To the whole extended RDYB Family: Unfortunately the April 2020 Richard Davis Foundation Bass Conference is canceled. The University of Wisconsin-Madison announced that it will be suspending all in person teaching through April 10, at a minimum due to the COVID19 coronavirus pandemic. This will also impact the conference centers for all events. The Pyle center has been an […]
This says it all – Received from a parent of a young bassist April 26, 2019. (This letter was edited to remove students names.) Dear Richard Davis Bass Conference Clinicians, Organizers and Participants, We are completely humbled and honored by our experience at the 26th Richard Davis Bass Conference. Our kids, the youngest bassist […]
What exactly is a recital? At the Richard Davis Young Bassists’ Conference, recital is usually given solo or with piano accompaniment. Our wonderful accompanist, Beth Wilson is a highly in-demand professional pianist in the Madison area who has been accompanying bassists for over 25 years (Ps. Her own son is a bassist too!). Who […]
A recent post quoted Victor Wooten’s mama via his website: “What does the world need with just another good musician? We have plenty. What the world needs are good people!” – I can say with confidence that Cooper Schlegel is one of those good people, (and a good musician too!) I’m truly grateful to know him as a […]
Go-Fund Me Campaign – Historical Marker on Richard Davis Lane Many will join me in saying that knowing Richard, through his teaching or otherwise, has left an impression on our lives. Help make his impact known for generations to come by contributing to an historical marker being placed on newly dedicated Richard Davis Lane, in Madison, […]
On Thursday, April 18th – the eve of 26th annual Richard Davis Foundation for Young Bassists Conference (RDYB) – the Victor Wooten Band & the Wooten Woods Experience will be playing at the Wisconsin Union Theater – just down the block from the Pyle & Lowell Centers on Langdon St. If you’re in town that night, it’s […]
This year Paul Kowert will be featured as a distinguished alumni for the Richard Davis Foundation’s 26th annual bass conference. We are very pleased that he can make it back! Paul Kowert grew up in Madison, Wisconsin. Upon graduating from The Curtis Institute of Music in 2009, he joined the band Punch Brothers and moved […]
TriFold2016 the Richard Davis Foundation for Young Bassists Inc. is a great place to… challenge yourself to learn new style of music, new ways of playing, new ways of thinking meet new friends, teachers, mentors enjoy a weekend with your family see and make wonderful music
As Professor of Bass, Ricard Davis saw, first-hand, how young bassists were arriving at their college auditions less prepared, less advanced, and not competitive for scholarships, than their upper string peers. In 1993, Richard Davis set out on a mission to change that. Not accepting the status quo situation, Richard started the foundation to better […]