Contrabass Conversations

Contrabass Conversations

double bass podcast

865: Remembering Inez Wyrick

Inez Wyrick, one of our young bassist pedagogy pioneers, passed away at the end of 2021.  In this episode, we rebroadcast our interview with her from 2016 and reflect on her impact on countless bassists across the globe.

About Inez (from Tribute Archive):

She began performing music in the 8th grade with her father, and taught music and served as a psychic consultant for the entirety of her adult life, never fully retiring. She served on the Board of Directors for the International Society of Bassists who awarded her the “Young Bass Ambassador” award in 2001, and which, starting in 2022, is naming the Under 14 Solo Prize the “Inez Wyrick Prize,” in her honor. 

She was also Co-founder and Co-Artistic Director of the Bass Coalition Summer Workshop. In addition to teaching music privately, she also served on the faculties of Shenandoah Conservatory, Indiana University’s String Academy, Amarillo College, Odessa College and Texas Tech University’s Orchestra Camp. She founded the Amarillo Bass Base, the first organization of its kind for young bassists, and members of her family of students over the years teach and hold professional positions in ensembles, music businesses and educational institutions worldwide. 

An active lecturer, clinician and adjudicator, Inez appeared regularly at the Richard Davis Bass Conference, Golden Gate Bass Camp and International Society of Bassists conventions. She has had over 500 arrangements/compositions published for Double Bass Ensemble.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to either the ISB or Bass Coalition:

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194: Inez Wyrick on 911 bass teaching, creating artists, and teaching the whole fingerboard

Double bassist Inez Wyrick is featured on today's episode

Double bassist Inez Wyrick is featured on today’s episode

Inez Wyrick has been a huge name in bass pedagogy for decades. She really is one of those teachers that I think we all aspire to be like—she can take a student at any level and develop their technique while also instilling in them a passion for making music of all sorts.

Today’s conversation with Inez is a journey through the topics of education, inspiration, the development of bass teaching from the “dark ages” to the embarrassment of riches that we have today and the thoughts and perspectives of a truly beautiful human being. You’re going to learn a lot and come away with a bunch of new ideas about teaching, and I’m sure that you’ll feel rejuvenated and inspired by Inez’s passion and energy.

After the interview, we feature listener feedback and some upcoming plans for the podcast, and before we get going with our interview we will feature a clip of Inez conducting the Orchestra of Lady Bassists from the 2013 ISB convention. Kristin Korb was the current president of the ISB when this was recorded, and she makes some introductory remarks (Kristin was also a podcast guest on episode 79), and we have a ink in the show notes to this complete video, which you should definitely check out.

About Inez:

Former International Society of Bassists Board Member Inez Wyrick currently resides in Winchester, Virginia where she is adjunct instructor of bass at Shenandoah Conservatory, maintains a private bass studio She perviously edited the young bass page of Bass World and serves on the board of directors for the Bass Coalition.

Mrs. Wyrick is an internationally acclaimed pedagogue who specializes in pre-college string education and has numerous publications to her credit. An active lecturer, clinician and traveling “911 bass teacher,” she is a regular clinician at the Richard Davis Bass Conference in Madison, WI and the Golden Gate Bass Camp in San Francisco, CA. Previously, she has been on the faculties of Indiana University String Academy, Amarillo College, Odessa College and Texas Tech University Orchestra Camp and was founder of the Amarillo Bass Base, a bass ensemble which held an international reputation. Her students teach and hold professional positions in ensembles and educational institutions worldwide.

Her arrangements and compositions for bass ensemble have been performed worldwide and her CD-ROM of bass ensembles entitled Music for Double Bass Ensemble, Vol. I: 30 Christmas Carols for “Same Level” and “Mixed Level” Double Bass Ensemble was released in 2005. She has over 300 heterogenous bass ensembles for all levels, and varieties of levels. Email for a complete, graded, inventory.

In 2001 she was the honored recipient of the “Young Bassists Ambassador” award from the International Society of Bassists. She is married to fellow bassist Dr. Donovan Stokes.