ISB Awards
Every two years, the International Society of Bassists gives its Distinguished Achievement Award, the Society’s highest honor, to a bassist who has demonstrated and attained the highest level of excellence, and whose career has had significant influence on the worldwide double bass community.
In addition, the ISB also gives a number of Special Recognition Awards, presented biennially to recognize those who has contributed their special talents, knowledge and support to furthering ISB ideals.
| 2013 | |
| Distinguished Achievement Award | |
| Larry Hurst accepts the 2013 ISB Distinguished Achievement Award from his former student DaXun Zhang, professor of double bass at the University of Texas at Austin (photo by Judy Kirtley)Larry started studying the double bass through the public school system of his hometown, Norfolk, VA, at age 13. After serving two years with the Seventh Army Symphony under Sir Georg Solti he joined the music faculty at the University of Michigan, where he chaired the string department and was associate dean. In 1986 he joined the faculty of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and became chair of the string department in 1987. In 1967, he joined the summer faculty of the Interlochen Arts Camp and has taught there every summer since. His students can be found in orchestras and musical venues all over the world, including the orchestras of Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Indianapolis, Atlanta, The Metropolitan Opera, St. Louis and Milwaukee. In 2005 he was awarded ASTA’s Artist/Teacher of the Year Award, and in 2006, the ISB, which he served as president from 1993-1995, honored him with its Special Recognition Award for Teaching Award. As he becomes professor emeritus, his former students from Indiana University and the University of Michigan have created the Lawrence P. Hurst Medal in Double Bass, to be given annually in association with a scholarship in his name. | |
| Special Recognition Awards | |
| Composition – Rufus Reid Lutherie – Arnold Schnitzer Scholarship – David A. Moore Teaching – Harold Robinson Solo Performance – Catalin Rotaru Jazz Performance – Christian McBride Orchestral Performance – Timothy Cobb Historically Informed Performance – James Lambert Collaborative Music – Dianne Frazer Young Bassists Ambassador – John Kennedy Special Merit – Jon Deak Friend of the Bass – Acoustic Image Friend of the Bass – The Eastman School of Music Friend of the Bass – Barrie Kolstein Friend of the Bass – J.C. Jones | |
| 2011 | |
| Distinguished Achievement Award | |
| Franco Petracchi | |
| Special Recognition Awards | |
| Composition – John Harbison Lutherie – Lynn Hannings Scholarship – Tobias Gloeckler Teaching – Orin O’Brien Solo Performance – Joel Quarrington Jazz Performance – Charlie Haden Orchestral Performance – Ed Barker Historically Informed Performance – David Sinclair Collaborative Music – Harmon Lewis Young Bassists Ambassador – David Young Special Merit – Paul Ellison Friend of the Bass – Dustin Williams | |
| 2009 | |
| Distinguished Achievement Award | |
| Ron Carter | |
| Special Recognition Awards | |
| Composition – Peter Askim Lutherie – Michael Krahmer Scholarship – John Goldsby Teaching – Francois Rabbath Solo Performance – Renaud Garcia Fons Jazz Performance – Rufus Reid Orchestral Performance – Klaus Stoll Historically Informed Performance – Rob Nairn Young Bassists Ambassador – Cathy Elliot Special Merit – L’Orchestre de Contrabasses Friend of the Bass – Sue Haug, Director of the Penn State School of Music Friend of the Bass – Barbara Korner, Dean of the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture Friend of the Bass – Russell Bloom Friend of the Bass – Pasquerilla Spiritual Center | |
| 2007 | |
| Distinguished Achievement Award | |
| Tony Bianco | |
| Special Recognition Awards | |
| Composition – Dave Anderson Lutherie – David Gage Scholarship – Lucas Drew Teaching – Franco Petracchi Solo Performance – Stefano Scodanibbio Jazz Performance – Ron Carter Orchestral Performance – Joe Guastafeste Historically Informed Performance – Tobias Gloeckler Young Bassists Ambassador – Barry Green Special Merit – Bert Turetzky Friend of the Bass – Nick Lloyd Friend of the Bass – Southwest Airlines | |
| 2005 | |
| Distinguished Achievement Award | |
| Frank Proto | |
| Special Recognition Awards | |
| Composition – François Rabbath Lutherie – Daniel Hachez Scholarship – Joëlle Morton Teaching – Lawrence Hurst Solo Performance – Duncan McTier Jazz Performance – Dave Holland Orchestral Performance – Harold Robinson Young Bassists Ambassador – Virginia Dixon Special Merit – Frank Proto Special Merit – Yoan Goilav Friend of the Bass – Bill and Hal Slapin Friend of the Bass – Laura Welland Friend of the Bass – Andrea Carvey Friend of the Bass – Anne Berquist Friend of the Bass – Bob Lewis Friend of the Bass – Randy Knific Friend of the Bass – Judith Bailey Friend of the Bass – Margaret Merrion Friend of the Bass – Heather Rodriguez Friend of the Bass – Carl Doubleday Friend of the Bass – Nina Nelson Friend of the Bass – Jeffrey Harkins Friend of the Bass – William D. Johnston Friend of the Bass – Steven and Paula Reiley Friend of the Bass – Thomas and Donna Lambert Friend of the Bass – Jerry and Betty Mason Friend of the Bass – William Maxey Friend of the Bass – Benjamin Maxey and Sandra Sims Friend of the Bass – Jerry and Janice Stifler Friend of the Bass – John and Pauline Kiltinen | |
| 2003 | |
| Distinguished Achievement Award | |
| François Rabbath | |
| Special Recognition Awards | |
| Composition – Teppo Hauta-aho Lutherie – Barrie Kolstein Scholarship – Paul Brun Teaching – Paul Ellison Classical Performance – Franco Petracchi Jazz Performance – John Clayton Orchestral Performance – Eugene Levinson Young Bassists Ambassador – Helen Stevenson Friend of the Bass – Steve Reinfranck Friend of the Bass – Peter Infeld Friend of the Bass – Gene Lees | |
| 2001 | |
| Distinguished Achievement Award | |
| Rufus Reid | |
| Special Recognition Awards | |
| Composing – Stefano Scodanibbio Lutherie – Jean Auray Classical Performance – Francois Rabbath Jazz Performance – Ray Brown Scholarship – Chris Brown Teaching – Gary Karr Young Bassist Ambassador – Inez Wyrick Friend of the Bass – Bill Mays and Tim Froncek | |
| 1999 | |
| Distinguished Achievement Award | |
| David Walter | |
| Special Recognition Awards | |
| Composing – Edgar Meyer Making / Repairing – Christian Laborie Performing – Francois Rabbath Scholarship – Murray Grodner Teaching – Homer Mensch Young Bassist Ambassador – Richard Davis Friend of the Bass – National Public Radio | |
| 1997 | |
| Distinguished Achievement Award | |
| Ray Brown | |
| Special Recognition Awards | |
| Composing – Gunther Schuller Making / Repairing – Günter Krahmer-Pöllman Performing – Edgar Meyer Scholarship – Duane Rosengard Teaching – Fred Zimmermann (posthumous) Young Bassist Ambassador – Caroline Emery | |
| 1995 | |
| Distinguished Achievement Award | |
| Ludwig Streicher | |
| Special Recognition Awards | |
| Composing – Paul Ramsier Making / Repairing – David Horine (posthumous) Performing – Roger Scott Scholarship – Rodney Slatford Teaching – David Walter Young Bassist Ambassador – George Vance | |
| 1993 | |
| Distinguished Achievement Award | |
| Milt Hinton | |
| Special Recognition Awards | |
| Composing – Jon Deak Making / Repairing – Don Robertson Performance – Milt Hinton Scholarship – Klaus Trumpf Teaching – Warren Benfield Young Bassist Ambassador – Patricia Brine | |
| 1990 | |
| Distinguished Achievement Award | |
| Gary Karr | |
| Special Recognition Awards | |
| Composing – Frank Proto Making / Repairing – Samuel Kolstein Performance – Gary Karr Scholarship – Alfred Planyavsky Teaching – Stuart Sankey | |