Kiyoe Kaimana Delphine Wellington is on an inspiring journey through the music world. After picking up the violin at an early age, Kiyoe switched to bass at age six and began daily lessons on the instrument with her renowned grandfather George Wellington.
Kiyoe was a part of the Hawaii Contrabass Festival as she grew up, and she has been attending International Society of Bassists conventions for the past 20 years.
After spending her senior year of high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy, Kiyoe studied with Todd Seeber at the New England Conservatory. Todd actually studied with George Wellington while he was living in Hawaii and returned many times to take part in the Hawaii Contrabass Festival.
After New England Conservatory, Kiyoe went to graduate school at the University of California San Diego, where she worked with Mark Dresser. She is a passionate advocate of solo bass explorations, and she appeared on the PBS’s show playing solo bass on From the Top when she was 15.
Kiyoe is currently a fellow at the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester in Switzerland, and she will be taking part in the Lucerne Festival this summer.
We talk about her grandfather, her path through music, some recent contemporary music projects that she has been involved with, how practicing on the bass has changed for her over the years, advice for students at the beginning of their careers, and much more!
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Contrabass Conversations production team:
- Jason Heath, host
- Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing
- Mitch Moehring, audio engineer
- Trevor Jones, publication and promotion
- Krista Kopper, archival and cataloging
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