International Society of Bassists Information

The ISB, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation organized in Illinois, was founded by the world-renowned virtuoso Gary Karr in 1967. With some 3,000 members in over 40 countries, the ISB is an organization for those who teach, study, play, repair, build and enjoy the double bass. The ISB is a forum for communication among bassists throughout the world and across a wide variety of musical styles. The ISB publishes a magazine, Bass World, as well as the Bass Line electronic newsletter and The Online Journal of Bass Research (www.ojbr.com), a refereed electronic journal, each with an eclectic mix of articles about soloists, jazz and orchestral players, early music, pedagogy, international personalities and orchestras and reviews of new print music and recordings. Members receive our journal, "Bass World," three times per year and the "Bass Line" newsletter twice yearly and access to the ISB's online archive of historical issues. Every two years the ISB holds an international convention including a double bass competition, a composition contest, and now, a maker's competition. Every two years the ISB holds an international convention at a host university. Bassists of all ages and abilities come to enjoy a full week of workshops, masterclasses, recitals and lectures, and to shop in the exhibit hall. The 2011 biennial convention was held in San Francisco in conjunction with San Francisco State University. The 2013 convention is expected to be held in Rochester, NY at the facilities of the Eastman Conservatory of Music. The ISB is a worldwide forum for double bassists to learn and share. Check out our website at http://www.isbworldoffice.org to join, or visit the ISB Online Store: http://www.isbstore.com/.