Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Musicians

Double Bass
Kathryn Nettleman, Principal

Kathryn Nettleman is happy to have a life playing classical music. A freelance musician, Ms. Nettleman performs frequently in the bass sections of some of the finest orchestras in the country, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Saint Louis Symphony. She is currently Principal Bass of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and is Assistant Principal Bass of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. Kate has performed as a season substitute with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and has enjoyed playing with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Opera Theater, and Grant Park Symphony. She has traveled to cities as diverse as Bergen, Norway and New Orleans to work with their symphony orchestras, and recently spent seven weeks in China serving as Guest Principal Bass of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.

Prior to moving to Chicago, Ms. Nettleman played in the bass section of the Naples Philharmonic in Florida. From 1999-2001 she was a member of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, where she co-chaired a musician-run concert series. She is honored to have been awarded by her peers there the NWS “Musician of the Year Award for Artistic Leadership”. Ms. Nettleman attended graduate school at the Yale University School of Music as a student of Donald Palma. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Juilliard School, having spent four years in the studio of renowned bass teacher Homer Mensch. Kate received a full scholarship to both schools, and spent three summers as a String Fellowship student at the Aspen Music Festival. Ms. Nettleman began playing the violin, and eventually bass, through the public school system of Haddon Township, New Jersey. As a high school student she studied with Philadelphia Orchestra Assistant Principal Bassist Neil Courtney, was a member of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, and she twice received the New Jersey Governor's Award in Arts Education.

In addition to her busy performing schedule, Kate teaches at the Merit School of Music and Trinity International University. For the past five years she's enjoyed volunteering as a “Friendly Visitor” to homebound seniors through Resurrection Hospital's Home Health Care Services program. Ms. Nettleman loves vegetarian cooking and baking and is a dedicated fitness runner, having completed several marathons with a personal record of 4:05. She has not owned a television since 1999.