International Society of Bassists

The International Society of Bassists Double Bass Performance Competition

The ISB hosts the biennial Performance Competition that has become a big part of each convention, recognizing future artists that go on to become Grammy Award winners, top tier orchestral players, and university professors. 

DIVISIONS

• 2025 Solo Division - Thierry Barbé, Chair
• 2025 Jazz Division - Marlene Rosenberg, Chair
• 2025 Orchestra Division - Scott Haigh, Chair
• 2025 Youth Solo Division - Christine Hoock, Chair
• 2025 Youth Jazz Division - Mike Forfia, Chair
• 2025 Youth Orchestra Division - Shawn Casey, Chair
• 2025 14 and Under Division - Tracy Rowell, Chair
• 2025 10 and Under Division - Tracy Rowell, Chair

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The International Society of Bassists David Walter Composition Competition

The 2024 ISB David Walter Composition Competition is dedicated to the memory of Robert Black.

Chair: Syzmon Marciniak

The ISB sponsors the biennial David Walters/ISB Composition Competition, with grand prizes in four divisions: unaccompanied solo, chamber, bass ensemble and bass with media. Winning compositions often receive their world premieres at the ISB convention with the grand prize winners in each division receiving $1000.

DIVISIONS

• UNACCOMPANIED SOLO DOUBLE BASS DIVISION
• CHAMBER DIVISION: For one double bass in an ensemble from two to five players. Entries may consist of a prominent bass part plus additional players drawn from the following: piccolo, flute, alto flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, French horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium/tuba, percussion (1 player), harp, guitar, piano/other keyboard instrument, violin, viola, cello and/or voice. Normal woodwind doubles are acceptable: flute/piccolo/alto flute, oboe/English horn, clarinet/bass clarinet.
• BASS ENSEMBLE DIVISION: A new work for two to eight double basses 
• DOUBLE BASS AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA DIVISION: Includes video, live electronics, backing tracks, computers, etc.

GRAND PRIZE: $1,000 U.S. for each division, made possible by the generous support of The Robert Black Foundation, and performances at the 2025 ISB Convention.
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The 2024 International Society of Bassists Research Competition

Chair: Andrew Kohn

The International Society of Bassists is calling for previously unpublished papers reflecting a high quality of scholarship in a wide variety of disciplines relevant to the double bass. Topics may be presented from any number of different perspectives or disciplines, such as historical musicology, classical or jazz performance practice, pedagogy, lutherie, iconography, biography and/or analysis, and may deal with subjects stemming from any period in the instrument's history up to the present.

Deadline: Submitted by October 31, 2024

There will be a professional category and a student category. Authors submitting papers in the professional category are scholars or practitioners, or both, who are finished with their formal institutional studies and have embarked on a professional career. Authors submitting papers in the student category must be enrolled in an academic program on the graduate student level and actively pursuing completion of a post-undergraduate degree as their primary focus.