Double Bass
Pre-College
Student Recital
Courses Taught
Applied Lessons
Double Bass Class
Education
MM, Manhattan School of Music
BM, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire
Ensembles
San Francisco Symphony, Principal, 2004–Present
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Awards and Distinctions
Principal, San Francisco Symphony
Principal, Charleston Symphony Orchestra
Notable Studio Wins
International Society of Bassists Competition: Grand Prize, Classical Solo Division
Distinguished Alumni
Marco Behtash: Associate Principal Bass Royal Opera Covent Garden; Professor of Bass, Guildhall School of Music
Alana Jones: Section Bass, New Zealand Symphony
Christian Hales: Principal Bass, Charleston Symphony Orchestra; Aspen Fellow
Tian Yang Liu: Assistant Principal Bass, Houston Ballet; Professor of Bass, Beijing Central Conservatory
Michael Minor: Bassist, Philharmonia Baroque
Stewart Rosen: Bassist, Latin Grammy-Winning Tinto Tango
The string contributions [were] dominated by bassist Scott Pingel… He played with absolute lack of pretense and an outlandish sense of glee that left Mozart's charming, much-loved trifle purring with delight. The audience must have gone crazy."
Q&A
What is your hometown?
Madison, WI
What are you passionate about outside of music?
Psychology, philosophy, kinesiology, visual arts, and martial arts.
Who were your major teachers?
James Clute, Peter Lloyd, and Timothy Cobb.
What question do you wish students would ask sooner rather than later?
“Is it Beautiful?”
What was the defining moment when you decided to pursue music as a career?
When I got my first double bass at age 17.
What was a turning point in your career?
When I realized that technique is not magic.
If you weren't a musician or teacher, what do you think you would be doing now?
Studying art.
What is your daily practice routine?
Scales and technical exercises, then repertoire I'm performing, then other works of interest—always with my notebook handy.
If you could play only three composers for the rest of your life, who would they be?
Bach. And choosing the others is like picking which family member I could live without for the rest of my life.
From a music history perspective, what year and city are most important to you?
1685, Eisenach.
What recordings can we hear you on?
Mason Bates: Works for Orchestra, SFS Media
Gubaidulina: The Complete Works for Guitar, Naxos
Schubert: Quintet in A Major, "Die Forelle", Music@Menlo Live
Beethoven: Septet in E-flat Major, Music@Menlo Live
Mozart: Serenade in D Major, Serenata notturna, Music@Menlo Live
Other Media
Scott Pingel in the News
Read All News
strings
A Lineage of SFCM Strings Continues at Charleston Symphony
December 5, 2022
alumni success
SFCM Grad Joins Prestigious London Conservatory Faculty
October 20, 2022
diversity, equity, and inclusion
SFCM's Latinx Club Spotlights Lesser-Known Composers in Benefit Concert
October 7, 2022
