Added 01/23/2012
The music world was stunned to learn of the death of double bass soloist and composer Stefano Scodanibbio on January 8th from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease). He was only 55 years old. "Stefano Scodanibbio has been responsible for more important additions to the double bass repertoire in recent years than any European bassist," wrote Michael Cameron in his review of Stefano's CD release Voyage That Never Ends, a 45-minute soundscape that Stefano performed in its entirety when he made his ISB convention debut in 1999 at the University of Iowa. What is now become his final ISB convention performance was in 2009 at Penn State University, another profoundly moving experience for those lucky enough to be there.
Dozens of works were written for him, and he created new techniques, extending the colors and range of the double bass. In 1987 in Rome, he performed a four-hour non-stop marathon, playing 28 pieces by 25 composers. As a composer, his catalogue includes more than 50 works, principally for strings, including Sei Studi for solo contrabass, Three String Quartets, Concertale for contrabass, strings and percussion and Six Duos.
In June 2004 Stefano premiered Sequenza XIVb by Luciano Berio in his own version for contrabass, from the original for cello. In 1983 he founded the "Rassegna di Nuova Musica," a new music festival held annually in Macerata, Italy.
By a lovely coincidence, on Friday, May 25th, 8 PM at The Stone in New York City, Cleveland Symphony bassist Scott Dixon, along with Matteo Cesari (bass flute) and the Del Sol String Quartet, will perform music of Stefano Scodanibbio. Read more about his important and far too-short career. We're so sorry that this voyage had to end, and the ISB extends its deepest sympathies to Stefano Scodanibbio's family, friends, colleagues and fans everywhere. Click here to make a donation to the ISB in Stefano's memory.
Added 11/23/2011
Anthony "Tony" Bianco passed away Monday morning, October 24th at age 94. He was well known as a teacher to bassists of all ages and abilities, as well as a distinguished orchestral musician. He joined the Pittsburgh Symphony in 1944 as principal bass under Fritz Reiner and completed 55 years with the orchestra, twenty-six as principal. He received the ISB's Distinguished Service Award for lifetime achievement, its highest honor, in 2007. A sought-after presenter at ISB conventions and other double bass events even into his 90s, he was always generous with his time and advice, especially to younger bassists.
Jim Krummenacher, age 81, died Saturday, October 22nd after a brief battle with cancer. He attended the 2011 ISB convention at San Francisco State University where he was, as always, full of life and love of music and all things bass. A loyal and longtime ISB member who attended the very first ISB convention in Madison, WI, Jim joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 1956 and retired in 2006, having served with distinction for 50 years. He is survived by his brothers Edwin A. Krummenacher, Jr. of La Mesa, CA and Bruce C. Krummenacher of Warrenville, IL, and six nieces and nephews.
Tony and Jim, the best of friends, passed away just two days apart and both were ISB "lifers." While they may not be attending future events in body, they will always be with us in spirit. They were mentors to aspiring professional musicians, yet both remained continuing students of music and life. We will miss them both, and send our deepest sympathies to their families, friends and colleagues. To make a donation to the ISB in their memory, click here. Well done, Tony and Jim! By now you've found each other and are playing duets in the great concert hall in the clouds.
Added 10/24/2011
In the last few days the ISB has lost two long-time and much loved members who were, coincidentally, not only good friends of the Society, but also close friends themselves.
Anthony Bianco passed away Monday morning, October 24th at age 94. He was well known as a teacher to bassists of all ages and abilities, as well as a distinguished orchestral musician. He joined the Pittsburgh Symphony in 1944 as principal bass under Fritz Reiner and completed 55 years with the orchestra, twenty-six as principal. In 1992 Lorin Maazel conferred the title of Principal Laureate Bass on him, and in 1999, he received the orchestra's Golden Laureate Award. He received the ISB's Distinguished Service Award for lifetime achievement, its highest honor, in 2007. A sought-after presenter at ISB conventions and other double bass events even into his 90s, he was always generous with his time and advice, especially to younger bassists. He enjoyed an especially happy family life, and is survived by his loving wife Angela and their many children. A funeral service is scheduled for Friday, October 28th at the St. Gregory Roman Catholic Church in Zelienople, PA at 11 AM.
Jim Krummenacher, age 81, died Saturday, October 22nd after a brief battle with cancer. He attended the 2011 ISB convention at San Francisco State University where he was, as always, full of life and love of music and all things bass. A loyal and longtime ISB member who attended the very first ISB convention in Madison, WI, Jim joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 1956 and retired in 2006, having served with distinction for 50 years. He is survived by his brothers Edwin A. Krummenacher, Jr. of La Mesa, CA and Bruce C. Krummenacher of Warrenville, IL, and six nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, October 25th at the Fourth Presbyterian Church, Roup and Friendship, at 3 PM. A memorial service will also be held at the Chapel of Forever Oak Hill, 10301 Big Bend Rd., St. Louis, MO, on Saturday, October 29 at 11 AM. You can post a remembrance at www.post-gazette.com/gb.
Tony and Jim, the best of friends, passed away just two days apart and both were ISB "lifers." While they may not be attending future events in body, they will always be with us in spirit. They were mentors to aspiring professional musicians, yet both remained continuing students of music and life. We will miss them both, and send our deepest sympathies to their families, friends and colleagues. To make a donation to the ISB in their memory, click here. Well done, Tony and Jim! By now you've found each other and are playing duets in the great concert hall in the clouds.
Detroit-based jazz bassist Donald Mayberry died of a heart attack on April 11, 2011. He was 57 years old. He is remembered as a first-call "musician's musician," equally at home playing in a symphony, for a Broadway show or in the classroom, but his greatest love was jazz. His first professional job was at age 13 performing with the Dorothy Ashby trio. After graduation from Cass Tech, he was a member of the Tommy Saunder traditional band, and toured with drummer J.C. Heard's big band, David Bowie and jazz greats such as Clark Terry. A favorite of vocalists, he toured nationally with Lena Horne, Joe Williams, Diane Schuur, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Johnny Mathis and Michael Feinstein. He also performed with Dizzy Gillespie and Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. A respected classical bassist, he also played with the Detroit and Scandinavian Symphony Orchestras. For more information, contact his friends Barbara and Spencer Barefield at
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Eldon Obrecht, emeritus professor of music of the University of Iowa, died March 7, 2011 at the age of 90. He received a scholarship to the University of Iowa (then the State University of Iowa), where he studied composition for both undergraduate and master's degrees and met his wife Maxine. They had four musical daughters, ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. After a brief stint with the National Symphony Orchestra, he returned to the University of Iowa to join the faculty and pursue his doctoral degree in 1947. During his tenure, he taught double bass, music appreciation, music theory and composition. He also collaborated with Tom Turner to write a book on musical form and analysis. In 1953 he took over the music appreciation classes at the university, which were broadcast on WSUI radio until 1973. He also served as principal bass with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. He retired from the university in 1990. As Mario Chiarello noted in his own doctoral thesis: "As a composer he wrote three symphonies, a concerto, and many other works. As a teacher he launched many students into careers, not all of which ended in music, and taught many non-musicians through his music appreciation classes and their broadcasts. Whatever hat he was wearing, he was always known for his positive attitude." Memorial contributions may be made to the Eldon Obrecht Fund at the University of Iowa School of Music, which will be used to fund a scholarship in his name. Contributions may be sent to the University of Iowa Foundation, c/o Eldon Obrecht Fund, P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, IA 52244.
Philip H. Albright, ISB member and professor emeritus of double bass at Ball State University, died November 30, 2010. He was 83 years old. Phil graduated from the Eastman School of Music in 1949. He later earned a Master's degree from Washington University and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Eastman. From 1949 to 1958 he played in the National Symphony Orchestra and the St. Louis Symphony. In 1959 he joined the faculty of Ball State Teacher's College (later Ball State University) in Muncie, Indiana. For 41 years, he played with the Lake Placid Sinfonietta, a summer chamber orchestra in Lake Placid, NY. The Adirondack Mountains were his second home and after retiring from Ball State in 1992, he moved to Lake Placid where he was a well-loved member of the community. During more than 33 years of teaching "Doc Albright" or "Dr. Pha," as he was known by his students, influenced the careers of many musicians who now perform in symphony orchestras and teach at schools, colleges and universities across the country. Memorial donations can be made to the Philip Albright Chair for Double Bass, c/o The Lake Placid Sinfonietta, PO Box 1303, Lake Placid, NY 12946.
The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra announced in a joint statement with the Vienna State Opera on that double bassist Georg Straka died November 3rd in while hiking on Mount Fuji, Japan's highest mountain. He was 41 years old. There were no details provided about the circumstances; the Vienna Philharmonic was on tour in Japan at the time of his death. Georg Straka, who was from Moedling, Austria, joined the Vienna Philharmonic in 1999 and had been a member of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra since 1996.
George Vance passed away on August 16, 2009 after a brave battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 60 years old. George was internationally recognized as a pioneer of pedagogy for young bassists. The author of Progressive Repertoire for the Double Bass, a method for teaching the bass to young students, he was on the faculty of the University of Maryland, and lectured and gave clinics in Ireland, England, Finland, Sweden, Canada, Australia and throughout the United States, as well as holding his own popular annual workshop. A student of Tony Bianco and a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University, he was awarded the American String Teachers Association "Citation for Outstanding Leadership and Merit" in 1990. In 1995 the International Society of Bassists presented him with a Special Recognition Award for his groundbreaking work. He held a teaching certificate from the Institut International François Rabbath. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the George Vance Young Bassists Education Fund, established in George's honor and dedicated to offering educational opportunities for young bassists. Send donations payable to the International Society of Bassists and addressed to the George Vance Young Bassists Education Fund, International Society of Bassists, 14070 Proton Rd., Suite 100, LB 9, Dallas, Texas 75244. The ISB is a 501(C)(3) organization and all donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. The ISB extends its deepest sympathies to George's family and students. His extended family family includes the many bassists around the world who have been inspired and influenced by his life's mission of teaching. George will live on in the memories of the students and colleagues whose lives he changed for the better. He made a difference in his too-short life, and we will miss him with all our hearts.
Luthier Carleen Hutchins passed away on August 7, 2009 at the age of 98. A former high school science teacher, she became a violinmaker well known for her body of research into the acoustics of violins, and the creation of a family of eight proportionally-sized violins, The Violin Octet. From 2002 to 2003, Hutchins's octet was the subject of an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, "The New Violin Family: Augmenting the String Section." Her greatest innovation, still used by many violinmakers, was a technique known as free-plate tuning. When not attached to a violin, the top and back are called free plates. Her technique gives makers a precise way to refine these plates before a violin is assembled. Hutchins was founder of the New Violin Family Association, authored more than 100 technical publications, and edited two volumes of collected papers in violin acoustics. She was the recipient of four grants from the Martha Baird Rockefeller Fund for Music, two Guggenheim Fellowships, an Honorary Fellowship from the Acoustical Society of America, and four honorary doctorates. In 1963, Hutchins co-founded the Catgut Acoustical Society, which develops scientific insights into the construction of new and conventional instruments of the violin family.
The well known Uruguayan-Brazilian double bassist, Professor Milton Romay Masciadri, father of University of Georgia double bass professor Milton Masciadri, has passed away. The senior Masciadri was assistant principal bass of the OSSODRE Symphony in Uruguay and principal bass of the OSPA Porto Alegre Symphony Orchestra in Brazil for more than 30 years. He was a professor of the Music institute of the Symphony Orchestra as well as member of the UNISINOS Chamber Orchestra. He was a major force for the double bass in Brazil and will be deeply missed by friends, family and his many former students.
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