San Bei Ji

I perform and teach classical double bass in Northern California.

I studied at the New England Conservatory of Music, and have studied privately with Stephen Tramontozzi, Donald Palma, Lawrence Wolfe, Cindy Browne-Rosefield, and Curtis Burris.

I’ve performed both principal and section roles in orchestras across North America and Europe, including performances with Michael Tilson-Thomas, Seiji Ozawa, Joshua Bell, Bobby McFerrin, and Dave Brubeck, and have performed extensive solo and chamber music repertoire. I have coached and managed youth orchestra and chamber music programs, and currently teach in-person and online through Lewis Music Studio.

My double bass was purchased from Curtis Burriss in Falls Church, Virginia, in 1994. I used the entirety of my student aid from New England Conservatory to finance it, and I then subsited on canned beans and instant noodles for the remainder of the year. The bass is an unlabeled instrument attributed to Lippold ca. 1900-1905, with a beautiful curly maple back and sides and a deep, warm, purring sound. My primary bow is made by Augagneur/Bergeron, a gift from my dear wife. The double bass underwent significant restoration between 2004 and 2019, and the C extension was added in 2022 by Pat McCarthy in Berkeley, California.