2007 ISB DOUBLE BASS COMPETITION WINNERS
The International Society of Bassists’ biennial double bass competition was held June 4-5, 2007, at the Wanda L. Bass School of Music, Oklahoma City University, OK, Jeff Bradetich, professor of double bass at the University of North Texas, chair. The five divisions were Solo, Jazz and Orchestra, with competitors from age 19 to 30, and two divisions for younger bassists, Age 15 to 18 and Age 14 and Under.
SOLO DIVISION
Catalin Rotaru, chair; Diana Gannett, Anthony Stoops, Volkan Orhon, Tobias Gloeckler and Irena Olkiewicz, judges
The Gary Karr Prize, Gunars Upatniek, Riga, Latvia: 23 year-old Gunars Upatnieks of Riga, Latvia, took top honors. His secondary school studies were with Sergejs Brinums, and he continued with Professor Brinums when he entered the Latvian Academy of Music in 2002. In 2006 he studied with Miloslav Jelinek at the Music Academy in Brno, the Czech Republic. As first prize winner of the solo division, given by Bill and Hal Slapin, Slapin, Lieb, Pike & Rampolla Insurance Services, in honor of the world renowned soloist and ISB founder Gary Karr, Mr. Upatniek received a $2,500 cash prize, a bow by maker Steven Reiley, and a library of double bass editions from G. Henle USA. He will give an expenses-paid recital to open the 2009 ISB convention, June 8, at Penn State University.
Second place was a tie between Jory Herman, Miami Beach, FL, and Andrew Eun Lee, Munich, Germany in a tie: Jory Herman graduated in 2006 from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where he studied with Paul Ellison. He is a Fellow in the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, FL. He also received the jury award for best performance of the required piece commissioned for the 2007 solo competition, “Hval,” by Evan Ziporyn. Andrew Eun Lee, a student of Klaus Trumpf at the Hochshule für Musik in Munich, Germany, was born in New Orleans. He spent his formative musical years in Korea, where he attended the Korean National University of the Arts. He took first place in the 2006 Simandl Double Bass Competition. Mr. Herman and Mr. Lee split combined second and third prize money, with third prize donated by Atelier Constantin Popescu, and received libraries of double bass editions from G. Henle USA. No third prize was awarded.
JAZZ DIVISION
Lynn Seaton, chair; Robert Hurst, Kristin Korb, Rufus Reid, Tom Knific and Mark Dresser, judges
The Scott LaFaro Prize, Jorge Roeder, Newton, MA: Originally from Peru, Jorge Roeder graduated with honors from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston in 2005. A freelance bassist in the Boston and New York City area, he’ll be embarking soon on a tour of Italy with jazz pianist Kenny Werner. Equally at home in the world of classical music, Mr. Roeder previously served as assistant principal bass with the Lima (Peru) Philharmonic, and spent a semester in residency at the Rimsky Korsakov State Conservatory in St. Petersburg, Russia. Since 2001 the Scott LaFaro Prize has been given to the winner of the jazz division of the ISB competition by the family of the late bassist who rose to fame as a member of Bill Evans’ legendary trio. As first prize winner of the jazz division, Mr. Roeder received a cash prize of $2,500 and a bow from Carbow. He will make an expenses-paid concert appearance to open the 2009 ISB convention, June 8, at Penn State University.
Second prize, Joseph Johnson, Denton, TX: Joseph Johnson is a senior at the University of North Texas. He grew up in Kansas City, MO, and began piano lessons at the age of three before switching to the double bass as his principal instrument. His major jazz instructors include Gerald Spaits, Jimmy Dykes and Lynn Seaton. Mr. Johnson received a $1,000 cash prize sponsored by Thomastik-Infeld.
Third prize, Shawn Conley, Houston, TX: Shawn Conley is currently studying for a master’s degree at Rice University with Paul Ellison. Originally from Honolulu, HI, he was a member of the Honolulu Symphony from 2000 to 2001. His jazz resume includes scholarships for study with the Henry Mancini Institute and at the University of Southern California. Mr. Conley received a $750 cash prize sponsored by Thomastik-Infeld.
Honorable mentions were given to Clark Sommers, Evanston, IL, and John Sutton, Kalamazoo, MI.
ORCHESTRA DIVISION
Jeremy Kurtz, Chair; Jordan Anderson, Gottfried Engels, Rob Kassinger, Jeremy McCoy and Nic Tsolainos, judges
The Charles Barr Prize, Tony Parry, Pittsburgh, PA: Tony Parry earned his bachelor’s degree in double bass performance at the University of North Texas, and his master’s degree from Boston University. His major teachers include Ed Barker, Bill Clay, Jeff Bradetich and Paul Sharpe. He has been a semi-finalist in auditions for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra and Minnesota Symphony Orchestra, and served most recently as co-principal bass with the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, CO. He has worked with the Fort Worth, Irving and Plano (TX) symphonies, and with the Hingham (MA) Symphony. As first prize winner of the orchestra division, Mr. Parry will receive a week’s paid internship with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, sponsored in honor and memory of Charles Barr by his parents. Charles was a member of the Cleveland Orchestra bass section and of the ISB. Mr. Parry also received a bow from Carbow.
Second prize, Andrew Stalker, Richmond, CA: Andrew Stalker earned his bachelor’s degree from Rice University in 2004 and served as a graduate assistant to Ed Barker at Boston University. He was a finalist in auditions for the National Symphony Orchestra, and semifinalist in auditions for principal bass with the Milwaukee Symphony. Mr. Stalker received a $1,000 cash prize underwritten by Orin O’Brien.
Third prize, Matthew Heller, Miami Beach, FL: Matthew Heller is co-principal bass with the New World Symphony, and was previously a member of the Palm Beach Orchestra and principal bass with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and civic Orchestra of Chicago. He earned a master’s of music degree at Northwestern University. Mr. Heller received a $750 cash prize underwritten by Friends of Charles Barr.
AGE 15-18 DIVISION
David Murray, chair; Barry Green, Linda McKnight, Nick Scales, Paul Sharpe, Irena Olkiewicz, judges
First prize, Ha-Young Jung, Surrey, United Kingdom: Ha-Young Jung was born in South Korea and began studying violin and piano at the age of three. She started double bass when she was eleven, and states emphatically, “I would have to say it was destiny to pick up the bass as my life partner.” She has won prizes in a number of national and international competitions, including the Central Music School International String Competition in Moscow, the Marlow Music Festival, the Sperger Competition and the Tunbridge Wells International Young Concert Artist Competition. She currently studies with Rinat Ibragimov, principal bass with the London Symphony Orchestra, and has received scholarship offers from a number of music schools in London. Ms. Jung received a $1,000 cash prize, an anonymous gift, a bow from Carbow, and a library of double bass music from G. Henle USA.
Second prize, Nate West, Columbus, OH: Nate West is an honors student at Upper Arlington High School, and has attended the Brevard Music Camp and Interlochen Center for the Arts. He was a state semi-finalist in the ASTA National Solo Competition, and first prize winner in the Ohio Orchestra and String Teachers Association Solo Competition. Mr. West received a $500 cash prize sponsored by Diana Gannett, and a library of bass music from G. Henle USA.
Third prize, Blake Hinson, Philadelphia, PA: Blake Hinson is a student at the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studies with Hal Robinson and Edgar Meyer. He has attended the Tanglewood Institute, and won the Central Iowa Symphony Concerto Competition. Mr. Hinson received a $250 cash prize sponsored by Buell Neidlinger and Margaret Storer, and a library of double bass music from G. Henle USA.
AGE 14 AND UNDER
Dennis Whittaker, chair; John Kennedy, Paul Robinson, Virginia Dixon, Inez Wyrick and Chris Kosky, judges
First prize, Kiyoe Wellington, Kaneohe, HI: Kiyoe Wellington began studying double bass at age six with her grandfather, George Wellington, Sr. Her current instructor is Michael Gorman, associate principal of the Honolulu Symphony. She is a member of the Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus, and of the HYOC’s elite chorus, “Scelto.” She performed with the HYOC at the 2005 International Children’s Choral Festival in Beijing. Ms. Wellington was second prize winner in the Age 14 and Under division of the 2005 ISB Double Bass Competition at Western Michigan University, and is a recipient of the Honolulu Symphony Associates Scholarship. Ms. Wellington received a $500 cash prize sponsored by D’Addario Strings and a music library from Yorke Editions.
Second prize, Alex Chau Ho Ming, Hong Kong: Alex Chau Ho Ming is a student at the Diocesan Boys School in Hong Kong, where he is a member of the senior school orchestra. He is also a member of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, and has attended summer music camps in Australia, Austria and Finland. Mr. Chau Ho Ming received a $250 cash prize sponsored by an anonymous donor.
Third prize, Ann Chan Yuen Ting, Hong Kong: Ann Chan Yuen Ting is a student at the Diocesan Girls School in Hong Kong, and is a member of the Hong Kong Children’s Symphony Orchestra. She has won a number of honors in the Hong Kong Schools Music and Speech Association annual festival. Ms. Chan Yuen Ting received a $100 cash prize, sponsored by David Murray.
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