President's Corner — Volume 47 #2

During the winter holidays, I enjoyed the many ways we are in community with each other. Family, friends, musical colleagues, neighbors, spiritual communities, just to name a few. And in my work as an arts-in-health administrator, I see the way different communities can interact and positively effect change. Just like shaping a great bass line can positively mpact your ensemble.

With this issue of Bass World we are excited to share two new members of our Board of Directors community: Hollie Greenwood joins us as the new chair of the Diversity Team. Hollie is currently in Cincinnati and a member of several organizations, including New Downbeat. Hollie shared this about her vision for the Diversity Team:

The ISB is composed of so many people with different backgrounds, experiences, and careers — diversity is a very multifaceted term, and everyone's voice and story contributes to such a special environment. To build on the advancement that has already been made, I would be excited to meet more members of the ISB, learn about their journey and needs, and, with the rest of the Diversity team, create measurable and achievable goals to showcase these voices and meet the current needs of the community while also finding ways to bring the mission of the ISB to those who have not yet discovered or had the ability to join the ISB! Crafting meaningful and long-lasting programs, initiatives, events is important to me because connections and values need to stay strong for years and years to come as the ISB continues to evolve and grow.

Hollie will be taking the reins from Mimi Jones, who is staying on the team to continue to help all of us grow the ISB's inclusivity. I want to thank Mimi for all the gifts of her time and talent to this team, and I look forward to more members joining Hollie and Mimi to make this a truly ISB team.

Tommy Hawthorne joins us as the new chair of the Development Team. Tommy is the Education Manager of the Tacoma Youth Symphony Orchestra and teaches at Central Washington University. We are excited about the skills in strategic thinking and relationship building he brings to the board.

We are grateful to outgoing chair Allegra Hale Nieto for her excellent work leading the Development team for many years. Allegra has been instrumental in many programs which help to track donations to the ISB and encourage stewardship of our organization. Allegra, your supportive work has created such a legacy at ISB — thank you!

And now to all of you reading Bass World, our members, our largest community: how will you be involved in ISB? Attending the convention — checking out Center Stage events — sponsoring a scholarship for a Next Generation bassist — joining a team that aligns with your special interest — sharing about your favorite rosin/strings/pickup on our social media — find the way that works for you, and step into this wonderful community even more in 2025.

If you haven't figured it out yet, my word of the year is "community"!

See you in Florida this June!

Gaelen McCormick
2023-2025 President, ISB

Read this issue of Bass World, Volume 47 #2 (Members Only).

Archive

• Current
• Volume 47 #1
• Volume 46 #3
• Volume 46 #2
• Volume 46 #1