Double Bass Double Bass Audition Winners

[koricancowboy]

I'll say congratulations Alex Hanna. He's won a huge freaking position. Good work.

 

[404usernamenotfound]

-1998:
Cincinnati Symhpony: Boris Astafiev (Columbus Sym)
Oregon Symphony: Jason Schooler (Cincinnati Conservatory of Music)
Minnesota Orchestra: Matthew Frischman (Curtis)

-1999
Los Angeles Philharmonic: David Moore (Houston Sym, USC)
Louisville Orchestra: Kingsley Wood (Peabody Conservatory)
Houston Symphony: Ali Yazdanfar (Johns Hopkins, Rice)
New York Philharmonic: David Grossman (Juilliard)
Colorado Symphony: Jonathan Burnstein (Rice)
Charleston Symphony, Principal: Charles Barr (Curtis)
National Symphony: Ali Yazdanfar (Houston sym.)
New Mexico Symphony: Kathy Olszowka (Indiana University)
San Antonio Symphony: Zlatan Redzic (IU)

-2000
Kansas City Symphony, 1-year spot: Ju-Fang Liu (IU)
President's Own Marine Band: Eric Sabo (Arizona State)
Seattle Symphony: Jonathan Burnstein (Rice, Colorado Sym.)
Buffalo Philharmonic: Edmond Gnekow (IU)
Tulsa Phil, principal: Dan Johnson (Iowa?)
Dallas Symphony, principal: no winner
Columbus Symphony: Jena Huebner (Peabody)
Houston Symphony: Burke Shaw (Juilliard, Curtis)
Cleveland Orchestra: Charles Carleton (Juilliard, Curtis)
San Francisco Sym., principal: Ali Yazdanfar (trial, not retained)

-2001
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra: Kingsley Wood (Peabody, Louisville Orchestra)
Alabama Symphony: Long Luo (Juilliard)
Oregon Symphony: no winner (2 spots)
Florida Philharmonic, principal: Shigeru Ishikawa (member of section)
Louisville Orchestra: Karl Olsen (IU, U.Wisconsin)
Cleveland Orchestra: Eric Harris (principal St Louis) won, then left for San Francisco;
...the runnerup Charles Barr (Curtis), got the job.
Montreal Sym. principal: Ali Yazdanfar (now going back to National)

-2002
Charleston Symphony, principal: Scott Pingle (Manhattan)
National Symphony: cancelled; they welcome Ali Yazdanfar back
Baltimore Symphony: Mark Huang (Nashville Symphony)
Oregon Symphony: Paul DeNola (IU, USC)
San Francisco principal: Eric Harris (not retained)

-2003
Indianapolis Principal: Ju-Fang Liu (IU)
Boston Symphony: Ben Levy (Rice, New England Conservatory)
Calgary Philharmonic: Jeff White (IU)
Grant Park Orchestra: Andy Anderson (IU)
Nashville Symphony, principal: Joel Reist (member of section)
resulting section spot was offered to runner-up, Ryan Kamm (IU, Boston University)
Louisiana Philharmonic: Colin Corner (IU)
Naples Philharmonic: Matt Medlock (Boston, Rice)
New York Philharmonic: Satoshi Okamoto (San Antonio, Juilliard)
Louisville Orchestra, principal: postponed
San Francisco principal: no winner again
San Diego, Principal and Asst.Principal: Jeremy Kurtz, principal (Curtis, Rice, New World), Susan Wulff, Asst. (member of section, USC)

-2004:
San Fransisco, Principal, x4: Scott Pingel (Manhatten, New World, Charleston)
Chicago Lyric Opera: Andy Anderson (IU, Grant Park)
Vancouver Symphony, Associate: Colin Corner (IU, Louisiana Phil)
Detroit Symphony, Principal: no winner, again
San Antonio Symphony, Asst. Principal: Doug Balliet (Harvard)
Louisville Orchestra, Principal: Burt Witzel (Curtis Institute)
St Louis Symphony: (2 positions) audition delayed until May 2005
Winnipeg, Principal: Merideth "Bob" Johnson (New World)

-2005
Ottawa: National Arts Center, Principal: no winner
Milwaukee Symphony: Principal AND Ass't Principal: Zachary Cohen, assistant principal (Juilliard)
Detroit Symphony, Principal: no winner, again
St Louis, 2 positions: Sarah Hogan (IU, Rice, SLSO 1-yr sub) and David DeRiso (Rice)
Grand Rapids, Principal: Joe Conyers (Curtis)
Alabama: no winner
Metropolitan Opera Association: Dan Krekler (IU, Minn.U., MSM)
Seattle: Joe Kauffman (UNT)
National Symphony, 2 positions: Ira Gold (BU, Rice); other position remains open
Calgary Philharmonic: Tom McGary (IU)
Florida Orchestra: Aaron White (SMU, Duquesne)
Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Principal: Tom McGary (IU)
Ottawa N.A.C... Joel Quarrington appointed principal.
Detroit Principal x3: no winner

2006
Minnesota Orchestra: Ass't: Fora Baltacigil (Curtis), Section: Colin Corner (IU, New Orleans, Vancouver)
Kansas City Symphony: Jeff Kail (IU)
Milwaukee Symphony: Principal: Zachary Cohen appointed Principal, Andrew Raciti as Assistant Principal
Buffalo, Principal: no winner
National Symphony: Paul DeNola (IU, USC, Oregon Symphony)
Nashville Symphony: Kristen Bruya! (CCM, Rice)
Montreal: no winner
Toronto: Jeff Beecher (Silk Road Ensemble, Curtis)
San Diego: Travis Gore (CCM, Rice, New World), Samuel Hager (IU, USC, Oregon Symphony)

2007
New York: No winner
Cleveland: Scott Dixon (Oberlin, NWS, Rice)
Montreal: Peter Rosenfeld
Detroit Symphony Principal x4: No winner
Buffalo Principal: Daniel Pendley (CCM), Principal; (Brett Shurtliffe Asst. Principal)

2008
Kitchner-Waterloo Principal: Ian Whittman (McGill, Yale, NEC)
Seattle Ass't. Principal: Joe Kauffman (section member, UNT) resulting vacancy goes to Travis Gore (CCM, Rice, NWS)
Louisiana Phil: Tony Perry (UNT, Boston) 1-year to Ben Wheeler
Montreal: Ali Yazdanfar (aka "The Winner" 6x)
New York Phil: no winner
Detroit Principal x5: Alex Hanna (Curtis)
Rochester Phil, Principal: Colin Corner (aka "the Other Winner" x4)
Indianapolis: Brian Smith (Peabody)
Kansas City, Principal: Jeff Kail (section member), resulting vacancy goes to Ed Paulsen
Atlanta: Joe Conyers (Curtis, Principal Grand Rapids)
Minnesota: Kate Nettleman (principal WI Chamber Orch; days earlier won HongKong Princ.)
Pittsburgh: Aaron White, (Lou. Orch, Fla. Phil)
Boston: winner
San Antonio Symphony: Dave Milburn USC/IU

2009
Vancouver Symphony - Dylan Palmer, NWS/UNT
San Diego Symphony - Jory Herman, Rice/NWS
Jacksonville Symphony - Todd Lockwood, IU/UC Boulder
Alabama Symphony - Joe McFadden, IU/CalState Northridge
Chatanooga Symphony - Todd Lockwood, IU/UC Boulder
Grand Rapids Principal - Ted Merritt, Rice
Quebec Symphony - Jon Rouse, MSM

2010
Oregon Symphony - Assistant: Ted Botsford (Rice), Section: Brian Johnson (IU, Rice)
BBC Philharmonic - Max Zeugner, Juilliard/BU
Grand Rapids Principal - Blake Hinson, Curtis/NWS
Utah Symphony - Jens Tenbroek, IU/Colburn
Louisiana Symphony - Matt Abramo, NWS, SUNY Purchase, Eastman
Toronto Symphony - Kristin Bruya, Nashville Symphony
Philadelphia Orchestra - Joe Conyers, Curtis
Colorado Symphony - Nick Recuber, USC/NWS
Kansas City Symphony - Brian Johnson, IU/Rice
Nashville Symphony - Kevin Jablonski, Rice

2011
Alabama Symphony - (Principal) - Ted Merritt, Rice
Atlanta Symphony - Joseph McFadden, IU
Grand Rapids Symphony - Chris Hamlen, Peabody/NWS/Syracuse Symphony
Chicago Symphony (Principal) - no winner
Cleveland Orchestra - no winner
Kansas City Symphony - Todd Lockwood, IU/UC Boulder/Chattanooga
Kansas City Symphony - Richard Ryan, IU/ Louisville Orchestra
Winnipeg Symphony - Patrick Staples, Colburn/Rice
New Jersey Symphony - Joe Campagna, Curtis
Minnesota Orchestra - (Principal) - Alex Hanna, Curtis, Detroit (Principal)...position pending
Rochester Philharmonic - Gaelen McCormick (RPO/Eastman/Carnegie Mellon)
Louisiana Philharmonic - Paul Macres (Rice/Colburn)

2012
Cleveland Orchestra x2- Derek Zadinsky, Curtis (Sub. Seattle Symphony/Cleveland Orchestra)
Chicago Symphony Principal- Alex Hanna (Curtis, Detroit Principal, Minnesota Principal winner)

New York Phil- (the audition to end all auditions)

Principal- Fora Baltacigil (Curtis, Berlin Phil)
Associate- David Grossman (1 year trial?, section)
Section- Blake Hinson (Curtis, Grand Rapids Principal)
Max Zeugner (BU/Julliard/BBC)
Rex Surany (1 year/Curtis)

Chattanooga Symphony Principal- Taylor Brown (Peabody)

Colorado Symphony (1 year)- Mary Reed (Peabody/USC)

Boston Symphony- Thomas Van Dyck (Rice/BU, Sub. Boston, San Diego, San Francisco, Detroit)


(Peabody/USC)

L'Ensemble Intercontemporaine- Nicolas Crosse

 

[bcarter]

any boston news from the prelims?

 

[Dr_Atomic]

Nicky Schwartz (BU, Berlin Phil Academy) became a member of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra today!

 

[George Amorim]

Nicky Schwartz (BU, Berlin Phil Academy) became a member of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra today!

Congrats to Nick!!! Giant player he is!

 

[404usernamenotfound]

Congrats to Nick!!! Giant player he is!

I heard about this- congrats! From what I hear he's fantastic.

 

[ekspain]

who was the other winner?!

 

[braizahn]

So happy do Nicky. He is such a beast.

 

[chicagodoubler]

Congrats to Nick, but...

He won an RCO chair with German bow?

What's next, a French bow in Berlin?

 

[mattgray]

Let's clean this up a little bit:

-1998:
Cincinnati Symphony: Boris Astafiev (Columbus Sym)
Oregon Symphony: Jason Schooler (CCM)
Minnesota Orchestra: Matthew Frischman (Curtis)

-1999:
Los Angeles Philharmonic: David Moore (Houston Sym, USC)
Louisville Orchestra: Kingsley Wood (Peabody Conservatory)
Houston Symphony: Ali Yazdanfar (Johns Hopkins, Rice)
New York Philharmonic: David Grossman (Juilliard)
Colorado Symphony: Jonathan Burnstein (Rice)
Charleston Symphony, Principal: Charles Barr (Curtis)
National Symphony: Ali Yazdanfar (Houston Sym.)
New Mexico Symphony: Kathy Olszowka (IU)
San Antonio Symphony: Zlatan Redzic (IU)

-2000:
Kansas City Symphony, 1-year spot: Ju-Fang Liu (IU)
President's Own Marine Band: Eric Sabo (Arizona State)
Seattle Symphony: Jonathan Burnstein (Rice, Colorado Sym.)
Buffalo Philharmonic: Edmond Gnekow (IU)
Tulsa Phil, principal: Dan Johnson (Iowa?)
Dallas Symphony, Principal: no winner
Columbus Symphony: Jena Huebner (Peabody)
Houston Symphony: Burke Shaw (Juilliard, Curtis)
Cleveland Orchestra: Charles Carleton (Juilliard, Curtis)
San Francisco Sym., Principal: Ali Yazdanfar (trial, not retained)

-2001:
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra: Kingsley Wood (Peabody, Louisville Orchestra)
Alabama Symphony: Long Luo (Juilliard)
Oregon Symphony: no winner (2 spots)
Florida Philharmonic, Principal: Shigeru Ishikawa (member of section)
Louisville Orchestra: Karl Olsen (IU, U.Wisconsin)
Cleveland Orchestra: Eric Harris (principal St Louis) won, then left for San Francisco; the runnerup Charles Barr (Curtis), got the job.
Montreal Sym., Principal: Ali Yazdanfar (now going back to National)

-2002:
Charleston Symphony, Principal: Scott Pingle (Manhattan)
National Symphony: cancelled; they welcome Ali Yazdanfar back
Baltimore Symphony: Mark Huang (Nashville Symphony)
Oregon Symphony: Paul DeNola (IU, USC)
San Francisco, Principal: Eric Harris (not retained)

-2003:
Indianapolis, Principal: Ju-Fang Liu (IU)
Boston Symphony: Ben Levy (Rice, NEC)
Calgary Philharmonic: Jeff White (IU)
Grant Park Orchestra: Andy Anderson (IU)
Nashville Symphony, Principal: Joel Reist (member of section); resulting section spot was offered to runner-up, Ryan Kamm (IU, BU)
Louisiana Philharmonic: Colin Corner (IU)
Naples Philharmonic: Matt Medlock (Boston, Rice)
New York Philharmonic: Satoshi Okamoto (San Antonio, Juilliard)
Louisville Orchestra, Principal: postponed
San Francisco principal: no winner again
San Diego:

Principal: Jeremy Kurtz, (Curtis, Rice, New World)
Asst. Principal: Susan Wulff, (member of section, USC)​

-2004:
San Francisco, Principal, x4: Scott Pingel (Manhatten, New World, Charleston)
Chicago Lyric Opera: Andy Anderson (IU, Grant Park)
Vancouver Symphony, Associate: Colin Corner (IU, Louisiana Phil)
Detroit Symphony, Principal: no winner, again
San Antonio Symphony, Asst. Principal: Doug Balliet (Harvard)
Louisville Orchestra, Principal: Burt Witzel (Curtis)
St Louis Symphony: (2 positions) audition delayed until May 2005
Winnipeg, Principal: Merideth "Bob" Johnson (New World)

-2005:
Ottawa: National Arts Center, Principal: no winner
Milwaukee Symphony: Principal AND Asst. Principal: Zachary Cohen, assistant principal (Juilliard)
Detroit Symphony, Principal: no winner, again
St Louis, 2 positions:

Sarah Hogan (IU, Rice, SLSO 1-yr sub)
2nd spot: David DeRiso (Rice)​

Grand Rapids, Principal: Joe Conyers (Curtis)
Alabama: no winner
Metropolitan Opera Association: Dan Krekler (IU, Minn.U., MSM)
Seattle: Joe Kauffman (UNT)
National Symphony, 2 positions: Ira Gold (BU, Rice); other position remains open
Calgary Philharmonic: Tom McGary (IU)
Florida Orchestra: Aaron White (SMU, Duquesne)
Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Principal: Tom McGary (IU)
Ottawa N.A.C: Joel Quarrington appointed principal.
Detroit Principal x3: no winner

2006:
Minnesota Orchestra:

Asst. Principal: Fora Baltacigil (Curtis)
Section: Colin Corner (IU, New Orleans, Vancouver)​

Kansas City Symphony: Jeff Kail (IU)
Milwaukee Symphony: Principal: Zachary Cohen appointed Principal, Andrew Raciti as Assistant Principal
Buffalo, Principal: no winner
National Symphony: Paul DeNola (IU, USC, Oregon Symphony)
Nashville Symphony: Kristen Bruya! (CCM, Rice)
Montreal: no winner
Toronto: Jeff Beecher (Silk Road Ensemble, Curtis)
San Diego: Travis Gore (CCM, Rice, New World), Samuel Hager (IU, USC, Oregon Symphony)

2007:
New York: No winner
Cleveland: Scott Dixon (Oberlin, NWS, Rice)
Montreal: Peter Rosenfeld
Detroit Symphony Principal x4: No winner
Buffalo Principal: Daniel Pendley (CCM), Principal; (Brett Shurtliffe Asst. Principal)

2008:
Kitchner-Waterloo Principal: Ian Whittman (McGill, Yale, NEC)
Seattle Ass't. Principal: Joe Kauffman (section member, UNT) resulting vacancy goes to Travis Gore (CCM, Rice, NWS)
Louisiana Phil: Tony Perry (UNT, BU) 1-year to Ben Wheeler
Montreal, Principal: Ali Yazdanfar (aka "The Winner" 6x)
New York Phil: no winner
Detroit Principal x5: Alex Hanna (Curtis)
Rochester Phil, Principal: Colin Corner (aka "the Other Winner" x4)
Indianapolis: Brian Smith (Peabody)
Kansas City, Principal: Jeff Kail (section member), resulting vacancy goes to Ed Paulsen
Atlanta: Joe Conyers (Curtis, Principal Grand Rapids)
Minnesota: Kate Nettleman (principal WI Chamber Orch; days earlier won HongKong Princ.)
Pittsburgh: Aaron White, (Lou. Orch, Fla. Phil)
Boston: no winner
San Antonio Symphony: Dave Milburn USC/IU

-2009:
Vancouver Symphony: Dylan Palmer, (NWS/UNT)
San Diego Symphony: Jory Herman, (Rice/NWS)
Jacksonville Symphony: Todd Lockwood, (IU/UC Boulder)
Alabama Symphony: Joe McFadden, (IU/CalState Northridge)
Chatanooga Symphony: Todd Lockwood, (IU/UC Boulder)
Grand Rapids, Principal: Ted Merritt, (Rice)
Quebec Symphony: Jon Rouse, (MSM)

-2010:
Oregon Symphony:

Assistant: Ted Botsford (Rice)
Section: Brian Johnson (IU, Rice)​

BBC Philharmonic: Max Zeugner, (Juilliard/BU)
Grand Rapids, Principal: Blake Hinson, (Curtis/NWS)
Utah Symphony: Jens Tenbroek, (IU/Colburn)
Louisiana Symphony: Matt Abramo, (NWS, SUNY Purchase, Eastman)
Toronto Symphony: Kristin Bruya, (Nashville Sym)
Philadelphia Orchestra: Joe Conyers, (Curtis)
Colorado Symphony: Nick Recuber, (USC/NWS)
Kansas City Symphony: Brian Johnson, (IU/Rice)
Nashville Symphony: Kevin Jablonski, (Rice)

-2011:
Alabama Symphony, Principal: Ted Merritt, (Rice)
Atlanta Symphony: Joseph McFadden, (IU, Alabama Sym)
Grand Rapids Symphony: Chris Hamlen, (Peabody/NWS/Syracuse Sym)
Chicago Symphony, Principal: no winner
Cleveland Orchestra: no winner
Kansas City Symphony: Todd Lockwood, (IU/UC Boulder/Chattanooga)
Kansas City Symphony: Richard Ryan, (IU/ Louisville Orchestra)
Winnipeg Symphony: Patrick Staples, (Colburn/Rice)
New Jersey Symphony: Joe Campagna, Curtis
Minnesota Orchestra, Principal: Alex Hanna, (Curtis, Detroit Sym)
Rochester Philharmonic: Gaelen McCormick (RPO/Eastman/Carnegie Mellon)
Louisiana Philharmonic: Paul Macres (Rice/Colburn)

-2012:
Cleveland Orchestra x2: Derek Zadinsky, Curtis (Sub. Seattle Symphony/Cleveland Orchestra)
Chicago Symphony, Principal: Alex Hanna (Curtis, Detroit Principal, Minnesota Principal winner)
New York - 4 positions

Principal: Fora Baltacigil (Curtis, Berlin Phil)
Associate: David Grossman (1 year trial?, section)
Section: Blake Hinson (Curtis, Grand Rapids Principal)
Section 2: Max Zeugner (BU/Julliard/BBC)
1 Year contract: Rex Surany (Curtis)​

L'Ensemble Intercontemporaine: Nicolas Crosse
Chattanooga Symphony, Principal: Taylor Brown (Peabody)
Colorado Symphony, 1 year: Mary Reed (Peabody/USC)
Boston Symphony: Thomas Van Dyck (Rice/BU, Sub. Boston, San Diego, San Francisco, Detroit)
Concertgebouw: Nicky Schwartz (BU/Berliner Akademie)

Also for future reference, should we keep the list strictly to School/Job affiliation? I feel as though adding who they subbed for will really bog up the list, but that's just me.

I know there are some things that I missed. I blame two years of library work for making me OCD.

 

[404usernamenotfound]

I only put the sub info because a friend passed it along and it was pertinent (he subbed with the BSO for five years prior to winning the job). Not applicable to everyone, obviously, but in some instances I feel it's pertinent.

 

[ThumpPlunkJunk]

Can we conclude from this list that Curtis, IU and Rice have the highest job placement numbers?

 

[ekspain]

Hey guys, I notice there is a predominance of American orchestras. There are a surprising number of recent, relatively recent, and not so recently graduated Americans from those schools mentioned above, that work in orchestras through-out Europe.
Given that there's a crisis, lots of US bassists are flying over the pond to audition
for all sorts of orchestras. Should we not mention these people?
note, that I say predominance of American orchestras.
Just a thought!

 

[MartinBorgen]

Hey guys, I notice there is a predominance of American orchestras. There are a surprising number of recent, relatively recent, and not so recently graduated Americans from those schools mentioned above, that work in orchestras through-out Europe.
Given that there's a crisis, lots of US bassists are flying over the pond to audition
for all sorts of orchestras. Should we not mention these people?
note, that I say predominance of American orchestras.
Just a thought!

It's a predominance of american bass players on these boards as well, I think.

 

[ekspain]

It's a predominance of american bass players on these boards as well, I think.

fair enough...

 

[pedro]

I'm not a classical bassist or even a double bassist but subscribed to this thread years ago when my son was in the process of deciding where to go to music school so take this with a healthy grain of salt. Personally I'd like to see a more global approach if it could be accommodated without putting somebody out too much.

My $.02.

 

[404usernamenotfound]

Hey guys, I notice there is a predominance of American orchestras. There are a surprising number of recent, relatively recent, and not so recently graduated Americans from those schools mentioned above, that work in orchestras through-out Europe.
Given that there's a crisis, lots of US bassists are flying over the pond to audition
for all sorts of orchestras. Should we not mention these people?
note, that I say predominance of American orchestras.
Just a thought!

I've only posted info I've gathered from colleagues, and since all of them are students at American music schools, that's all I can really say about. This thread has been kept for years by almost solely American bassists, to my knowledge... And it is sort of mentioning some of them, aka Nicky Schwartz.

 

[ekspain]

Hi! Know tons of folks from American Schools, who are American currently working in
orchestras in Denmark, Sweden, France, Norway, Spain. It would be interesting to compile a list of the bassists that have gone from American schools within, maybe, the last 7-10 years, to orchestras world-wide. But, sounds like a lot of work. Who's up to it?

Another idea, Martin, is to come up with its European counterpart.

 

[mattgray]

I think that the lack of European orchestra inclusion stems from the majority of people who update this list: they're mostly North American. Since a lot of us don't hear about European audition winners, we don't put them up... 'cause we don't know about them and who won. If you want to put up some European winners in there, go ahead! That would actually add another perspective list that I think would make it a more complete list.

 

[ekspain]

I think its a project worth undertaking, and would be glad to help, or collaborate. If people show more interest. We could make a list of all recent graduates ( 1- say 10 years) who won ft jobs in orchestras in Europe, and perhaps Asia.