undergraduate bass students: 4
• Studio Class, Orchestral Repertoire Class, Bass Ensembles, Studio Recitals and Performances

What Alumni Are Doing

• My two most recent graduates are in PhD programs in their main areas of study

Perspectives from the Bass Faculty

Q: What are some of your favorite experiences teaching at your school?

A: The bass studio at Hope is supportive and has fun together. We perform together regularly on recitals and other venues. Our studio recitals are particularly rewarding for all the hard work that goes into them!

Hope College is a good fit for the musician who wants a broad education, both musically and generally. Hope attracts the well rounded person who loves making music. While some students choose to go on to graduate school in music, the majority of my students are double majors or music minors who pursue another area of study. Yet all students receive rigorous training and opportunities to experience and perform in many kinds of music ensembles, including orchestra, jazz, bass ensembles, and contemporary ensembles, as well as solo performances.

About The Bass Faculty

Melissa Angel Straus, D.M.A., CMP, (Hope College)  Double Bass, is a versatile soloist, orchestral, and chamber musician. She has performed with many orchestras throughout the US, as well performing on numerous faculty recitals at Michigan State University, Central Michigan University, Alma College, and Hope College as well as contemporary venues such as LadyFest. Her international performances span from Austria to Mexico. She is the lower half of Extreme Duality, which often performs and records new pieces for flute and bass.

While earning her Master of Music Degree in Double Bass Performance at the University of Minnesota in 1996, Melissa studied and worked with some of the world-renowned musicians of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. From 1995 to 1999 Melissa was Principal Double Bassist with the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, in Minnesota. Melissa received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Michigan State University in 2003, where she studied with Jack Budrow.  She is also a Certified Music Practitioner, providing therapeutic music on her bass at the bedside of patients at McLaren Greater Lansing Hospital.