For the virtual 2021 symposium, join our world class faculty at the fantastic new facilities of the Desautels Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba. Founded in 2017 by Meredith Johnson, Bassitoba is an intensive three-day program designed to bring serious double bass students together to learn and grow musically. The belief is that musical growth is best achieved in an environment that is
positive and collaborative. The curriculum is focused around daily classes in technique, orchestral study and solo repertoire. While the program is largely classical in its focus, it does embrace different musical styles and periods. Among the different classes and workshops, we often play chamber music to work on intonation, ensemble, and overall musicianship. During these very popular sessions, we are often joined by local professional bassists who merely want to join in the fun. Sound and sound production is the focus this year at Bassitoba! Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra Principal and Bassitoba founder Meredith Johnson leads a dynamic and world class faculty for an intensive and thrilling weekend of musical study, growth and performance. This year we are so excited to have Houston Principal Robin Kesselman with us to share the concepts behind his world class sound. WSO Assistant Principal and early music proficient Andrew Goodlett will be with us again this year to share his informed approach to Baroque and early Classical repertoire. As a special treat, we are particularly excited to have bass luminary and sound guru Hal Robinson with us for the entire symposium. It is going to be an unforgettable weekend of everything double bass! The three-day virtual program will include faculty and student performances, masterclasses and private instruction-all from the comfort of your own home! We will also have daily classes on technique, orchestral excerpts and performance strategies. We are proud to be sponsored once again by the University of Manitoba at the stunning new facility of the Desautels Faculty of Music. Join us in Winnipeg and seize the opportunity to jump-start your musical summer at Bassitoba. Deadline for application is May 5 and space is limited so get your playing sample to us today! Come Find Your Sound at Bassitoba 2021! Bassitoba Director and Founder, Meredith Johnson has been described as "a superbly gifted musician" (Winnipeg Free Press), and enjoys a varied and active career of performance and teaching. Since 2004, Meredith has held the position of Principal Bass with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his work with the WSO, Meredith has performed across the United States, Canada, and Europe with numerous festival and professional orchestras. In 2012, he was invited to be an inaugural member of the prestigious All Star Orchestra, an ensemble which, since its inception, has garnered many educational and artistic accolades, including six Emmy Awards. In addition to his full time orchestral schedule, Meredith is an enthusiastic and dedicated chamber musician. Praised for his playing of "resonant, lyrical beauty", he has been part of many critically acclaimed chamber performances and has had the privilege of collaborating with some of the finest chamber musicians in Canada and the US, including: Martin Beaver, James Campbell, Jonathan Crow, Dave Harding, Paul Marleyn, Martin Roscoe, James Sommerville, and Axel Strauss. Meredith was the Principal bassist of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra from 2004-2013 and was part of numerous tours and recordings with that ensemble. He frequently appears with many of Manitoba’s other premier ensembles including Agassiz Chamber Music, Camerata Nova, GroundSwell, The Virtuosi Concert Series and The Winnipeg Chamber Music Society. He has performed numerous recitals in Winnipeg working primarily with pianist Madeline Hildebrand. As a concerto soloist, he has performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra as well as the University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra. Teaching is an ever increasing focus of Meredith's time and energy. In addition to a select private studio and his instruction at the University of Manitoba, Meredith maintains a professional association with Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. Increasing demand as a clinician has led to masterclasses at several universities across Canada and the United States. Meredith has a wide variety of musical interests. He has been involved in numerous recording projects and performances in a variety of musical genres. He has recorded with the Nashville based old time band, The Bashful Mountain Broadcasters as well as Winnipeg based Heavy Bell, on their debut album, By Grand Central Station. As a guest curator for Winnipeg new music collective GroundSwell, he organized a concert, Les Citations, that included several Canadian premieres and was featured nationally on CBC radio’s The Signal. In 2017, he was a member of the consortium of bassists that commissioned Sueños, a multi-movement work for bass and piano by Argentine composer, Andres Martin. Currently, he is spearheading a new commission project to get new chamber and solo works written for the double bass by eminent Canadian composers. His double bass training began in Nashville, TN, serendipitously studying with Edgar Meyer, while pursuing a Degree in English Literature at Vanderbilt University. Upon graduation, he decided to continue his bass studies at Boston University with Boston Symphony Orchestra bassists Ed Barker and Todd Seeber, earning his Master's Degree in Performance in 1996. From 1999-2002 Meredith held a Fellowship at the New World Symphony, and upon the completion of his tenure there, he moved to Philadelphia to continue his studies with Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Bassist Hal Robinson. His hobbies include riding bikes, cooking and tennis and he lives in Winnipeg with his wife, violinist Susan McCallum, their three children, and the faithful family dog, Lucy. Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
All Star Orchestra
Eastern Music Festival
