Bruce Ridge
Encyclopedia
Bruce Ridge is an American symphonic bassist, arts advocate, and labor activist. He is currently Chairman of the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians
(ICSOM) and a member of the North Carolina Symphony
.
In 2008, Ridge was invited by the Federation International des Musiciens to address the first International Orchestra Conference in Berlin
, Germany
http://www.fim-musicians.com/ioc/ridge.pdf. In March 2009, he was invited to testify before the United States Congress
during a hearing on the Economic and Employment Impact of the Arts and Music Industry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVs3ChWxb8U. Ridge's speeches and articles have been published in numerous countries, and he has been quoted in newspapers across the United States, as well as in the American Foreign Press.
As chairman of ICSOM, Ridge has been an international leader on issues affecting arts organizations and has met with countless orchestras across America, from San Juan
to Honolulu. He has served as a faculty member for many sessions of the League of American Orchestras
"Orchestra Leadership Academy" as well as on the faculty for the League's music director search seminars. He has appeared as a guest speaker on the history of symphony orchestras in America at The Colburn School of Music in Los Angeles
and Roosevelt University
in Chicago
.
Ridge began his professional career when he joined the Virginia Symphony at the age of 15, becoming the youngest member in the history of the orchestra. He later studied at the Curtis Institute of Music
and the New England Conservatory of Music
, where he graduated with Distinction in Performance honors. He has performed at Tanglewood
, Interlochen, the Grand Teton Festival, and with the orchestras of Charleston
(SC), Jacksonville, and Honolulu.
Ridge is believed to be just the second musician from a major American symphony orchestra to chair a music director search. He has also served on grant panels for the National Endowment for the Arts
, and as a member of the City of Raleigh Arts Commission.
Ridge's double bass teachers include Lawrence Wolfe of the Boston Symphony, and the late Roger Scott of the Philadelphia Orchestra
. He also performs on
the bass guitar and solo jazz bass for the North Carolina Symphony
Pops series. He has recorded two albums of original folk rock compositions.
International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians
The International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians is a Players' Conference of the American Federation of Musicians ICSOM represents over 4,000 symphonic musicians in the top 51 AFM orchestras in the United States and Puerto Rico...
(ICSOM) and a member of the North Carolina Symphony
North Carolina Symphony
The North Carolina Symphony is an American orchestra based in Raleigh, North Carolina, with sixty-nine full time musicians. The orchestra performs in Meymandi Concert Hall and performs occasionally with the Carolina Ballet and the The Opera Company of North Carolina. In 2007, the organization...
.
In 2008, Ridge was invited by the Federation International des Musiciens to address the first International Orchestra Conference in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
http://www.fim-musicians.com/ioc/ridge.pdf. In March 2009, he was invited to testify before the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
during a hearing on the Economic and Employment Impact of the Arts and Music Industry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVs3ChWxb8U. Ridge's speeches and articles have been published in numerous countries, and he has been quoted in newspapers across the United States, as well as in the American Foreign Press.
As chairman of ICSOM, Ridge has been an international leader on issues affecting arts organizations and has met with countless orchestras across America, from San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
to Honolulu. He has served as a faculty member for many sessions of the League of American Orchestras
League of American Orchestras
The League of American Orchestras, known until Fall 2007 as the American Symphony Orchestra League , is an association of U.S. and Canadian orchestras. Over 950 orchestras are members, including youth, community, and professional orchestras....
"Orchestra Leadership Academy" as well as on the faculty for the League's music director search seminars. He has appeared as a guest speaker on the history of symphony orchestras in America at The Colburn School of Music in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University is a coeducational, private university with campuses in Chicago, Illinois and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university is named in honor of both former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The university's curriculum is based on...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
Ridge began his professional career when he joined the Virginia Symphony at the age of 15, becoming the youngest member in the history of the orchestra. He later studied at the Curtis Institute of Music
Curtis Institute of Music
The Curtis Institute of Music is a conservatory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that offers courses of study leading to a performance Diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in Opera, and Professional Studies Certificate in Opera. According to statistics compiled by U.S...
and the New England Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest independent school of music in the United States.The conservatory is home each year to 750 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies along with 1400 more in its Preparatory School as well as the School of...
, where he graduated with Distinction in Performance honors. He has performed at Tanglewood
Tanglewood
Tanglewood is an estate and music venue in Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is the home of the annual summer Tanglewood Music Festival and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, and has been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937. It was the venue of the Berkshire Festival.- History...
, Interlochen, the Grand Teton Festival, and with the orchestras of Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
(SC), Jacksonville, and Honolulu.
Ridge is believed to be just the second musician from a major American symphony orchestra to chair a music director search. He has also served on grant panels for the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
, and as a member of the City of Raleigh Arts Commission.
Ridge's double bass teachers include Lawrence Wolfe of the Boston Symphony, and the late Roger Scott of the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
. He also performs on
the bass guitar and solo jazz bass for the North Carolina Symphony
North Carolina Symphony
The North Carolina Symphony is an American orchestra based in Raleigh, North Carolina, with sixty-nine full time musicians. The orchestra performs in Meymandi Concert Hall and performs occasionally with the Carolina Ballet and the The Opera Company of North Carolina. In 2007, the organization...
Pops series. He has recorded two albums of original folk rock compositions.
Arts advocacy
- September 2008 interview with Polyphonic.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClNJXuYoA
- January, 2008 Editorial on the Jacksonville Symphony lockout in the Florida Times-Union http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/011308/opl_235875718.shtml
- April, 2011 guest editorial in the Syracuse Post-StandardSyracuse Post-StandardThe Post-Standard is the major daily newspaper servicing the greater Syracuse, New York, metro area. Affiliated with Syracuse.com, it is owned by Advance Publications. The Post-Standard features regular political commentary from Sean Kirst and local commentary by Dick Case. It is home-delivered in...
,http://blog.syracuse.com/opinion/2011/04/sundays_commentary_bruce_ridge.html - March, 2011 address to 2nd International Orchestra Conference, hosted by Federation International des Musiciens, Amsterdam http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abOXP65tGBw
Media profiles
- Feature profile in the Virginian-Pilot, August, 2009 http://hamptonroads.com/2009/08/hampton-roads-prodigy-playing-bigger-stage
- WHROWHRO-FMWHRO-FM is a Public Radio formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Norfolk, Virginia, serving Hampton Roads. WHRO-FM is owned and operated by Hampton Roads Educational Telecommunictns Association, Inc.-History:...
Radio interview with Bruce Ridge and JoAnn FallettaJoAnn FallettaJoAnn Falletta is an American classical musician and orchestral conductor.Falletta was educated at the Mannes College of Music and The Juilliard School in New York City...
http://www.whro.org/home/html/podcasts/hearsay/08182009.mp3 - Feature in the Houston ChronicleHouston ChronicleThe Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
, August, 2010 http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/7152190.html