Collaborators

Learn more about our Contrabass Conversations guests here >>

Click any name below to read that blog collaborator’s contributions:

Jeff Weisner

National Symphony bassist and Peabody Institute bass instructor Jeff Weisner received his B.M. from the Boston University School for the Arts and his M.M. from the Peabody Conservatory. He studied with Lawrence Wolfe, Edwin Barker, and Hal Robinson and has been a member of the National Symphony Orchestra since 1995.

Jeff also co-authors the Peabody Double Bass blog with colleagues John Hood, Paul Johnson, and Michael Formanek.

Peter Tambroni

Peter began playing the double bass at the age of 16 (after playing the clarinet since elementary school) when the director of his high school jazz ensemble asked if anyone would be interested in playing bass. After playing electric bass it was suggested that he learn the string bass, and soon after he began orchestral studies. Within a year he knew he wanted to go into the field of music, and becoming a music teacher was the perfect choice for him. He received his Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education from the Crane School of Music in 1996.After that, he taught strings in the public schools for grades 4 – 12 in Northern New York and have been adjunct faculty for ‘cello and double bass at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. In 2000 he graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign with a Master’s in Double Bass Performance, studying with Michael Cameron.
Peter is currently a string teacher in suburban Chicago where he teaches string lessons in grades 3 – 8 and conduct the middle school concert and chamber orchestras. He also leads an Irish ensemble and a bass quartet. Learn more about Peter at his website petertambroni.com.

Nicholas Hart

Admitted into the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music at age 16, Nicholas Hart is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Music degree as a scholarship student of Albert Laszlo. A product of the New York City Public School System, Nicholas attended the Juilliard School’s Pre-College Division where he studied with Eugene Levinson. Nicholas has performed in Solo, Orchestral, and Chamber ensembles throughout New York City in venues such as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and Symphony Space. Nicholas enjoys a long collaboration with the New York Pops, having performed with them and being one of the first recipients of their Martin J. Ormandy Memorial Scholarship.

Phillip Serna

A native of Houston, Texas, Dr. Phillip W. Serna (double bass and viola da gamba) is an active and enthusiastic performer of early music, as well as the contemporary, solo, orchestral, and chamber repertoires. Studying with Jeffrey M. Hill, Dr. Serna earned his high school diploma from the Instrumental Music Department at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, TX. Afterwards, he earned his Bachelor of Music in double bass performance with Stephen Tramontozzi at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 1998. Phillip later completed his Master of Music at Northwestern University School of Music in 2001 as a Civic Orchestra of

Chicago Graduate Fellow. In 2007, Phillip Serna received the Doctor of Music degree from Northwestern University where he studied double bass with international soloist DaXun Zhang and formerly with Chicago Symphony Orchestra member Michael Hovnanian. Phillip studies viola da gamba with Newberry Consort founder Mary Springfels. Visit Phillip online at phillipwserna.com.

Bill Harrison

Bill Harrison is a graduate of DePaul University and has been a performer, teacher, and clinician for nearly thirty years. His jazz credits include work with Clark Terry, James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Kenny Burrell, Frank Wess, Bunky Green, Woody Herman Band, Joe Daley, and many others. He has worked extensively in the Chicago theater, both in the pit and onstage as a musician and actor.

Bill also authors the blog Jazz Underneath and runs Play Jazz Now, a company specializing in downloadable play along tracks for jazz musicians.

Jean-Yves Bénichou

Benjy is bi-national, being a citizen of both the United States and France. He has lived in France for the past 30 years and has been a member of the Strasbourg Philharmonic since 1985. He studied double bass at Temple University with Edward Arian and at Yale University with Homer Mensch, as well as additional studies with Roger Scott and François Rabbath.

John Grillo

John started playing Double Bass at the age of 11. He attended The Julliard School during high school and was a scholarship student at Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana where he studied with Lawrence Hurst. After graduating from IU, he attended the Manhattan School of Music completing his Masters Degree with Timothy Cobb. Mr. Grillo performed at The Tanglewood Music Center from 1994 to 1996. Other festivals include the National Repertory Orchestra, Festival di Due Mondi in Italy, and Pacific Music Festival in Japan. John was a member of the New World Symphony from 1999-2002. His other professional engagements include performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Opera, Wheeling Symphony, Memphis Symphony, and the Sarasota Opera. John was a faculty member with The Pittsburgh Music Academy from 2002-2006. Future engagements include the Iris Orchestra, Philadelphia Virtuosi, Pennsylvania Ballet, The Princeton Festival, The Philly Pops, Opera New Jersey and the Princeton Symphony.

John also authors the blog classicalmusicnews.tv. Check out John’s interviews on Contrabass Conversations here, or subscribe in iTunes for the interview plus John’s complete recital.