Bass WorkshopApril 22, 2023 at 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Gustavus Fine Arts Office presents a full day of workshops for bass ensembles, soloists, and orchestral players, including a final performance of A Murmur in the Trees for 24 basses. High school and college students are encouraged to apply. Bassists of all ages welcome to participate. There is no application fee and RSVP is required by March 31.

Schedule for the day (subject to changes)

8:30 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. Welcome Session
9:30 a.m.Orhan Masterclass
10:45 a.m. Bruya Masterclass
12:00 p.m.  Orchestral section coaching

12:30 p.m. Lunch - provided

1:00 p.m. Beglarian Dress Rehearsal
2:30 p.m. Bass Ensemble/solo rehearsal
4:00 p.m. Ensemble/Solo Recital, Bjørling
5:00 p.m. A Murmur in the Trees, Arboretum
5:30 p.m. Reception


Faculty
Kristen Bruya joined the Minnesota Orchestra as principal bass in February 2015. Prior to this, she was the assistant principal bass of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 2010 through 2014, and a member of Nashville Symphony Orchestra’s bass section from 2006 to 2010. She received an undergraduate degree in music from the University of Michigan, did extended studies at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and received a Master of Music from Rice University. From 2000-2004, she was a member of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida.
Kristen loves collaborating in chamber music and has performed with various groups in the Twin Cities as well as with the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival from 2013-2015. She teaches privately, and has presented masterclasses at New World Symphony, Northwestern University, Peabody, Indiana University, and the University of Houston, among other schools. From 2011-14 she taught at the University of Toronto. She is also currently serving as a member of New World Symphony's newly formed Alumni Advisory Committee

Acclaimed for his musicality and virtuosity,Volkan Orhonhas established himself as one of the top double bassists in the world today. He was a finalist and prizewinner in the Concert Artists Guild Solo Competition in New York City, and was the co-first place winner of the International Society of Bassists Solo Competition. Additionally, he distinguished himself as the first double bass player ever to win the grand prize overall and first prize for double bass at the American String Teacher's Association Solo Competition. Mr. Orhon has performed with internationally recognized musicians including Gary Karr, Fazil Say, the Emerson String Quartet, and Tokyo String Quartet, and has performed recitals and as a soloist with orchestras around the world. He was one of the performers for the international consortium of Pulitzer Winner composer John Harbison’s Concerto for Bass Viol and Orchestra. He has been invited to perform at the European double bass conferences in Paris, Berlin, Prague, Lucca and Wroclaw. He has given solo recitals and concerts at institutions including the Bursa State Conservatory and Eskisehir Anatolian University (Turkey), Paris Conservatory, Norwegian Academy of Music, Arizona State University, University of Michigan, Butler University, Northwestern University and North Carolina School of the Arts. Born and raised in Turkey, Mr. Orhon began playing the double bass at the age of 12, and spent much of his youth touring Europe with the Mediterranean Youth Soloists. After receiving his bachelor's degree from the Ankara State Conservatory under the tutelage of Tahir Sumer, he became a member of the Ankara Presidential Symphony Orchestra. In 1991, Mr. Orhon came to the United States to continue his studies with Gary Karr at The Hartt School of Music, where he earned an Artist Diploma and Master of Music.

Rolf Erdahl is Adjunct Assistant Professor of Bass at Gustavus Adolphus College. Dr. Erdahl performs widely as a chamber musician and subs for the Minnesota Orchestra, SPCO, Duluth-Superior Symphony, and Mankato Symphony. Previously he served as Principal Bass of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, and Wichita Symphony, Assistant Principal Bass of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, and in the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra bass section in Bergen, Norway. Rolf Erdahl and his wife, oboist Carrie Vecchione, perform and teach extensively across the nation as OboeBass!, “The World's only professional oboe/bass duo.” They have commissioned scores of works and released seven recordings featuring their unique combination, essentially creating the oboe/bass duo genre. Erdahl was a student of Eugene Levinson at St. Olaf College, the University of Minnesota, and the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where he received his doctoral degree. He wrote his dissertation on the music of Edvard Grieg based on Fulbright and American Scandinavian Foundation studies in Norway.

Virtuosic bass pioneer Nick Gaudettepicked up a cello and tuned it as a bass at the age of 5 and has continued playing classical and non-classical music ever since. After completing a Bachelors and Masters in Music at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Nick helped form the chamber music fiddle project called The Orange Mighty Trio, where he plays bass mostly with the bow, treating the instrument like a large violin. The Trio has performed across the country including both coasts ranging from Seattle to L.A. to NYC in addition to writing scores for multiple indie films and commercials. The trio still performs regularly to this day in regional venues.As a performer, Nick is an active bass player who has performed with the Chanhassen Dinner Theater, Theater Latte Da, The Children's Theater, The South Dakota Symphony, as well as various other groups across the mid-west. He is also a progressive composer writing works for the Trio, local modern dance companies, the Macalaster big band, as well as writing and co-directing the eclectic new-age ensembles called the Cherry Spoon Collective. He was a recipient of the 416 Club Commissions by the Cedar Cultural Center as well as a State Arts Board Artists Initiative grant. Nick is the Director of Orchestras at Edina High School.