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John Miller
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John's main bass is a full size Double Bass made by Joseph Reiger in Mittenald Germany in 1821. His other bass is a modern instrument made by Arnold Schnitzer, it is unique in that it is asymmetrical. It looks like Salvador Dali made a bass.
- Hometown:
Hampton, VA
- Year Joined:
1993
- Education:
Bachelor of Music – James Madison University; Master of Music – Peabody Conservatory
- Passions and Interests:
Outside of music, John enjoys golf, craft beer, and watching football.
- Career Highlights:
Some of John's favorite career highlights include, rehearsing Brahms's 4th Symphony with George Solti at Abbey Roads studio in London, playing the "Trout quintet" with Andrea Watts, and releasing a CD on Albany records (Miller and Ramsey Play Ramsier).
Principal
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Samuel Dugo
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Assistant Principal
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Alex Albanese
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Alex plays a 19th-century double bass made by Gemunder, either in Germany or by a German maker who had moved to New York. Alex acquired the instrument when a 94-year-old retired bass player came up to him during an outdoor concert in Fort Myers and asked if he wanted to buy a bass.
- Hometown:
Pittsburgh, PA
- Year Joined:
1982
- Education:
Music Performance Studies at Miami of Ohio University and Cincinnati Conservatory
- Passions and Interests:
In addition to being a fine musician, Alex is a book-a-holic, history geek, and an avid poker player, having won entries to the Main Event of the World Series of Poker twice.
- Career Highlights:
Alex gets to make amazing music with fine musicians.
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Justin McCulloch
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Justin’s personal instrument is a Bavarian-style, flat-back bass of unknown age and maker. He has owned the instrument, nicknamed “Thor,” since college. Several years ago, Justin had the instrument converted into a removable neck bass to make the instrument easier to travel with.
- Hometown:
Edgewater, FL
- Year Joined:
2008
- Education:
Bachelor of Music – Eastman School of Music; Master of Music – Duquesne University; Doctor of Musical Arts and Literature – Eastman School of Music with a Performers Certificate and a minor in arts leadership.
- Passions and Interests:
Justin is a father of four children and loves watching them grow. He enjoys watching rocket launches from his backyard with his family, supporting new local chamber of commerce businesses, and cooking Hispanic food with his Venezuelan wife. He has a shared passion for performing arts medicine with his wife and looks forward to building a senior music program in his local community. Justin is also fluent in Spanish.
- Career Highlights:
In the fall of 2017, Justin won a concerto competition at Eastman, giving him the opportunity to perform as a soloist with the Eastman School Symphony Orchestra in the beautiful Kodak Hall. In October 2019, he was also featured as an Eastman Virtuosi Soloist on the NPR radio program Live from Hochstein based in Rochester, NY.
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Michael Nigrin
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Michael owns several double basses, all very fine instruments. His primary instrument was made by Carlo Antonio Testore, in the year 1763 and it is possible Ludwig Van Beethoven heard its beautiful tone. Michael's double bass bows on the other hand are extremely special to him, as they were made by a retired engineer from Venice, Florida, David Gourlay. When Michael was principal bassist with the then Florida West Coast Symphony, Mr. Gourlay approached Michael after a rehearsal in Holly Hall with a bow he had created. Michael liked it and purchased it on the spot! Afterwards, Michael had ideas about new bows with different wood types which he and Mr. Gourlay worked together to create. Michael uses those bows to this day. The bows are unique and extremely personal to Michael as they reflect the good will and ingenuity of this highly talented bow maker.
- Hometown:
Staten Island, NY
- Year Joined:
2007
- Education:
Master of Arts – The Juilliard School, Bachelor of Fine Arts – Carnegie Mellon University
- Passions and Interests:
Michael's passions and interests are his family, which consists of his beautiful wife, two wonderful daughters, and the almighty Lord who permeates in all things that we experience. Outside of musical endeavors, which take a great amount of time and commitment from day to day, Michael enjoys reading about and learning new technologies, and their everyday applications.
- Career Highlights:
In the countless tours and recordings Michael has participated in as member of the Buffalo Philharmonic with Maestra JoAnn Falletta, one concert at Carnegie Hall sticks out in his mind. The Buffalo Philharmonic performed Symphony No. 3 in B minor "Ilya Muromets" by composer Reinhold Glière, as part of the 'Spring for Music' series. Prior to working on that piece, Michael didn't realize that it actually has a cult following, and now he can consider himself a member of the cult.
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John Price
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John plays on a French Mirecourt double bass that is over 100 years old!
- Hometown:
Winter Park, FL
- Year Joined:
1986
- Education:
Bachelor of Arts – University of Central Florida; Post-Graduate Studies – Mannes College of Music
- Passions and Interests:
John enjoys day hiking, birdwatching, and bargain hunting at local thrift stores and estate sales. John's favorite sitcom is "Earl and Jasper's First Time" and he also enjoys PBS documentaries.
- Career Highlights:
Some of John's favorite musical memories include: Sarasota Orchestra performances of the Mahler and Carl Nielsen Symphonies, working with Luciano Pavoritti, Hilary Hahn, and James Ehnes, playing a concert with Sarasota Orchestra with famous film composer and conductor Elmer Bernstein, and playing electric bass in Jesus Christ Superstar and Miss Saigon.
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