Mr. Bryan is an orchestral double bassist and teacher based in Pasadena, Texas. Born into a family with a wide range of musical abilities, he was naturally drawn to the double bass at age 11 after an inspiring concert by his older brother’s middle school orchestra. He began learning the double bass at age 12 under his middle school orchestra director, Janette Hess, and his love for the instrument further blossomed under his high school bass teachers, Long Le and Lavelle Florence.
Mr. Bryan earned a B.M. in double bass performance at the University of North Texas under the teaching of Jeff Bradetich. At UNT, he gained much experience performing in various orchestral and chamber ensembles. Additionally, he has experience in early music through performing with the UNT Baroque Orchestra and learning baroque playing techniques under Dr. Allen Whear and Dr. Gudrun Raschen. Mr. Bryan has received further orchestral training at the Immanuel and Helen Olshan Texas Music Festival and the Round Top Music Festival, studying under renowned double bassists such as Eric Larson, Robin Kesselman, Paul Ellison, Brett Shurtliffe, and James VanDemark. Currently, Mr. Bryan is pursuing an M.M. in double bass performance at the University of Houston under Eric Larson. Outside of school, Mr. Bryan has performedwith ensembles such as the Arkansas Symphony and the Symphony of Southeast Texas, and he has also performed in various gigs in Dallas and around the Houston area.
Mr. Bryan also teaches private double bass lessons to students in Pasadena ISD and CCISD. As a teacher, Mr. Bryan’s philosophy is that musicians are first and foremost people, which has led him to place kindness as his top priority for all of his students. He believes that creating a warm and inviting atmosphere is crucial to every lesson, and the student’s comfort is a must. By combining kindness, enthusiasm, and a dash of humor,
Mr. Bryan hopes that he can help grow each student’s love for music with every lesson.