The Double Bass HQ team is thrilled to see the team at The Artemis Bass Initiative develop these programs and support the double bass community. Support their work.
The Artemis Bass Initiative’s Mission
The Artemis Bass Initiative is dedicated to advancing the careers of women and nonbinary bassists through mentorship, orchestral training, and professional development. We believe in fostering a more inclusive and diverse classical music landscape—one where all talented bassists have equitable opportunities to succeed.
Why Artemis?
Current statistics from 32 of the orchestras with the highest salaries showed that only 15 out of 226 bassists (6.6%) were women, and 18 orchestras have zero women in their bass sections.
This is a substantial decrease from 2017, where the statistics showed 22 women out of 229 bassists (9.6%) and only 15 orchestras with no women employed in the bass section.
This is not a pipeline problem. Those who teach at the middle and high school level can attest anecdotally to the growing numbers of girls choosing to play bass. Data from the past ten years shows the gender balances in the young bassist program at the International Society of Bassists convention nearing 50/50.
And yet, there is a drop off in the numbers of women who choose to pursue the double bass in college and a more significant drop off in the proportion of women representation in the bass sections of professional orchestras, especially the most prestigious and highly paid.
The main factors contributing to this drop off are:
•A lack of access to role models
•Less access to networking and performance opportunities due to gender dynamics and discrimination
•Systemic lack of confidence to pursue the “risk” of a challenging career path
•Low representation of women in faculty positions
•Orchestras continuing to hire from unblind processes
•A feeling of otherness and exclusion in male-dominated environments
Transgender and nonbinary people face many of the same challenges as women and in some ways these challenges are compounded. Social stigma encourages transgender and nonbinary people to stay closeted which not only reinforces norms of gender identity and expression but also ensures a continued lack of representation. This also makes it harder to gather accurate data about our communities.
The institutions of classical music are inherently conservative. From dress codes to facilities, culture and beyond, the strong resistance of our organizations to change and the few openly trans and nonbinary people makes advocating for change a daunting task. For transgender and nonbinary people, to live inside of systems that were created to only accommodate cisgender people can be uncomfortable and exhausting. It creates additional barriers to their participation and inhibits their ability to live authentically as themselves and be accepted for who they are.
Our goal is to support and empower the next generation of women bassists as they enter the college pipeline and give them the tools and a network that will help them to succeed when they enter the professional field.
Mentorship Program
The Artemis Mentorship Program is a 12-month partnering program connecting mentees (age 18+) who are pursuing a professional performing career with successful women and nonbinary bassists in the industry.
Eligibility Requirements:
•Age: 18-30
•Currently enrolled in or graduated from a Double Bass Performance Major in college
•Identifies as a woman or nonbinary
Application Requirements:
•500 Word Essay about why they want to participate
•Resume
•Link to Application
How it Works:
•Mentees will be placed in a cohort with three other mentees and assigned a mentor
•Bimonthly, mentees will receive: A 30 minute individual check in with the mentor
•A 1-hour meeting with the cohort and mentor
•The focus of these meetings will be: Goal setting + time management skills
•Professional development skills
•Problem-solving issues with studio environment, communication with teacher, and other challenges of navigating a performance degree
•Confidence-building and mindset training
Why Your Support Matters
Philanthropy plays a pivotal role in sustaining and expanding these essential programs. Your support directly enables us to:
•Provide scholarships to talented musicians facing financial barriers.
•Expand mentorship opportunities to reach more aspiring artists.
•Develop new initiatives that address systemic inequities in classical music.
Ways to Give
We invite you to make a meaningful impact by contributing at one of the following levels:
•Supporter ($100–$249): Helps fund professional development seminars and outreach initiatives.
•Leadership Donor ($250–$999): Supports the mentorship program and orchestral training opportunities.
•Scholarship Patron ($1,000+): Provides a named scholarship to directly support a participant’s journey toward a professional career.
Join Artemis Bass Initiative in Changing the Future
With your generosity, women and nonbinary bassists gain the support, inspiration, and sense of belonging they need to flourish. Together, we can create a future where classical music is more inclusive, welcoming, and filled with opportunity for every bassist.
To make a donation or learn more, visit our crowdfunding website or reach out to our team.
