Bassist

I’ve spent 25 years playing the bass and still get a kick out of unpacking my instrument and playing the first notes of the day!  Even though my career has taken me in many unexpected directions, the bass has been a part of every step in my life journey.

Double Bass Career Highlights

Heath on bass

2011-16 – continued performances with Elgin Symphony, Midsummer’s Music, DePaul double bass teaching, and freelance work in metro Chicago, substitute bassist with Lyric Opera of Chicago and Grant Park Symphony

2010 – surpassed 150 podcast episodes for Contrabass Conversations

2009 – joined music faculty of DePaul University

2009 – co-founded the Chicago Bass Festival

2008 – doublebassblog.org named one of the top 20 classical music blogs

2007 – joined Board of Directors of International Society of Bassists

2007 – Created Contrabass Conversations podcast

2006 – performed recital on Karr-Koussevitzky bass

2005 – Created doublebassblog.org

2004 – began performing with Midsummer’s Music Festival

2002 – joined music faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

2001-2002 – member of Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC

2000 – Joined Elgin Symphony, Milwaukee Ballet, and IRIS Orchestra

2000 – participant in Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan

1998-2000 – Civic Orchestra of Chicago  (principal bassist in 1999-2000 season); full graduate MM fellowship in conjunction with Northwestern University

1998 – participant in Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival

1997 – member of American Russian Youth Orchestra

1991-1994 – South Dakota Symphony Section Bass (assistant principal in 1993-1994 season)

1991-1994 – Sioux City Symphony Section Bass