The International Society of Bassists (ISB) will hold their annual convention June 8-12 online to keep its presenters, attendees and guests safe in the Covid-19 pandemic. The Hixson-Lied Endowment and Glenn Korff School of Music are the lead sponsors for the event, which was originally scheduled to be in person in Lincoln.
“The entire ISB community is very excited that UNL has stepped up to be the lead sponsor for the ISB 2021 Virtual Biennial Convention,” said Hixson-Lied Professor of Double Bass and Jazz Studies Hans Sturm, who serves as president of ISB. “We are, of course, disappointed that we were unable to hold the convention at UNL. The City Campus is ideally located for a convention. Thanks to the support of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts and the Glenn Korff School of Music, the ISB was able to afford to work with an excellent virtual platform to create an exceptional online experience.”
Sturm said the convention is really three conventions in one featuring:
1) An on-demand video library of all 160 presentations and recitals, which will remain accessible for a month following the convention
2) Live Zoom Q&A sessions with every presenter, recitalist and panel; live masterclasses; live Zoom Watch Parties for the headliner performers; morning “Bass & Body” sessions; and evening virtual Bass Hangs.
3) A separate live Zoom schedule for the Young Bassists (ages 18 and under), which includes masterclasses, chamber music and the Young Bassists Orchestra
The keynote address will be made by Joseph Conyers, Assistant Principal Bassist of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Director of Project 440 (http://www.project440.org). Through its nationally recognized curricula, Project 440 uses music as a tool to engage, educate and inspire young musicians.
Other headliners include Renaud Garcia Fons, a Mediterranean virtuoso from France combining influences from the Middle East; Linda Oh, a jazz artist from Korea, who has been the Jazz Journalists Bassist of the Year annually since 2018; Gary Karr, founder of the ISB in 1967 and esteemed bass virtuoso from Canada; Xavier Foley, winner of the 2011 ISB Solo Competition, 2016 Young Concert Artist Competition and 2018 Avery Fisher Career Grant; Nilson Matta, a Brazilian jazz virtuoso; Phoebe Russell, Principal Bassist of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in Australia; Rufus Reid, a jazz bass legend; Bozo Paradik, a renowned virtuoso and Professor in Lucerne, Switzerland; Ben Williams, winner of the ISB Jazz and Thelonius Monk Competitions; Roman Patkolo, Principal Bassist of the Zurich Opera, a Professor in Basel, Switzerland; and Jorge Roeder of Peru, winner of the ISB Jazz and runner-up in Thelonius Monk Competitions.
Sturm said the Young Bassists Orchestra Concert is also not to be missed.
“Bassists as young as 5 will perform,” he said.
In addition, the Project 80/90 Party will celebrate the birthdays of François Rabbath (90), Gary Karr (80) and Frank Proto (80), all of whom helped raise more than $100,000 for bassists-in-need in the form of $500 grants.
Normally, in-person registration for an ISB conference is $250, in addition to a one-year $85 membership. This year for its virtual convention, ISB is offering a $25 e-membership (which includes three issues of Bass World Journal) and a registration fee of $125.
“So $150 will give you over 160 hours of video-on-demand, over 100 hours of live Zoom interactions, access to the vendor and bass maker exhibitors, plus the ability to create one-on-one meetings with attendees,” Sturm said.
Sturm said the convention is an exceptional way to showcase bassists.
“With very, very few exceptions, bassists spend some 99% of their time supporting other musicians—we are always at the back of the stage, whether the concert is a formal orchestra concert or a jazz club. (But you’ll certainly miss us if we’re not there!),” he said. “Needless to say, bassists are very supportive and gregarious by nature. The ISB Convention is the largest gathering of its kind in the world and the one chance to experience exceptional bassists from across the globe showcasing their abilities. It is a marvelous environment — warm, engaging, informative and inspirational. Please join us!”
For more information on the ISB Convention or to register, visit https://go.unl.edu/isbconvention.