Instructor Bio

Garry Wasserman

Part-time Instructor – Double Bass

Office: Sanborn Hall 101
Email: ggwasser@owu.edu

Education

B.M., Indiana University
M.M., Indiana University
D.M.A. The Ohio State University

About

Dr. Garry Wasserman, Double Bass artist faculty, has held playing positions with the Florida Philharmonic, Harrisburg Symphony, Hong Kong (China) Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony (substitute), and as Principal Solo Bass with the Columbus Bach Ensemble. Additionally, he has been an Indianapolis studio session artist and performer with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, and the Louisville Orchestra. Garry’s summer festival appearances have included serving as Principal Bass with the Wintergreen (Virginia) and Classical (Eisenstadt, Austria) Music Festivals, and tutti positions with the Great Music West, Bellingham, and Puccini (Italy) Festivals. Currently, he performs as an associate member with the Columbus Symphony, Co-Principal Bass with the New Albany Symphony, and continues to maintain ties with the Indianapolis music scene.

Garry studied at Indiana University, obtaining the Bachelors of Music degree in performance as a student of Murray Grodner, continuing masters studies with Bruce Bransby. Early bass studies were with Lucas Drew at the University of Miami and Lynn Peters at the North Carolina School of the Arts. Additional studies were with Anthony Bianco of the Pittsburgh Symphony, Eugene Levinson at the Aspen Music Festival, Lawrence Hurst, Barry Green at Indiana University, and Matthew Zory of the Cincinnati Symphony. Obtaining the Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at Ohio State, his final document focused on the creation of a comprehensive compendium of American String Bass Makers.

Dr. Wasserman has held bass teaching positions at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Anderson (IN) University, and Penn State University (State College). He has judged often at OMEA adjudicated events around Ohio and has also taught orchestral bass repertoire classes at Ohio State. Currently, Wasserman is Visiting Assistant Professor of Bass at Ohio University in Athens and maintains a teaching studio in Columbus through collaboration with Upper Arlington, Hilliard, Dublin, and Olentangy school districts.

In 2013, he gave a guest lecture at the University of Louisville on American Bass Makers. Also in 2013, he was an assisting performer for “A Prescott Family Reunion” presentation at The International Society of Bassists Convention. In 2014, he presents a poster presentation at The American String Teachers Association (ASTA) Conference in Louisville.

Garry enjoys performing in “IndyKlez”, a klezmer folk group based in Indianapolis, and “New String Jazz Trio”, a Columbus based jazz group consisting of bass, guitar, marimba, and violin. Outside interests include running, Alexander Technique, and Border Collie agility training.