Sonia Ray is the titular professor of double bass at the Federal University of Goiás (Brazil). She holds an undergraduate degree in Conducting and Composition from the State University of São Paulo and master’s and Doctoral Degrees from the University of Iowa, both in Double Bass Performance under Dr. Gannett. Ray performs regularly performing both Brazilian and contemporary repertoire as a priority. Guest artist of ISB since 1993, Ray is a co-founding member of the Brazilian Society of Music Performance (ABRAPEM) and the Brazilian Society of Bassists (ABC).
We talk about Sonia’s background, her cool daily interview series from 2020, how she got into composition and bass, and much more. Enjoy!
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Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio – The School of Music at CMU highly values each and every individual who wants to be a part of an innovative fine arts community immersed in a top research university.
Every week each student receives private lessons and participates in a solo class with Micah Howard. Peter Guild, another member of the PSO, teaches Orchestral Literature and Repertoire weekly. They encourage students to reach out to the great bassists in their area for lessons and direction. Many of the bassists from all of the city’s ensembles are more than willing to lend a hand. Every year members of the Symphony, the Opera and the Ballet give classes and offer our students individual attention. Click here to visit Micah’s website and to sign up for a free online trial lesson.
- theme music by Eric Hochberg
- 00:00 Introduction and Guest Presentation
- 00:41 Podcast History and Personal Connections
- 01:08 Memories from ISB Conventions
- 02:40 Influence of Diana Gannett
- 05:43 Adapting to Remote Music Making
- 07:15 Daily Interview Project During Pandemic
- 08:43 Reflections on Career Choices
- 10:58 Sponsor Shoutout: Carnegie Mellon University
- 11:53 The Upside of the Pandemic
- 12:55 The Challenges of Online Community Building
- 17:26 The Artistic Freedom in University Positions
- 20:38 The Joy of Chamber Music
- 22:41 The Art of Making Choices
- 22:49 Exploring New Musical Horizons
- 24:06 The Joy of Learning New Instruments
- 24:58 The Challenges and Rewards of Musical Experimentation
- 25:56 The Evolution of a Musician’s Journey
- 26:31 The Power of Collaboration in Music
- 29:22 The Impact of Technology on Music
- 36:46 The Importance of Preserving Musical History
- 39:19 The Future of Music and Education
- 41:49 Reflecting on Personal Growth and Future Plans