Bass by the Sea: Where Bassists Come to Learn, Perform

Mon, 10/10/2022 - 07:31am | By: Mike Lopinto

On Saturday, Oct. 22, Bass by the Sea will provide two opportunities to experience performances by some of the area’s finest double bassists at The University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Park campus in Long Beach, Miss.

The Michael Cameron Double Bass Competition will take place at 8:30 a.m.in Hardy Hall. The competition’s participants are Mississippi residents, and their performances will be adjudicated by two guest clinicians. At 4:30 p.m., the first and second place winners of the competition will perform a concert along with bass ensembles.

Both events are free and open to the public. Between the two public events, bassists from ages 18-35 will receive intensive instruction and learn from internationally acclaimed professionals in a day-long camp.

The Michael Cameron Double Bass Competition honors the legacy and celebrates the life of a world-renowned musician and educator, who served as the principal bassist for both the Sinfonia da Camera and the Champaign Urbana Symphony Orchestra. As professor of double bass at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he positively impacted the lives of his students, including Dr. Marcos Machado, founder and organizer of Bass by the Sea.

Dr. Machado serves as professor of double bass at the University of Southern Mississippi and maintains an active international schedule as a performer, educator, and administrator. His excitement for this inaugural event is demonstrated by his vision to grow Bass by the Sea in coming years, continuing to bring world-class double bassists to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

“This is a common type of event in other parts of the country, but this will be the first of its kind in our region,” Machado says, “It will be special to bring bassists to the beaches of the Gulf Coast.”

The inaugural competition and camp have garnered immediate support from some of the world’s leading double bass brands. Kolstein Music, Lemur Music, and BassScores Editions have each contributed to the event. Regional support comes from the Hattiesburg Concert Association, and the event is a part of the USM Ambassador Series, a cultural outreach project of the Gulf Park Campus.

For more information, please visit:

https://www.taoofbass.com/bassbythesea
usm.edu/arts/ambassador-series.php