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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Joel Braun

Board Position: Education Chair
University / Organization: The University of Texas at Austin
ISB member since 1999
What I Love About ISB: The fact that bassists working in all types of genres and coming from different schoolings and traditions can all come together to learn from each other and support each other is something really special.

Hollie Greenwood

Board Position: Chair, Diversity
University / Organization: Independent
ISB member since 2018

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

Gaelen McCormick

Board Position: Immediate Past President
University / Organization: Eastman Performing Arts Medicine; Eastman Community Music School
ISB member since 1999
What I Love About ISB: I love that our bass family has all kinds of interests that we mutually encourage and support: brand new ideas in composing, fiercely focused discussions on the details of orchestral playing, raising the next generation of players with new pedagogical ideas and materials that are being written by our own members, showcasing the wide spectrum of styles that our instrument plays in. I've really never been a part of another group that is so broad in mission yet so committed to helping one another in practical ways.

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
ISB member since 2016

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

Adjunct to the Board

General Manager: Madeleine Crouch


Bass World Editor: Connie Martin


Social Media Manager: Kathryn Bradley


Performance Competition Chair: Mark Morton


Maker's Competition Chair: Dustin Williams


Composition Competition Chair: Szymon Marciniak


Research Competition Chair: Sarah Lahasky


Historian: David Murray