Submitted Photo Assistant Professor Kieran Hanlon (far left) and guest artists for Bass Fest.

Bass Fest is going virtual at the State University of New York at Fredonia and expanding with three master classes, with each session on a separate day and led by a special guest artist.

“We are excited to be able to offer three master classes for Fredonia students and the public, free of charge, in place of the typical, on-campus Fredonia Bass Fest,” said Assistant Professor of Double Bass and Jazz Kieran Hanlon.

“The guests this year come from three incredibly different professional backgrounds within the music world, and have the uniqueness of their experiences to share in addition to the special opportunity to relate their core foundation as professional music-makers and teachers,” Mr. Hanlon said.

Two guest bassists — one specializing in classical repertoire and another in jazz — were featured at past Bass Fests. “This year, we have the unique opportunity to present three guests, specializing in classical, jazz, and historical performance practice,” Hanlon said.

Guest artists and the respective day and time of their master class are: Paul Ellison, professor of double bass and chair of strings at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 8 p.m.; Endea Owens, house bassist for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and the Lincoln Center’s Emerging Artist of 2019, on Thursday, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m.; and Heather Miller Lardin, an early bass specialist and director of the Temple University Early Music Ensemble, on Thursday, March 4, at 8 p.m.

Each master class on Zoom will feature Fredonia bass students performing and receiving feedback from the guest artists. Opportunities will also be offered to community bassists to perform in the master classes. Those interested should contact Hanlon at hanlon@fredonia.edu

The first registration deadline was set for Feb. 1. Respective registration deadlines for the two remaining master classes are Feb. 15 and Feb. 25.

All Bass Fest events are free and open to bassists of all ages and levels, but pre-registration for each master class is required online at https://www.fredonia.edu/academics/colleges-schools/school-music/music/

Bass Fest is supported by the Carnahan Jackson Fund for the Humanities of the Fredonia College Foundation and the Fredonia Bass Society, a Student Association group.