Richard Bass, founding member of the Sonoran Brass Quintet, fulfilled a one year position as second trombone of The Phoenix Symphony in 2006 and has been a versatile mainstay covering principal trombone, second trombone, and mostly bass trombone with the orchestra ever since. He has also held trombone positions with the Bear Valley Festival Orchestra in California, the West Valley Symphony in Sun City, and the American Institute of Musical Studies Festival Orchestra in Graz, Austria. Richard has also been invited to perform multiple years with the Arizona Musicfest Orchestra, Tucson Symphony, Arizona Opera, and once with the Monterrey Symphony in Mexico, as well as many other orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout Arizona including Chamber Music from Greer and most recently principal trombone with the Arizona Philharmonic.
Mr. Bass can be heard on recordings for Summit Records, D’Note Classics, and Con Brio Recordings, and has been selected to perform for International Brassfest workshops, the International Viola Congress, and other festivals and honors recitals throughout the southwest. In 2011 Richard performed the Canadian National Anthem with the Phoenix Symphony Brass Quintet at the MLB All Star Game held at Chase Field in Phoenix. In addition to his performance endeavors, he also directs a home based teaching studio for brass private instruction. He has tutored students that have performed locally in the jazz ensemble Young Sounds, the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, the Phoenix Youth Symphony, and mentored students that have earned music scholarships to major universities. He also currently teaches high school trombone and low brass sectionals, and is scheduled to lead trombone masterclasses at the MEF Band Camp 2020.
An Arizona native, Richard Bass received his Bachelor’s Degree from Arizona State University, with an emphasis in trombone performance and music education.