Ranaan Meyer Entertainment and The Next Level Bassist
The Wabass Institute application is now closed. Thank you to all who applied!
Dates for 2014 will be announced in July.
Wabass related questions? Direct them to wabass.camps@gmail.com
Wabass Institute at the Charley Creek Foundation Wabash, Indiana
June 23-29, 2013
Hear what alumni are saying:
"Highly recommend Wabass to any bassist. Ranaan, Hal, and Eric are wonderful people. The atmosphere is top notch, full of musicians who are at the forefront of bass playing and teaching. As a future school teacher, the things I learned last summer still to this day spark my curiosity to reach newer heights on the bass, string playing and pedagogy, and music making. I am incredibly fortunate to have attended the Institute, and I'm already looking forward to applying for 2014!"
-Dennis B.
Where to begin...
"WABASS...In one week I end up learning more about my own playing, my strengths and my weakness, than I do in a year. Being able to spend one on one time with the instructors is extremely inspiring and motivating. Also being able to work with all of the other fantastic bass players there makes for extremely fast problem solving. After working with the instructors I end up having enough new concepts to incorporate into my playing to keep my busy for years. I can't say enough good things about this program and the Charlie Creek Foundation for hosting this extraordinary week full of great times and great food."
-Tony
Wabass is a unique performance institute located at the idyllic Charley Creek Gardens in Wabash, Indiana. The tuition-free summer institute is led by three of the music world's most exciting bass players, Harold Robinson (Philadelphia Orchestra), Eric Larson (Houston Symphony) and Ranaan Meyer (Time For Three, Ranaan Meyer Band, and founder of Classical Jam Band Camp and Wabass). Wabass is an intensive, one-week summer music camp exclusively for double bass players ages 14 and up, covering the entire spectrum of bass playing from basic techniques to classical, jazz, and orchestral excerpts. Activities include private lessons with all three teachers, master classes, faculty recital, student recital and guest lecturers.
Contact: wabass.camps@gmail.com
Applying to Wabass Camp: Application listed below
Upload an unlisted youtube video and send us the link with your best ten minutes. Any and all styles of bass playing accepted and encouraged.
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: The deadline has passed.
Some examples of what to submit:
For Classical:
2 contrasting works from solo bass literature.
A few orchestral excerpts.
For Jazz:
2 contrasting tunes from the standard jazz literature.
In any order, perform the melody (head), take a solo (as many or few choruses as you wish), and lay down a mean bass groove.
Remember:
•BE CREATIVE - MAKE YOUR OWN ARRANGEMENT
•MAXIMUM LENGTH OF VIDEO - 10 MINUTES TOTAL.
•DUE by March 1, 2013
•$50 application fee
•Choose what best demonstrates your ability and do NOT exceed 10 minutes total!
•When uploading a video to Youtube, choose the "Unlisted" privacy option and send us the link. Do not set to "public."
Faculty:
Harold Robinson
Internationally acclaimed artist, Harold Hall Robinson is currently the principal contrabassist with The Philadelphia Orchestra. Prior to this, Mr. Robinson spent ten seasons as principal bassist of the National Symphony Orchestra, eight seasons as associate principal of the Houston Symphony Orchestra and three seasons as principal of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. A prize winner at the 1982 Isle of Man Solo competition, Mr. Robinson has performed concertos with The Philadelphia Orchestra, the National Symphony, Houston Symphony, New York Philharmonic, the Rhode Island Philharmonic, American Chamber Orchestra and the Greenville South Carolina Orchestra. In addition, Mr. Robinson is known for his outstanding recitals and master classes throughout the United States. Mr. Robinson is currently on the faculty of Curtis Institute.
Ranaan Meyer
Ranaan Meyer attended the Manhattan School of Music and graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music. Beyond regular appearances with orchestras such as the Minnesota Symphony, Baltimore Symphony and The Philadelphia Orchestra, Mr. Meyer is also increasingly in demand as a composer, creating unique new works for his trio Time for Three as well as for solo bass and other ensembles.
Also an accomplished jazz musician, has performed with Jane Monheight, Victor Lewis, Jason Moran, Mark O'Connor, Ari Hoenig, Duane Eubanks, Mickey Roker and many more. Ranaan, at age 19 produced, directed and performed in the very first Washington Township Jazz Festival which was also broadcasted live on Philadelphia's WRTI. Mr. Meyer, an avid teacher, has held adjunct Double Bass professorships at both Princeton University and the University of Delaware. He has spent the several summers teaching alongside Hal Robinson (Principal Bass of The Philadelphia Orchestra) at the Strings International Music Festival in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He has also taught at the Intermountain Suzuki Camp in Sandy, Utah and Mark O'Connor's String Camp in San Diego, California.
Ranaan Meyer is best known for his string trio Time for Three, now artists in residence with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Ranaan tours throughout the year with the group, who have premiered compositions written for them by eminent composers including Jennifer Higdon and Chris Brubeck. In 2013, they will premier a brand new concerto by William Bolcom.
Eric Larson
Double Bassist Eric Larson has been a member of the Houston Symphony since 1999. Originally from Westminster Maryland, Larson received his early training from Owen Cummings, a member of the Baltimore Symphony, and pursued undergraduate studies with Edwin Barker at Boston University, where he received a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance. Before moving to Houston, Larson did his graduate work with the Philadelphia Orchestra's Hal Robinson. While living in Philadelphia, Larson was Principal Bass of the Haddonfield Symphony, and taught at the Settlement Music School.
Eric Larson has participated in the Tanglewood, Grand Teton, and Schleswig-Holstein music festivals, as well as the National Orchestral Institute. As an avid teacher, Larson currently spends his summers in Western Massachusetts teaching double bass and coaching chamber music at the Boston University-Tanglewood Institute.
Join the Wabass Facebook page
Sponsored by:
Halloran Philanthropies click here
Robertson and Sons Violins click here
Shank Strings click here
Located at Charley Creek Gardens click here
and hosted by The Charley Creek Foundation
Wabass FAQ
-My child is 14, can he/she apply to Wabass?
Yes, bass players ages 14 and up can apply to Wabass Institute. There is no upper age limit.
For Wabass Workshop, there is no age limit, although we strongly recommend a minimum age of 12 with an exceptional attention span.
-Do I need to accompany my child if he/she is a minor?
For Wabass Institute, parents are not required to accompany children. We welcome family members to our recital at the end of the week.
-When is the Wabass deadline?
Wabass Institute applications are due by March 1st, 2013. Admissions announcements usually occur around March 15th.
-What are the audition requirements?
The Wabass Institute requires an UNLISTED video submission on Youtube. This video must be no more than 10 minutes in length. There are NO repertoire requirements, but below are some suggestions.
For Classical:
2 contrasting works from solo bass literature.
A few orchestral excerpts.
For Jazz:
2 contrasting tunes from the standard jazz literature.
In any order, perform the melody (head), take a solo (as many or few choruses as you wish), and lay down a mean bass groove.
Remember:
•BE CREATIVE - MAKE YOUR OWN ARRANGEMENT
•MAXIMUM LENGTH OF VIDEO - 10 MINUTES TOTAL.
Wabass Workshop does not require an audition. By applying to the Wabass Institute, you will automatically be considered for Wabass Workshop. Admission is determined on a first-come, first-served basis.
-How do I post my video for my Wabass audition?
On Youtube, sign in and go to “Upload video.” Select the video you want to upload, and before uploading, set the privacy setting to “Unlisted” This is very important, as “Private” videos cannot be viewed by the faculty. Public videos can be easily searched for and viewed by people other than the faculty, and we strongly discourage applicants from leaving videos public until the admission process is complete. Be sure to include a link to your unlisted Youtube video with your application, as they cannot be searched for. If you forget, your videos will be available in your account on Youtube.
If you need additional help in uploading videos, please consult Youtube’s help documents.