Ian Bracchitta - Principal Bass
Ian Bracchitta is a versatile double bassist equally at home in the classical, jazz and popular idioms. Ian is Principal Bassist of the Spartanburg Philharmonic, Assistant Principal Bassist of the Greenville Symphony and is a freelance bassist with the Charlotte and Charleston Symphony Orchestras.
As a jazz bassist he performs extensively in the area and has appeared with The Tommy Dorsey, Nelson Riddle and Cab Calloway Orchestras, Kate McGarry, Kevin Mahogany, Freddie Bryant and Dianne Schuur among many others. Ian can be heard on his recent cd, Reflections. Additionally, he has performed with the orchestras for the national tours of countless Broadway shows such as Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Beautiful, West Side Story, Porgy and Bess, Evita and My Fair Lady and has been heard on regional commercials and industrial soundtracks.
A dedicated teacher, Ian teaches at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, Furman and Clemson Universities and has taught at the University of South Carolina’s School of Music and UNC-Ashville.
5 Questions
What piece or composer do you wish orchestras played more often? That changes a lot for me, typically by the season. Last year I kept hearing a couple of R. V. Williams symphonies that never get played and I always want to hear new works by living composers.
What is your favorite place you’ve ever performed and why? A number of years ago I was recording the first disc for an NYC-based chamber group named "Synchronicity” and we recorded at the American Academy of Arts and Letters up in the Washington Heights section of NYC. The acoustics were really great for the music we were performing.
What’s something you’re currently obsessed with? I’m not sure I’d say obsessed but perhaps being a more mindful, present, empathetic person (... and secretly studying Math.)
What is your greatest accomplishment you’re the most proud of? Seeing both my kids able to get an education and knowing how lucky and fortunate I’ve been.
If you won a million-dollar lottery tomorrow, what would be the first three things you did? Pay off debt, buy a smaller Italian bass, give to 1 particular charity and (4) give the rest to my loved ones.
+ MORE QUESTIONS
- What is the best concert you’ve ever been to, classical or otherwise? That’s a hard one. I’ve been to a few that standout. One night at the now defunct Bradlee’s in NYC I heard bassist George Mraz and pianist Jimmy Rowels performing as a duo. Outstanding. The Met orchestra in late 70’s, wow!
- What is your ultimate comfort food? Italian, particularly rustic Sicilian.
- When driving or travelling, do you prefer music or podcasts and what’s your go-to choice?? Both music and podcasts. Pretty much anything to do with Space Science, NASA
- What would your perfect day look like Compose a tune with no disturbances, eat great food, see the ocean.
- If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be and why? Somewhere along the banks of the Hudson river near my boat. As T.S. Eliot wrote, “ In my beginning is my end.” East Coker from Four Quartets