This episode of Contrabass Conversations features an interview with composer Bjorn Berkhout. Bjorn has written extensively for the double bass, and he has some great insight into the particular challenges of writing for this instrument. Several excerpts of Bjorn’s music appear throughout the episode. Bjorn’s double bass music can be ordered from Discordia-Music.com.
CBC 10: Bjorn Berkhout interview
CBC 9: John Grillo interview part 2
Here is the second part of our interview with John Grillo on Contrabass Conversations. John and I had an excellent interview, and there will be one more episode containing our episode coming out in March.
CBC 8: Phillip Serna interview part 2
Episode 8 of Contrabass Conversations features the second part of our interview with double bassist Phillip W. Serna. We covered a lot of interesting topics in this interview, and I hope you’ll find it enjoyable. At the very end of the show I tacked on some of the worst instrumental playing I have ever heard, so you may get a kick out of that.
John Grillo Recital Showcase
John started playing Double Bass at the age of 11. He attended The Julliard School during high school and was a scholarship student at Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana where he studied with Lawrence Hurst. After graduating from IU, he attended the Manhattan School of Music completing his Masters Degree with Timothy Cobb. Mr. Grillo performed at The Tanglewood Music Center from 1994 to 1996. Other festivals include the National Repertory Orchestra, Festival di Due Mondi in Italy, and Pacific Music Festival in Japan. John was a member of the New World Symphony from 1999-2002. His other professional engagements include performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Opera, Wheeling Symphony, Memphis Symphony, and the Sarasota Opera. John was a faculty member with The Pittsburgh Music Academy from 2002-2006. Future engagements include the Iris Orchestra, Philadelphia Virtuosi, Pennsylvania Ballet, The Princeton Festival, The Philly Pops, Opera New Jersey and the Princeton Symphony.
Check out John’s interviews on Contrabass Conversations here, or subscribe in iTunes for the interview plus John’s complete recital.
Bach Suite No. 3 for Solo Violoncello
Schubert “Arpeggione” Sonata
David Anderson-Seven Double Bass Duets
Parade of the Politically Prudent Pigs
Peter Guild- Double Bass (member Pittsburgh Symphony)
John Grillo – Double Bass
Stanley Chepaitis-Slow Dance
Duet for Violin and Double Bass
(Transcription-John Grillo)
Stanley Chepaitis- Violin
John Grillo – Double Bass
Stanley is a violin professor at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Original piece written for violin and cello.
CBC 7: Andrew Anderson interview part 2
Here is episode 7 of Contrabass Conversations! In this episode we continue our interview with Andy Anderson from the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Grant Park Symphony. You can subscribe to Contrabass Conversations in iTunes by clicking the following button: