Conservatory to Host Inaugural Milt Hinton Institute in June

Oberlin Conservatory is proud to present the first-ever Milt Hinton Institute for Studio Bass, which will take place on the Oberlin campus June 8-15, 2014. The institute is named in honor of the legendary jazz bassist, a prolific performer and studio musician whose long career intersected with many of the greatest musicians of the 20th century.

Designed for college and pre-college bass students (ages 13 and up), the Milt Hinton Institute for Studio Bass consists of a week of master classes, performances, films, bass ensembles, studio sessions, and more. The institute will focus on a comprehensive range of genres: classical, early music, jazz, slap, Latin, and electric.

Directed by Peter Dominguez, Oberlin professor of jazz studies and double bass, this dynamic, multiple-emphasis program will feature some of the nation’s finest teachers and performers. Among the clinicians in attendance will be Philip Alejo, John Clayton, Richard Davis, Diana Gannett, Jerry Jemmott, John Kennedy, Audrey Melzer, Rufus Reid, Donovan Stokes, Sue Yelanjian, and members of the Oberlin faculty.

“Milt Hinton's contributions as a musician and humanitarian are truly unique,” says Dominguez. “He represents an exceptional example of longevity in an illustrious performing career and a righteous individual who lived his life with honesty and relevance.

“The Milt Hinton Institute and its faculty remain true to the essence of Milt's legacy: his commitment to the highest level of musicianship and human dignity, and his commitment to sharing these attributes with aspiring young bassists.”

Applications for the inaugural Milt Hinton Institute are due May 1, 2014. Scholarships are available for junior high and high school students, and double basses are available for rent.

For complete registration and fee information, please visit the Milt Hinton Institute page at oberlin.edu. To learn about Oberlin's many other summer programs for musicians, go to oberlin.edu/con/summer.

ABOUT MILT HINTON: Born in rural Mississippi, Milt Hinton came to be known as “The Dean of Jazz Bass Players” during a career in which he performed alongside the greatest jazz musicians of the 20th century. For decades, Hinton also thrived as a studio musician, and with nearly 1,200 recording sessions to his name, he has been called the most recorded jazz musician of all time. Hinton passed away in 2000, but his musical legacy lives on: Oberlin has acquired Hinton's collection of basses, which will serve as invaluable resources for students in the Milt Hinton Institute.