It's Your ISB!

As a member, please feel free to reach out directly to a Chair, Team, or Board Member about how you would like to get involved and share your vision, hopes, and perspective.

Read the latest from ISB President, Sandor Ostlund.

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Steve Bailey

Board Position: Electric Bass Co-Chair
University / Organization: Berklee College of Music
ISB member since 2012

Renata Soares Cáceres

Board Position: Education Chair
University / Organization: Illinois Wesleyan University
ISB member since 2014
What I Love About ISB: ISB brings together every type of bass player, from beginners to the most renowned professionals. We're all learning from each other, but at the same time, we see each other as peers. It inspires us to keep striving to be better at what we do, whether in teaching or performing, so that we can come back to each convention ready to participate more, contribute more, and give back to the next generations of bass players, over and over again.

Michael T. Geib

Board Position: Technology Chair
University / Organization: University of Central Oklahoma and Geib Musik
ISB member since 2010
What I Love About ISB: What I love most about the International Society of Bassists is the immediate sense of family. No matter where you are in the world or what style of music you play, the ISB connects us through a shared passion, creating a supportive global community where we constantly learn from and lift up one another.

Hollie Greenwood

Board Position: Diversity Chair
University / Organization: Freelance Bassist and String Educator
ISB member since 2018
What I Love About ISB: The ISB is composed of so many people with different backgrounds, experiences, and careers. Diversity is a very multifaceted term, and everyone's voice and story contributes to such a special environment.

Tommy Hawthorne

Board Position: Chair, Development Team
University / Organization: Education Manager for Tacoma Youth Symphony Association, Lecturer of Double Bass at Central Washington University
ISB member since 2022

Lindsay Lam

Board Position: Membership Chair
University / Organization: Eastern Mennonite University; Bridgewater College; Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra; Roanoque Baroque
ISB member since 2005
What I Love About ISB: I absolutely love the way that the ISB connects bass players — whether it's through the conventions, magazine, or online community, I am always discovering what we are up to! I see the latest compositions and publications, pedagogy advancements, luthiery and bow-making, gear! — what strings and rosin are hot right now, and most importantly, I see what other bass players are achieving! I have bass-friends all over the world, and it's all because of the ISB. I am passionate about bringing in as many new friends as possible!

Andres Martin

Board Position: International Chair
University / Organization: Independent
ISB member since 2011
What I Love About ISB: To me, the ISB is the place where people from all over the world who love the double bass can come together. I find it incredibly meaningful that we have a community that can connect so many people, so much passion, and so many different experiences, giving us the chance to learn from each other, collaborate, inspire one another, and share what we do.

I truly believe the ISB has touched thousands of lives and has played a unique role in the development of the double bass around the world. What makes it so powerful is that its impact goes far beyond what any one person could accomplish alone. It is the strength of an entire community moving the instrument forward together.

Gaelen McCormick

Board Position: Past-President
University / Organization: Eastman Performing Arts Medicine; Eastman Community Music School
ISB member since 2010
What I Love About ISB: I love that we can connect across styles, geographies, ages, and professional careers. Every convention has been a gigantic "homecoming" with old friends who are like family, and I enjoy the ease of making new friends during our double bass deep dive week. ISB allowed me to see myself in pros like Diana Gannett and Kristin Korb, and to get facetime with bass makers to ask the nerdiest of questions. Through ISB I have become a better teacher, player, and mentor.

Jay Meder

Board Position: Treasurer
University / Organization: Independent
ISB member since 2019
What I Love About ISB: Bass players are supportive musicians, and the ISB provides great support to bass players!

Kurt Melendy

Board Position: Governance Chair
University / Organization: University of Wyoming, Laramie; Sphere Ensemble; Colorado Bach Ensemble
ISB member since 2016
What I Love About ISB: Joining the International Society of Bassists has been one of the best decisions I've made in my musical career. The ISB has given me so many opportunities to grow as a bassist, musician, and educator, while also allowing me to meet and become friends with so many people from around the world. I'm grateful to be part of such a welcoming community of musicians who are willing to share their knowledge, support one another, and celebrate all things bass!

Sandor Ostlund

Board Position: President
University / Organization: Associate Professor of Double Bass, Baylor University
ISB member since 1988
What I Love About ISB: The ISB serves as a vehicle and catalyst through which the wonderful ideas and transformational growth of the double bass in the last 50 years have been disseminated and further developed. What a truly inspiring community to be a part of!

Wesley Thompson

Board Position: Secretary
University / Organization: Howard County Public Schools, Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras, Bass Works
ISB life member
What I Love About ISB: The ISB is a family that supports and creates opportunities for bass players of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. How lucky we are to have a community to celebrate our unique instrument and continue to push the boundaries of what it means to be a bassist!

Dennis Whittaker

Board Position: President-Elect, 2027 Convention Chair
University / Organization: Principal Double Bassist, Houston Grand Opera Orchestra; Retired, Orchestra Director, Clear Creek ISD
ISB member since 1986
What I Love About ISB: ISB embodies the approach of "It's OK to be smart and talented and still have fun". ISB has been my people, and also my source of learning, connection, innovation, inspiration, and excellence for as long as I can remember. My career (and countless others!) would not have happened without the joy and energy of Gary Karr — the leader of "paying it forward" — and the community of enthusiastic low-enders around the world.

Victor Wooten

Board Position: Electric Bass Co-Chair
University / Organization: Victor Wooten Center for Nature and Music, Berklee College of Music

Adjunct to the Board

General Manager: Madeleine Crouch


Bass World Editor: Grayson Broesch


Online Journal of Bass Research (OJBR) Editor: Sarah Lahasky


Social Media Manager: Kathryn Bradley


Careers Team Chair: Susan Hagen


Performance Competitions Chair: Mark Morton


Maker's Competition Chair: Dustin Williams


Young Bassists Convention Chair: Wesley Thompson


Composition Competition Chair: Szymon Marciniak


Research Competition Chair: Sarah Lahasky


Build-a-Bass Team Chair: Zoe McCadams


Historian: David Murray