Prizes were awarded across eight divisions for solo, jazz, and orchestral double bass

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The winners of the senior divisions for solo, jazz, and orchestral double bass (from left) Siheon Ryu, Max Winningham, Markus Lang, Guillermo Lopez, Bar Filipowicz, Frederick Bish, Rauno Meneses Halmari, Remy Howard and Tim Rinehart | facebook.com

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The 2025 International Society of Bassists (ISB) Double Bass Competition was held from 2–3 June at the Florida State University College of Music in Tallahassee, FL, US, during the biennial ISB Convention. Prizes were awarded across eight divisions, with competitors up to the age of 30. Double bassist Mark Morton served as chair of the competition.

In the solo division for competitors aged 19–30, the Gary Karr first prize was awarded to South Korean double bassist Siheon Ryu, who received $5,000 and a performance opportunity at the 2027 ISB Convention. The second prize of $2,500 went to US bassist Max Winningham, and the $1,000 third prize to US bassist Markus Lang. The judges were Zhaoyang Chang, Wei Yung-Chiao, Tian Yang Liu, Marcos Machado and Andres Martin, with Thierry Barbe as chair of the division.

In the jazz division for competitors aged 19–30, the Scott LaFaro first prize was won by US double bassist Guillermo Lopez, likewise receiving $5,000 and a performance at the 2027 ISB Convention. The second prize of $2,500 was awarded to Israeli bassist Bar Filipowicz, and the $1,000 to US bassist Frederick Bish. The judges comprised Marlene Rosenberg as division chair, as well as Lou Fischer, Rodney Jordan and Matthew Rybicki.

In the orchestra division for competitors aged 19–30, the first prize went to US bassist Tim Rinehart, who receives an expenses-paid week with the Houston Symphony Orchestra. The Scott Haigh second prize of $2,500 was won by US bassist Remy Howard, and the $1,000 third prize by US bassist Rauno Meneses-Halmari. The judges were Scott Dixon, Davis Pierson, Brian Perry, Jack Unzicker and Ron Wasserman, with Scott Haigh chairing the division.

In the youth solo division for competitors aged 15–18, the $2,500 first prize was awarded to US bassist Harry Barnett, the $1,000 second prize to South Korean bassist Yoonji Huh, and the $500 third prize to Polish bassist Antoni Trzesniewski. The judges comprised Luis Cabrera, Barry Green, Jackie Pickett and Patricia Weitzel, with Christine Hoock presiding as division chair.

In the youth jazz division for competitors aged 15–18, the $2,500 first prize was won by US bassist Isaac Ballif, the $1,000 second prize by US bassist Madalena Kozol, and the $500 third prize by US bassist Ethan Steiner. An honourable mention was also given to US bassist Samuel Dominguez. The judges were Brian Hall, Casey Lipka and Martin Wind, with Mike Forfia as division chair.

In the youth orchestra division for competitors aged 15–18, the $2,500 first prize went to US bassist Cade Peckham, the $1,000 second prize to US bassist Kevin Porter, and the $500 third prize to US bassist Brandon Garcia. Sean Casey was division chair, with the rest of the judges comprising Andrea Beyer, Renata Soares Caceres, Andrew Moritz, Sam Suggs and Russell Thompson.

In the division for double bassists aged 14 and under, the $500 first prize was awarded to South Korean bassist Ye Eun Kim, the $250 second prize to US bassist Georgia Serdar, the $100 third prize to Polish bassist Mikolaj Kabaczuk, and an honourable mention given to Christopher Mertz. The judges were Christian Abreu, Susan Cahill, Caroline Emery, Johnny Hamil and Nick Scales, with Tracy Rowell as division chair.

And finally, in the division for double bassists aged 10 and under, the $500 first prize was won by US bassist Annelise Reidhead, the $250 second prize by US bassist Caspian Stokes, the $100 third prize by US bassist Charles Smith, and an honourable mention given to US bassist James ‘Hudson’ Austin III. The judging panel was the same as in the previous category.

All prizewinners additionally received a copy of Orin O’Brien’s Double-Bass Notebook, and all first prize winners in divisions aged 15 and up received strings from Pirastro.

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