2023 ISB Double Bass Competition

The International Society of Bassists' biennial double bass competition was held June 5-6, 2023. Andrew Kohn, professor of double bass and music theory at West Virginia University, served as chair of this year's competition. The six divisions were Solo, Jazz and Orchestra, with competitors from age 19 to 30, and three divisions for younger bassists: Youth Solo (age 15 to 18); Youth Jazz (age 15-18); and Age 14 and Under. The competitions were open to the public.

The International Society of Bassists gratefully thanks the administration of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance for hosting its biennial competition.

Solo Division

2023 ISB solo competition winners (L to R) Jacob Warren, Alexander Heather, Nathan Perry and Will Duerden. Photo by Jeff Dunn

JUDGES: Diana Gannett, Division Chair, USA; Nina Bernat, USA; Nina DeCesare, USA; Anna Jensen, USA; Sam Suggs, USA; and Yung-chiao Wei, Taiwan/USA.

The Gary Karr Prize of $5,000, given by Peter & Chris Gallagher, was won by Jacob Warren of South Lyon, Michigan. The prize also includes an expenses-paid recital at the 2025 ISB convention.

Jacob Warren earned his bachelor's degree in music performance from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, where he studied with Diana Gannett. He also holds both a Master of Music in Improvisation and a Master of Music in Chamber Music from the University of Michigan. Jacob won third prize in the International Society of Bassists solo competition in both 2019 and 2021. His background and interests lie in a wide ranging variety of acoustic styles, including classical, jazz, bluegrass and Swedish fiddle.

Second prize of $1,000, given by the ISB, was won by Will Duerden of London, England, who is pursuing a freelance career after graduating from the Yehudi Menuhin School, where he studied with Caroline Emery. Will also won the $500 prize for Best Performance of the required piece, "Basso" by Errollyn Wallen, given by Madeleine Crouch & Co., Inc.

To purchase a copy of the 2023 required piece, "Basso" by Errollyn Wallen, .

Co-third prize winners of $750 were Alexander Heather of Wells, England and Nathan Perry of Sunbury-on-Thames, England. Alexander and Nathan are both students of Caroline Emery at the Royal College of Music in London.

2023 ISB jazz competition winners (L to R) chair Mimi Jones, Jared Beckstead-Craan, Tyrone Allen and Ben Feldman. Photo by Jeff Dunn

Jazz Division

JUDGES: Mimi Jones, Division Chair, USA; Carlo Derosa, USA; Michael O'Brien, USA; and Rodney Whitaker, USA.

The Scott LaFaro Prize of $5,000, given by the family of Scott LaFaro, was won by Jared Beckstead-Craan. The prize also includes an expenses-paid concert at the 2025 ISB convention and a Realist pickup given by Finlay & Gage Musical Instruments.

Bassist, composer and educator Jared Beckstead-Craan was born in Vancouver, Canada and raised in Antananarivo, Madagascar and Beijing, China. Now based in New York City, Jared holds a Bachelor's of Jazz Studies from the University of Manitoba and a Master's of Jazz Studies from Michigan State University where they studied with Rodney Whitaker. Jared has also studied privately with David Wong and Doug Weiss.

Second prize of $1,000, given by the ISB, was won by bassist, producer and educator Tyrone Allen. Tyrone earned his bachelor's degree from the Eastman School of Music and his master's degree from the Berklee College of Music. He lives in New York City.

Third prize of $750, given by the ISB, was won by Ben Feldman, raised in Seattle and a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music. Ben is now based in New York City.

Guillermo Lopez of El Paso, Texas, earned an Honorable Mention.

2023 ISB orchestra competition winners (L to R) Davis Pierson, Orion Miller, Tim Rinehart and Finnegan Powers (not pictured, Bowen Ha). Photo by Jeff Dunn

Orchestra Division

JUDGES: Ju-Fang Liu, Division Chair, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra; Kevin Brown, Detroit Symphony; Scott Dixon, Cleveland Orchestra; Scott Haigh, Cleveland Orchestra; Rob Kassinger, Chicago Symphony Orchestra; and Steve Molina; Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

First prize was won by Davis Pierson of Plano, Texas. Davis will receive an expenses-paid week with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Davis Pierson is a double bass performance major at Baylor University, where he studies with Sandor Ostlund. While in high school Davis participated in the Tanglewood Institute. In 2021 He earned an honorary mention in the 2021 ISB orchestra competition. He frequently performs with the Waco Symphony, is a section member of the Temple (TX) Symphony and is a substitute for the Houston Grand Opera. He was an invited fellow of the Verbier Festival Orchestra in Verbier, Switzerland.

The Scott Haigh Prize of $1,000, given by the Unified Retirement Planning Group, was won by Orion Miller of New York City, currently earning his bachelor's degree at Rice University where he studies with Tim Pitts.

Third prize of $750, given by the Cincinnati Bass Cellar, was won by Tim Rinehart of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, currently earning his bachelor's degree at Rice University where he studies with Paul Ellison.

First Honorable Mention went to Finnegan Powers of McKinney, Texas and second Honorable Mention went to Bowen Ha of New York City.

2023 Youth Solo competition winners (L to R) Zichen Zhang, Levi Andreassen and Maggie Carter. Photo by Jeff Dunn

Youth Solo (Age 15-18) Division

JUDGES: Joel Braun, Division Chair, USA; Valentina Ciardelli, Italy; Jonathan Colbert, USA; Rodrigo Mata Alvarez, Mexico; Mariechen Meyer, South Africa; and Ron Wasserman, USA.

The Joel Quarrington Prize, given by Joel Quarrington, was shared by Levi Andreassen of Springfield, Missouri and Zichen Zhang of Shanghai, China. Levi is a student of Caroline Emery at the Yehudi Menuhin School. Zichen Zhang is a student of Luo Bing at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

Third prize of $500, given by Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Mapp, was won by Maggie Carter of Portland, Oregon. Maggie has been accepted to study at the Curtis Institute of Music.

2023 Youth Solo competition winners (L to R) Logan Zaud, Laesio Littlejohn and John Wood (not pictured, Ruby Farmer). Photo by Jeff Dunn

Youth Jazz (Age 15-18) Division

JUDGES: Adam Booker & Miles Brown, Division Chairs, USA; and Mike Forfia, USA.

First prize of $2,500, given by Mike Hennessy, was won by Logan Zaud of Los Angeles, California. The prize also includes a Realist pickup given by Finlay & Gage Musical Instruments. Logan is a student at the Interlochen Arts Academy, where he studies with Josh Lawrence and Derek Weller.

Second prize of $1,000, given by the ISB, was won by Laesio Littlejohn of Dallas, Texas. Laesio is a student at the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He studies privately with Pepe Gonzalez.

Third prize of $500, given by the ISB, was won by Ruby Farmer of Brooklyn, New York. She attends La Guardia High School and studies privately with Mary Ann McSweeney and Or Barket.

Honorable Mention went to John Wood of Washington, D.C.

2023 Age 14 and Under competition winners (L to R) Yiwei Guo, Xiye Chen and Shang Shi. Photo by Jeff Dunn

Age 14 and Under Division

JUDGES: Caroline Emery, Division Chair, Szymon Marciniak, Jackie Pickett, Tracy Rowell and Margaret Urquhart.

First prize of $1,000, given by the ISB, was won by Yiwei Guo of Changshu, China. She has been playing double bass for only two years, studying with Luo Bing at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music affiliated middle school. She won second prize in the first International String Competition (virtual) in 2022.

Second prize of $500, given by David Murray, was won by Xiye Chen of Shanghai, China. He has been playing double bass for three years, studying with Luo Bing at the Shanghai Conservatory of of Music affiliated middle school.

Third prize of $250, given by John & Penny Schimek, was won by Shang Shi of Changzhou City, China. She has been playing double bass for four years, studying with Luo Bing at the Shanghai Conservatory of of Music affiliated middle school.

Leatherwood Bespoke Rosin has donated rosin to each prizewinner in the 2023 ISB Double Bass Competition.