Eugene Levinson Bass Day at GustavusSeptember 28 at 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Gustavus bass day will be headlined by Eugene Levinson, one of the all-time greatest soloists, orchestral musicians, and teachers of the double bass. It will be a day of masterclasses, orchestral coachings, breakout sessions, bass choirs, performances, and stories from his remarkable life in music. Levinson recently retired from his positions as Principal Bass of the New York Philharmonic and Bass Professor at Juilliard. Previously Principal Bass of the Minnesota Orchestra and Bass Professor at Peabody Conservatory, the University of Minnesota, and St. Olaf College, Eugene Levinson had a distinguished career in the Soviet Union as a member of the Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) Philharmonic, Principal Bass of the Leningrad Chamber Orchestra, and solo bassist on the Melodya Label. He and his wife Gina and son Gary immigrated to the United States in 1977 and rapidly established himself as a leading bassist in this country. He has released several notable recordings including his bass transcriptions of the Franck D Minor Sonata and other works, and a solo album on the New York Legends recording series, featuring members of the New York Philharmonic. Levinson will coach a master class of students playing solo and orchestral selections. He will also lead a bass sectional class on standard excerpts from Beethoven's 5th and 9th Symphonies and Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet. Levinson will focus on core universal elements of bass technique in his excerpt studies, saying, "It's not about What to play, but How to play." Several of Levinson's "next generation" of bass teachers, including Gustavus Bass Professor Rolf Erdahl, Brigham Young Conductor and Bass Professor Eric Hansen, and former Peabody Conservatory Bass Professor Paul Johnson, will present elective classes on aspects of bass technique. The day will conclude with a recital featuring performances by Levinson, his past students,  participants in the day's masterclass, and a mass bass choir of all participants.

Gustavus Bay day is open to all bassists of all ages. The masterclass is for advanced High School, college, and post-grad students of the bass. All other events are open to the public.