In the realm of double bass performance, the United States boasts several esteemed schools that stand out for their exceptional programs.
Graduates of these programs often find themselves in careers from orchestral positions to chamber music ensembles and teaching roles.
The hallmarks of a double bass college major include world-class faculty, a comprehensive musical curriculum, and a robust performance schedule.
We’ll talk about many of the best double bass programs in the country where you can study with not only some of the best teachers, but also be surrounded by high level musical talent to collaborate with.
Here are our picks for 10 of the best double bass performance schools in the US.
Keep in mind this list is a starting point, and while these are some of the very best schools and teachers in the country, there are others not included on this particular list that some professional classical bassists may consider equally excellent.
Rice University Shepherd School of Music (Houston, TX)
String students at the Shepherd School of Music receive regular lessons from their dedicated studio professors and actively engage in orchestral and chamber music ensembles.
Two Rice faculty members – Timothy Pitts and Paul Ellison – “shepherd” double bass student musicians into their future professions.
Pitts, who has graced the stages of concert halls worldwide, served as principal double bass of the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra under the leadership of John Williams.
Paul Ellison, who has played principal roles in the Houston Symphony, Grand Teton Music Festival, and Santa Fe Opera, is a strong advocate for his students, who go on to hold roles in major orchestras around the world.
Rice is one of the most successful schools for catapulting students into careers in major orchestras, and was recently ranked as the #2 school for most major auditions won for professional bass players.
Boston University School of Music (Boston, MA)
Attending school in the great city of Boston comes with perks that many other double bass programs may not have.
For one, many BU faculty members currently play with the Boston Symphony Orchestra – BU double bass majors will work with some of the nation’s best orchestral players on a daily basis.
Second, attending some concerts at the Boston Symphony Orchestra is free for BU students.
Notable alumni have taken double bass positions in the Welsh National Opera, Kansas City Symphony, and Dallas Symphony, among others.
One of the most successful Boston University double bass alumni – Ira Gold – is a valued Peabody Conservatory faculty member.
Edwin Barker, one of America’s most talented double bass players, is on the faculty and the principal double bassist with the Boston Symphony. Other faculty members in the double bass program who are also in the BSO include Thomas Van Dyck, Benjamin Levy, and Todd Seeber.
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (Bloomington, IN)
Assigned to a specific faculty member’s studio, double bass players enjoy weekly individual lessons and diverse perspectives from ensemble work and class activities.
Participating in at least one ensemble each semester (from numerous bands and orchestras) broadens student’s repertoire.
The string department additionally hosts annual solo competitions across violin, viola, cello, and double bass, offering winners the chance to perform with the IU Jacobs School of Music orchestras.
The Jacobs School of Music students are privileged to work alongside double bass professor Kurt Muroki. Muroki entered Juilliard at age 17 and has played on Oscar Award-winning films such as The Departed, Julie and Julia, and The Manchurian Candidate.
According to Double Bass HQ, Indiana is the most successful double bass program since 1998 in terms of students who have won major auditions.
University of North Texas College of Music (Denton, TX)
Double bass players who attended the University of North Texas have achieved top accolades as professional musicians. Alumni have won three Grammy Awards, one Oscar Award, and first place at the International Society of Bassists Solo Competition.
UNT double bass graduates hold principal roles in groups like the New World Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam.
With an extensive teaching career, Jeff Bradetich directs the UNT double bass program. Since his 1982 Carnegie Recital Hall debut, he has given hundreds of concerts on five continents, winning major solo competitions and recording six albums.
As the founder of the Bradetich Foundation, he promotes the double bass’s advancement globally. Author of Double Bass: The Ultimate Challenge, Bradetich is celebrated for his impact on bass pedagogy and performance.
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Cincinnati, OH)
At CCM, the study of double bass is performance-centric, anchored by private lessons with faculty mentors guiding individual musical, performing, and personal growth.
The Diversity Fellowship, supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, offers an esteemed two-year program for outstanding string players, enhancing diversity.
CCM’s competitive yet supportive environment facilitates experiential learning, connecting students with internships and performances alongside major organizations like the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
The vibrant arts scene in Cincinnati, home to the renovated Music Hall, further enriches students’ opportunities.
Rachel Calin, a Juilliard graduate who trained with notable mentors like Eugene Levinson, is a valuable member of the CCM double bass faculty. One of her former students – Alex Belcher – is a member of the St. Louis Symphony.
Curtis Institute of Music (Philadelphia, PA)
Esteemed double bass players like Harold Hall Robinson and Edgar Meyer serve as exemplary professors and mentors for students working toward building a career as a professional musician.
Robinson was the principal bassist of the Philadelphia Orchestra for over 25 years, serving from 1995 until his retirement in 2022. Previous to this position, he was principal bass of the National Symphony for 10 years.
Meyer is one of the world’s most successful double bass soloists, who is well known for his crossover in both classical styles as well as contemporary bluegrass music.
The studio at Curtis for double bass is incredibly small, with just enough bass players to fill a single orchestra. Tuition is free for all accepted students.
USC Thornton School of Music (Los Angeles, CA)
The USC Thornton Strings Department, with a legacy featuring luminaries like Jascha Heifetz and Gregor Piatigorsky, boasts artist-teachers renowned for individual instruction and chamber music coaching.
Students engage in professional-level groups such as the USC Thornton Symphony and Chamber Orchestra.
The Classical ReDesign degree, not offered at any other schools on this list, offers flexibility for highly creative and dedicated double bass players, reflecting a forward-thinking approach to 21st-century music education.
The bass faculty member at USC is David Allen Moore.
Moore studied under Paul Ellison and graduated Summa Cum Laude from USC Thornton. His philosophy is to teach double bass players to “learn how to learn.” Former students include Kevin Gobetz, Principal Bassist of the Phoenix Symphony, and Rex Surany, a faculty member at Juilliard and Principal Bassist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.
Colburn School (Los Angeles, CA)
The Colburn Conservatory offers a traditional four-year Bachelor’s of Music degree, which encompasses high level orchestral training, lessons with faculty member Peter Lloyd, and an excellent overall music training.
Another degree, the Performance Diploma (PD), suits those with professional commitments in place, offering flexibility and limited academic requirements.
Both programs include solo recitals that take place in venues like the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
The conservatory emphasizes practical experience, with orchestra, chamber music, forums, private lessons, ensembles, master classes, and the unique Colburn Artists program facilitating students’ transition to professional careers.
Peter Lloyd, a Curtis Institute of Music graduate, enjoyed an eight-season tenure with The Philadelphia Orchestra before becoming Principal Bass of the Minnesota Orchestra from 1986 to 2007.
Like the Curtis Institute of Music, all accepted students pay no tuition to attend Colburn.
Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)
Team teaching – a cornerstone of the Peabody double bass program – ensures that all students in the program take lessons with multiple teachers.
This is very different from most schools for double bass, where students typically study with one major professor all four years of their undergraduate degree.
Orchestral repertoire classes (known as “rep classes”) offer faculty insights and create a supportive environment for peer learning.
One of the required classes for all double bass players, it is taught by a roster of rotating double bass faculty who support students in playing for peer feedback each week. Rep classes are two-year cycles culminating with a graded, feedback-centric “mock audition.”
Since joining the Peabody double bass faculty in 2009, Ira Gold has been a dedicated advocate for his student musicians.
He spends his summers teaching at institutions such as Boston University Tanglewood Institute and performing around the world, and his versatile career also includes past faculty roles and a notable Carnegie Hall performance. His former students include Kathryn Bradley, a member of the San Diego Symphony.
Juilliard School (New York, NY)
Juilliard’s String Department, comprising a third of the Music Division, is led by a distinguished faculty, many of whom play in the renowned Juilliard String Quartet. The school maintains over 200 historic string instruments available for student use in performances or competitions.
Honors Chamber Music provides an intensive year-long program for selected groups, offering public performances and potential placement in prestigious master classes.
Following the departure of long-time Juilliard faculty member Eugene Levinson, double bass musician educators like Timothy Cobb and Joseph Conyers have taken on the responsibility of stewarding students to their dream careers.
Cobb – Principal Bass of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra – has played with many Grammy-nominated and -awarded artists and serves as Chair of the Double Bass Department.
Joseph Conyers, recently named a principal bassist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, strongly advocates for double bass education and serves as Music Director of the Philadelphia All-City Orchestra for high school student musicians.
