Jose Saavedra Diaz

Adjunct Instructor of Music

Jose Saavedra Diaz is a double bass player with a passion for nurturing the next generation of double bass artists; a vision focused on inspiring, teaching, and supporting the emerging global double bass artistry through pedagogy, performance, and social outreach of the double bass. Currently, Mr. Saavedra holds positions as Section Bass with the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra and Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra. He also serves as the Executive Director of the Bradetich Foundation and as Adjunct Faculty of Double Bass at Texas Woman’s University and Midwestern State University.

Originally from Costa Rica, Mr. Saavedra earned a Bachelor’s in Music at Universidad de Costa Rica under Prof. Juan Gamboa Guerrero, his Master’s in Music at the University of North Texas College of Music under the tutelage of Prof. Jeff Bradetich, and is currently a doctoral candidate and Teaching Assistant in Chamber Music Studies at the University of North Texas. He performs on a Rumano Solano bass ‘20, and an Otto A. Hoyer bow, showcasing his commitment to both historical craftsmanship and modern performance standards.

As a performer, Mr. Saavedra has shared the stage of numerous orchestras, including the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, Richardson Symphony Orchestra, McKinney Philharmonic, Longview Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfonica de Heredia, and more. His orchestral passion was cultivated through mentorship at the Chautauqua Institution in New York, where he studied under Owen Lee, Principal Bass of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and Curtis Burris, former Section Bass of the Philadelphia Orchestra and National Symphony.

In the realm of pedagogy, Mr. Saavedra is recognized for his innovative and goal-oriented teaching methods, which have broadened the musical horizons of students across the USA and Latin America. As Director of the Bass Conservatory of Dallas and founder of the International Virtual Bass Conservatory, he is at the forefront of continuing the pioneering pedagogical legacy of Jeff Bradetich and Dr. Gudrun Raschen. His teaching philosophy emphasizes personalized, results-driven instruction, ensuring each student achieves their highest potential.

Beyond classical music, Mr. Saavedra enjoys playing electric bass in genres such as death and heavy metal, reggae, and ska. In his free time, he also indulges in hiking, photography, yoga, and video editing.

Page last updated 4:59 PM, August 20, 2024