*Scott Pingel – Bass

Principal Bass, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra

Bass Masterclass

Monday, January 11th, 2021
6:30-8:30 pm CST

WYSO Members: Application deadline has passed.

Masterclass Observers are welcome and must register in advance.

A WYSO Alumnus, Scott Pingel took a circuitous route to becoming Principal Bass of the San Francisco Symphony in 2004.  According to his bio posted with SFO, “he was fifteen and playing mostly trumpet when he heard some music that literally changed his life. “I was listening to the band Weather Report, and their bassist Jaco Pastorius played this line that hit me like a ton of bricks. I loved the tone he was making, everything about it. It was very inspiring, and I thought, ‘this is what I have to do!'” He began playing electric bass in funk and R&B bands, covering everything from Weather Report, to Earth, Wind & Fire, to Tower of Power… When he decided to major in music in college, he figured he’d better learn the classical, upright bass.” (Meet the SFO Musicians)

Scott Pingel received degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and the Manhattan School of Music, before joining the New World Symphony, “America’s Orchestral Academy,”where he played under Michael Tilson Thomas. From there, he joined the Charleston Symphony, as Principal Bass— and then on to the San Francisco Symphony in 2004. He also teaches Double Bass at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Pingel has served as guest principal with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Canada. As a jazz musician, he has worked with artists including Michael Brecker, Geoff Keezer, and James Williams.

Of his time with WYSO, Scott Pingel wrote, “I can give much credit to WYSO for the beginnings of my career, one that has taken me all over the world. WYSO was a part of establishing the foundation on which it all began.”

Click here to read the story of Scott Pingel and Metallica.