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.

Please login to see email addresses. Or contact the ISB Office if you need assistance.

Allegra Hale Nieto

Board Position: Chair, Development Team
University / Organization: Marketing Manager and Sales, GEWA Music
ISB member since 2007

Travis Harrison

Board Position: Chair, Technology Team
University / Organization: Professor of Double Bass at University of Ottawa (part-time); Freelance Orchestral and Chamber Musician
ISB member since 2017
What I Love About ISB: centralization of the passion that so many of us share around the world, and the idea that this one organization can lead to such a rich sharing of music, ideas, and beautiful performances. The openness and familial care of the ISB community helps to make up for the difficulties we all share as bass players, something that many other instrument communities sorely miss.

Mimi Jones

Board Position: Chair, Diversity
University / Organization: Independent
ISB member since 2014

Andrew Kohn

Board Position: Chair, Performance Competitions, Research Competition Chair
University / Organization: West Virginia University
ISB member since 1997

Gaelen McCormick

Board Position: President-Elect, 2023 Convention Chair
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!

Mitch Moehring

Board Position: Chair, Luthiers / Vendors
University / Organization: Independent
ISB member since 2015
What I Love About ISB: There is no group that compares for our community of bassists. The ISB is composed of performers, educators, students, parents, composers, enthusiasts and even the makers of the instrument itself. My life has personally been enhanced by being an ISB member. Being an ISB member brings a wealth of knowledge and a feeling of unity to our likeminded body. Even the ISB competitions are more of an enriching experience than a fierce battle of skillsets. I love the soul of ISB.

Sandor Ostlund

Board Position: Chair, Governance Team
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!

Tracy Rowell

Board Position: Chair, Education Team
University / Organization: Oberlin College & Conservatory
ISB member since 2012

John Schimek

Board Position: Past President
University / Organization: Professor of Double Bass, Wanda L. Bass School of Music, Oklahoma City University; Lead String Teaching Artist for El Sistema Oklahoma
ISB life member, member since 1974
What I Love About ISB: The ISB is probably the only organization that truly embraces the ideal of community. It is where amateur and professional, classical and jazz performer, teacher and student, composer, luthier, and businessmen from all parts of the world can come together and equally share and express ideas, concerns, successes and joy through the international language of double bass.

Hans Sturm

Board Position: President
University / Organization: Associate Professor of Double Bass & Jazz Studies, Glenn Korff School of Music, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
ISB life member, member since 1982
What I Love About ISB: ISB is Bass Love. It is the touchstone for the state-of-the-art of all things bass, from education for all ages to performance of every imaginable style to the greatest bass toy shop in the known universe. Yes, ISB is Bass Love.

Wesley Thompson

Board Position: Secretary, 2023 Young Bassists Program Chair
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!

Jessica Valls

Board Position: Chair, Membership Team
University / Organization: Southwestern University, Dripping Springs High School
ISB life member
What I Love About ISB: The camaraderie and sharing of all things bass, with the diverse bassists of all ages, levels and genres around the globe.

Patricia Weitzel

Board Position: Chair, Marketing Team
University / Organization: Lecturer of Double Bass, Columbus State University
ISB member since 2009

Adjunct to the Board

General Manager: Madeleine Crouch


Bass World Editor: Connie Martin


Composition Competition Chair: Jeremy Baguyos


Makers Competition Chair: Dustin Williams


Historian: David Murray


Convention Site Chair: Nicholas Walker