Bruce Bransby
Encyclopedia
Bruce Bransby is an American
double-bassist and university
professor
.
. In 1971 he became principal bass of the Kansas City Philharmonic (now the Kansas City Symphony
) under the direction of Jorge Mester. In 1978 he was appointed principal bass of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
, sharing the position equally with Dennis Trembly. His time in Los Angeles coincided with the eras of Zubin Mehta
, Carlo Maria Giulini
, and Andre Previn
. Mr. Bransby has been active as a chamber music
ian, soloist
, and clinician. He premiered the "Fantasia Hungarica" for double bass and orchestra by Eugene Zador, the bass concerto by Frantizek Hertl, and numerous ensemble pieces. He is also the composer (as Roland E. Curb) of Prelude, Valse, and Tango for double bass and piano.
of Double Bass at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
, Bloomington
. He has also taught at California State University Northridge, the University of Missouri at Kansas City, the California Music Center, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute
, and has been a performing member of the faculty of the Aspen Music Festival since 1987. His students hold positions in many of the world's finest symphony orchestras.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
double-bassist and university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
.
Performance career
Bruce Bransby began his musical career as a trombonist and pianist, but discovered his calling as a double bassist while in college at California State University Northridge. He studied with Nat Gangursky, Peter Mercurio, and Stuart SankeyStuart Sankey
Stuart Sankey was one of foremost pedagogues of the double bass. His students included Gary Karr, the first bass player of the modern era to make a career as a solo artist, and Edgar Meyer. He taught for nearly 50 years at the Aspen Music School. He also held teaching positions at the University...
. In 1971 he became principal bass of the Kansas City Philharmonic (now the Kansas City Symphony
Kansas City Symphony
The Kansas City Symphony is a United States symphony orchestra based in Kansas City, Missouri. The current music director is conductor Michael Stern. The current home of the Symphony is the Lyric Theatre, located in Downtown Kansas City on 11th Street between Wyandotte and Central Streets...
) under the direction of Jorge Mester. In 1978 he was appointed principal bass of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
, sharing the position equally with Dennis Trembly. His time in Los Angeles coincided with the eras of Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta is an Indian conductor of western classical music. He is the Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.-Biography:...
, Carlo Maria Giulini
Carlo Maria Giulini
Carlo Maria Giulini was an Italian conductor.-Biography:Giulini was born in Barletta, Italy, to a father born in Lombardy and a mother born in Naples; but he was raised in Bolzano, which at the time of his birth was part of Austria...
, and Andre Previn
André Previn
André George Previn, KBE is an American pianist, conductor, and composer. He is considered one of the most versatile musicians in the world, and is the winner of four Academy Awards for his film work and ten Grammy Awards for his recordings. -Early Life:Previn was born in...
. Mr. Bransby has been active as a chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
ian, soloist
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
, and clinician. He premiered the "Fantasia Hungarica" for double bass and orchestra by Eugene Zador, the bass concerto by Frantizek Hertl, and numerous ensemble pieces. He is also the composer (as Roland E. Curb) of Prelude, Valse, and Tango for double bass and piano.
Teaching career
In 1986, Bruce Bransby was appointed ProfessorProfessor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Double Bass at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
Jacobs School of Music
The Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, is a music conservatory established in 1921. Until 2005, it was known as the Indiana University School of Music...
, Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
. He has also taught at California State University Northridge, the University of Missouri at Kansas City, the California Music Center, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute
Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute
The Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute was a summer training program held in Los Angeles, California for conservatory aged orchestral instrumentalists and conductors...
, and has been a performing member of the faculty of the Aspen Music Festival since 1987. His students hold positions in many of the world's finest symphony orchestras.