Full Bio
Victoria Bakewell is a double bassist and researcher whose work bridges the stage, the classroom, and the archive. A native of Fargo, North Dakota, she holds degrees from Concordia College (where she studied with Dr. Gregory Hamilton) and the University of Colorado Boulder (where she studied with Dr. Paul Erhard). She is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami under the mentorship of Dr. Brian Powell.
As a performer, Victoria has played with ensembles throughout the Midwest and Southeast, including the Frost Symphony Orchestra, Frost Wind Ensemble, MahlerFest, and Festival Napa Valley. She has been featured in faculty and fellowship recitals at Lutheran Summer Music, participated in masterclasses with renowned bassists such as Scott Pingel, Joe Lescher, Rob Kassinger, and Gabriele Ragghianti, and toured internationally with both the Frost Wind Ensemble (Austria) and The Concordia Orchestra (Greece).
Victoria’s research focuses on the historical development of double bass pedagogy and the evolving role of the instrument in orchestral literature. Her work, “The Double Bass: Becoming the Foundation of the Orchestra,” earned first place in the 2024 International Society of Bassists Research Competition (Student Division) and will be published in the Online Journal of Bass Research. She will be presenting this research at the 2025 ISB Convention. Her interests include uncovering connections between regional bass traditions and expanding access to underrepresented bass literature.
An experienced and passionate educator, Victoria has held teaching fellowships with Lutheran Summer Music and taught at the CU Summer Music Academy, where she led sectionals, technique classes, and chamber groups. She has also been a mentor and coach for the North Star Chamber Festival and worked extensively with student ensembles throughout her academic career. Her teaching emphasizes strong technical foundations, musical independence, and an understanding of the bass’s historical and artistic context.
Outside of music, Victoria enjoys reading, photography, and strength training. She is currently building resources for fellow bassists, including educational materials and arrangements, and plans to release them soon.
To me, the double bass is one of the most powerful tools in any ensemble. Though often in a supporting role, its importance is infallible. It provides a depth that is both foundational and transformative. On its own, the bass holds a compelling solo voice that connects to any emotion and tells its story with honesty and strength.
I am passionate about exploring the intersections of performance, pedagogy, and research in insightful, adaptable, and meaningful ways. The double bass demands flexibility and intention, and I find purpose in embracing its full scope of capabilities—both as an artist and a scholar.
© 2025 Victoria Bakewell
This design is a personal emblem I originally created in high school—a symbolic representation of my journey through music. At its center is an unalome, a visual symbol for the path to enlightenment. It represents how music shaped me—giving me a voice, a place, and a path. Without music, I wouldn’t be who I am today. This emblem marks that journey, a reminder that artistry is not just performance—it’s identity, discovery, and growth.