Louisiana Bass Festival & Masterclass Series

Thierry Barbé is ex-principal bass of the Paris National Opera Orchestra and double bass professor at the National Superior Conservatory of Music in Paris. Born in Metz, he studied piano and double bass while completing a science degree, then focused on music at the CNSMDP, earning top honors, including a first prize in double bass with JM Rollez. A dedicated performer, Barbé has toured in over 25 countries, showcasing his “French touch” and expressive phrasing in solo recitals and chamber settings.

He frequently presents his own compositions, releasing his debut album Nomade in 1998 and the DVD French Impressions in 2016. Dedicated to exploring multiple technical approaches, he integrates them into his pedagogy, teaching since 1982. Barbé serves as president of the French Bass Society, was a board member of the International Society of Bassists, and is artistic director of the Biarritz International Bass Academy.

Ju-Fang Liu, appointed Principal Bass of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 2003 by Maestro Mario Venzago, is a distinguished double bassist with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Indiana University. She studied under renowned bass pedagogues Bruce Bransby and Larry Hurst and has worked with notable teachers like Edwin Barker and Edgar Meyer.

Liu's performance career includes appearances at prestigious festivals such as Marlboro, Aspen, and Tanglewood. She has been a finalist for principal positions with the Boston and Atlanta Symphonies and performed with the Chicago Symphony and New World Symphony. Her concerto repertoire includes works by Bottesini, Koussevitzky, and Tubin, and she was the first to win both Solo and Orchestral Categories of the International Society of Bassists competitions.

An accomplished educator, Liu has taught at DePauw University, Indiana University, and joined the faculty of the Butler University School of Music in Indianapolis in 2014. She has given masterclasses and performed in Colombia, Taiwan, and China.

Javier Sherab Campos Cañenguez was born in San José, Costa Rica. He began his musical studies at the Instituto Nacional de la Música in 2014 under the guidance of Maestro Pablo Solís de la Paz and is currently a student of Maestro Juan Pablo Mora Saborío at the same institution. He has been awarded several international scholarships to participate in prestigious festivals and training programs, including the 31st Annual Bradetich Double Bass Master Classes in Texas (2018), the NSO National Trustees Summer Music Institute in Washington, D.C. (2019), the Festival Eurochestries in Deux-Sèvres, France (2022), and FEMUSC (2023).

As a soloist, Campos was the recipient of the Soloists Competition at the International Music Festival of Cóbano (2020). He later appeared as a soloist with the Orquesta de Costa Rica (OCR) during the classical gala of its 2022 season. In 2025, he won the Young Soloists Competition of the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica.

He served as a double bassist with the University of Costa Rica Symphony Orchestra from 2023 to 2024, the Heredia Symphony Orchestra from 2023 to 2025, and the National Band of Cartago from 2024 to 2025. He currently holds the position of Assistant Principal Double Bass of the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica.

With a solid international career, Juan Pablo Mora Saborío is a double bassist renowned for his interpretive excellence and versatility across various orchestral genres. His academic and professional training encompasses some of the world's most prestigious institutions, solidifying his career in both the Americas and Europe.

His musical journey began at the National Institute of Music in Costa Rica and led him to further his studies in the United States and Europe. He trained with renowned teachers such as Lawrence Hurst, Andrew Ackerman, and Klaus Stoll, earning degrees in double bass from the Konservatorium Wien Privatuniversität and the Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Wien in Austria, where he also completed a Master of Arts degree.

Since 2002, he has been a member of the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, and has also performed with renowned orchestras such as the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Tiroler Symphonieorchester Innsbruck, the Württembergische Philharmonie, and the Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra, among others. His specialization in Viennese waltzes has led him to perform with the Kursalon Orchestra, the Residenz Orchestra, and the Royal Orchestra in Austria.

Throughout his career, he has performed concerts in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, participating in tours with the Youth Orchestra of the Americas, the Jeunesse Musicales World Orchestra, and the Ibero-American Orchestra. He has also been a soloist in prestigious recitals, such as his performance at the Costa Rican Embassy in Austria.

His training has been guided by prominent musicians, including Herbert Mayr and Jerzy Dybal of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. He has participated in advanced courses in Europe and America, refining his technique with leading double bass players such as Lucas Drew and Gregory Dugan.

With a career that combines performance, teaching, and the promotion of classical music, Juan Pablo Mora Saborío continues to leave his mark on the international double bass scene, taking his art to new audiences and stages.

Satoshi Okamoto has been a member of the New York Philharmonic since 2003. He served as Acting Principal and Assistant Principal Double Bass from 2013 to 2016. Prior to joining the Philharmonic, he was Assistant Principal Double Bass of the San Antonio Symphony for eight years and a member of the New York City Ballet Orchestra for one year. As a soloist, he was a finalist in both the International Society of Bassists Solo Competition and the Izuminomori International Double Bass Competition, and a two-time winner of the Aspen Bass Competition. He served on the faculty of Stony Brook University from 2023 to 2024 and has been teaching at the Bard College Conservatory since 2024.

Double bassist Martin Rosso balances an active solo career with his position at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie and a teaching post at LUCA School of Arts in Leuven (Belgium). A champion of solo repertoire, he co-founded the ensemble BAS to feature distinctive works for bass with piano or harp.

Originally from Buenos Aires, Rosso honed his skills at the National Conservatory and Carnegie Mellon University, where he earned a Master of Music under Jeffrey Turner. He later pursued postgraduate studies in Italy with Giuseppe Ettorre. His orchestral path began at the National Symphony Orchestra of Argentina before joining the Brussels Philharmonic and, in 2014, the La Monnaie orchestra.

Passionate about Argentine classical music, he has transcribed, recorded, and published chamber music for solo bass in collaboration with Melos Musical Editions. Rosso performs on a custom “Rosso Model” double bass crafted by British luthier Martin Penning.

Yi-Jung Su has earned international acclaim for her musicality and technical mastery. She made history as the first woman in 47 years to win the International Society of Bassists Solo Competition and the first bassist in 50 years to win the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist String Competition. A native of Taiwan with degrees from New England Conservatory and Boston University, Su currently serves as associate principal bass of Taiwan National Symphony Orchestra and teaches at several universities, including National Taiwan Normal University of Music.

Cellist Eduard Teregulov is a soloist, chamber musician, and educator. Winner of several regional and international competitions, including the Youth String Competition in Magnitogork, Russia, the International competition “Citta Di Barletta” in Italy, and NOLA Chamber Fest in the United States.

Coming from the best traditions of the Russian music legacy, Teregulov is a versatile musician with experience performing in various genres and ensembles. He balances his teaching career and dynamic artistic life. In 2022, Eduard Teregulov made his debut in Carnegie Hall as a featured cellist with Constantinides New Music Ensemble. He is invited to perform at festivals, conferences, and concert series including SEAMUS (New York), ChimeFEST (Chicago), Electric LaTex (Houston), New Music on the Bayou (Louisiana), Music by Women (Mississippi), Branceleoni International Festival (Tampa), and many others.

Teregulov is an avid advocate for the music of living composers. Amplifying voices and creating platforms for the artists of today are central to his music career. Within the framework of his project on expanding the cello repertoire of the 21st century, Teregulov commissioned and premiered over twenty works for cello, including a cello concerto, works for solo cello, various chamber groups, as well as electro-acoustic compositions.

Eduard earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance and Education from Ufa State Academy of Arts in Russia, a Master of Music degree from the University of South Florida, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Cello Performance from Louisiana State University. His primary mentors are Scott Kluksdahl, Dennis Parker, Helga Winold, and Mark Afanasiev.

In 2023 Eduard Teregulov joined as an assistant professor of cello and double bass at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.

Christine Hoock is an internationally celebrated double bass soloist and chamber musician, captivating audiences at major venues such as the Salzburg, Lucerne, and Schleswig-Holstein festivals. Her innovative approach has inspired numerous composers to dedicate works to her, and in 2021, her exceptional artistry was honored with the "Solo Performance" Award by the International Society of Bassists.

Before dedicating herself to her solo and teaching career, Hoock served for over a decade as principal double bassist with the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne and other leading German ensembles. Her passion for education led to her appointment as Professor of Double Bass at the prestigious Mozarteum University Salzburg in 2002, following teaching positions in Düsseldorf and Essen. She also served as a guest professor at the Beijing Conservatory in 2014, continuing to share her expertise with the next generation of bassists.

A dedicated leader in the bass community, Hoock founded the International Rhodius Academy for Double Bass and served as the artistic director of the International J.M. Sperger Competition from 2016 to 2023. Her commitment to nurturing young talent continues to set new standards in the global music scene.