About Sandor Ostlund

Sandor Ostlund serves as Professor of Double Bass, Chair of the Performance Department, and Director of the Instrumental Studies Division at Baylor University. He is also the current President of the International Society of Bassists. A versatile and active performer and pedagogue, Dr. Ostlund’s eclectic musical background spans solo, chamber, orchestral, early music, studio, jazz, and contemporary music.

As a soloist, Dr. Ostlund has performed in recitals across the United States, including featured appearances at International Society of Bassists Conventions, concertos with orchestras, live radio broadcasts, and numerous premieres of works for solo double bass. His solo CD, Leap of Faith, features music written specifically for him.

Dr. Ostlund has performed with ensembles such as the Detroit Symphony, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Washington Bach Consort, Washington National Cathedral Baroque Orchestra, Dallas Bach Society, Philharmonie Austin, Wolf Trap Opera Company, Context, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, San Antonio Symphony, National Philharmonic, Le Sinfonietta de Paris, Madison Symphony, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and Virginia Symphony. He has also served as Principal Double Bassist with the ROCO Chamber Orchestra.

He is frequently invited to teach and perform at clinics and universities, including the Texas Music Festival, National Music Festival, Penn State University, Northwestern University, SUNY-Stony Brook, James Madison University, Kansas City Bass Workshop, Austin Bass Workshop, Twin Cities Bass Camp, Golden Gate Bass Camp, Colorado Suzuki Institute, American Festival for the Arts, Shenandoah Conservatory Performing Arts Festival, Texas Double Bass Symposium, TCU International Bass Festival, Midwest Double Bass Symposium, and the Richard Davis Double Bass Conference.

Dr. Ostlund earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, studying with bass legend Richard Davis. He received both his Master’s and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from Rice University, becoming the first double bassist to earn a DMA under the mentorship of esteemed performer and pedagogue Paul Ellison. He also studied in Paris with renowned virtuoso François Rabbath, earning both the performing and teaching diplomas from L’Institut International François Rabbath. Prior to joining Baylor University, Dr. Ostlund held faculty appointments at West Texas A&M University and Shenandoah Conservatory.