ISB 2023 Convention Presenter — Dennis Whittaker

Dennis Whittaker wears many hats as a professional bassist and educator. He is the Principal Bassist for the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, Orchestra Director at Westbrook Intermediate School in Clear Creek ISD, a past bass professor at the University of Houston, and is an internationally known consultant, educator and performer. He’s a substitute for the Houston Symphony and Ballet. He’s appeared on twelve world premiere recordings with the Houston Grand Opera, various recordings with the Houston Symphony and local artists, and as principal Bass with the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy. He is the creator of the successful Double Bass exercise book series and YouTube channel “Incredibly Useful Exercises for Double Bass”.

He was the winner of the Gary Karr Foundation National Double Bass competition in 1987. He has performed in Japan, China, Italy, Amsterdam, Germany, Switzerland, Mexico, and throughout the US.

He earned his Bachelor’s in Music Education from Baylor, and his Masters in Music from Northwestern. His teachers include Paul Ellison, Eugene Levinson, Jeff Bradetich, Mark Whitney and Michael Cameron. His students are proud teachers across the US, and play in orchestras in Los Angeles, Washington DC, Atlanta, Colorado, San Antonio, Kansas City, and others.