Sonia Ray is titular professor of double bass at the Federal University of Goiás (Brazil). She holds an undergraduate degree in Conducting and Composition from the State University of São Paulo and master's and Doctoral Degrees from the University of Iowa, both in Double Bass Performance under Dr. Gannett. Ray performs regularly performing both Brazilian and contemporary repertoire as a priority. Guest artist of ISB since 1993, Ray is a co-founding member of the Brazilian Society of Music Performance (ABRAPEM) and the Brazilian Society of Bassists (ABC). We talk about Sonia’s background, her cool daily interview series from 2020, how she got into composition and bass, and much more.  Enjoy!   Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!   Connect with us: all things double bass double bass merch double bass sheet music   Thank you to our sponsors!   Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio – The School of Music at CMU highly values each and every individual who wants to be a part of an innovative fine arts community immersed in a top research university.   Every week each student receives private lessons and participates in a solo class with Micah Howard. Peter Guild, another member of the PSO, teaches Orchestral Literature and Repertoire weekly. They encourage students to reach out to the great bassists in their area for lessons and direction. Many of the bassists from all of the city’s ensembles are more than willing to lend a hand. Every year members of the Symphony, the Opera and the Ballet give classes and offer our students individual attention. Click here to visit Micah’s website and to sign up for a free online trial lesson.   theme music by Eric Hochberg   00:00 Introduction and Guest Presentation 00:41 Podcast History and Personal Connections 01:08 Memories from ISB Conventions 02:40 Influence of Diana Gannett 05:43 Adapting to Remote Music Making 07:15 Daily Interview Project During Pandemic 08:43 Reflections on Career Choices 10:58 Sponsor Shoutout: Carnegie Mellon University 11:53 The Upside of the Pandemic 12:55 The Challenges of Online Community Building 17:26 The Artistic Freedom in University Positions 20:38 The Joy of Chamber Music 22:41 The Art of Making Choices 22:49 Exploring New Musical Horizons 24:06 The Joy of Learning New Instruments 24:58 The Challenges and Rewards of Musical Experimentation 25:56 The Evolution of a Musician's Journey 26:31 The Power of Collaboration in Music 29:22 The Impact of Technology on Music 36:46 The Importance of Preserving Musical History 39:19 The Future of Music and Education 41:49 Reflecting on Personal Growth and Future Plans