My ISB Space - International Society of Bassists Interactive

The 8th International Double Bass Convention, one of the biggest double bass events in Europe, took place in Brno (Czech Republic), September 10-16, 2007. Over seven days there were eight concerts and solo, chamber, orchestral and jazz instruction. As part of the convention week there was also an international competition, an open air concert featuring a double bass orchestra, and an exhibition of musical instruments.

The convention was organized by artistic director Miloslav Jelinek, lecturer at the Janacek Academy of Music and Performing Arts and solo bassist with the Brno Philharmonic, and the JAMU faculty in co-operation with the Czech Double Bass Society. Many other presenters had a hand in the successful and smooth running of the convention: Ekkehard Beringer (Hamburg, Germany), Carlos Del Pino (Havana, Cuba), Gottfried Engels (Dusseldorf, Germany), Miloslav Gajdos (Kromeriz, Czech Republic), Pavel Horak (Brno, Czech Republic), Tom Knific (Michigan, USA), Petr Korinek (Prague, Czech Republic), Irena Olkiewicz (Wroclaw, Poland), Vitold Rek (Frankfurt, Germany / Poland), Catalin Rotaru (Phoenix, USA/Romania), Radoslav Sasina (Bratislava, Slovakia), Martin Sranko (Brno, Czech Republic), Jiri Valenta (Prague, Czech Republic), Jakub Waldmann (Prague, Czech Republic), and Horst-Dieter Wenkel (Weimar, Germany). Marcela Jelinkova (Brno, Czech Republic) and Dana Sasinova (Bratislava, Slovakia) served as pianists.

There were some 90 participants from 20 countries. Eighteen double bassists took part in the competition. First prize was awarded to Filip Jaro (Slovakia), second prize to Jae-Bo Cho (Korea) and third prize went to Ludwig Schwark (Germany). Convention performances over the last eight years have won a loyal audience, and double bassists of the Czech Republic are pleased that the tradition of the Czech double bass school - one of the oldest in the world - is blossoming.