W.
Gregory Berton
Double Bass
Hometown:
Portland, Oregon
Age when you started playing your instrument?
10
Year joined SDSO?
1982
What other orchestras have you been a member of?
Principal Bass of the Austin Symphony;
Principal Bass of the Symphonisches Orchester Berlin,
Oregon Symphony;
Principal Bass of Aspen Chamber Symphony
Education:
Studied in String Bass Performance program with
Stuart Sankey at UT Austin;
four summers as Fellowship student at the
Aspen Music Festival.
Area music affiliations:
Several seasons played with SDCO,
String Bass instructor at USD,
many summers at the Peter Britt Festival,
will perform this summer (2006) as
Principal Bass at the Cascade Festival in Bend,
Oregon with Murray Sidlin.
Other instruments you play?
When I was in High School I played lead guitar
with the rock group Prism.
I worked my way through college playing jazz
in clubs on both string and electric bass.
Hobbies:
My hobbies are reading about politics, playing
handyman/gentleman farmer at our property in Oregon,
and mountain hiking. Most of my time right
now is spent raising children and being a family
guy. I am married to my first wife Rosanne and we have
two wonderful children, Eleanor (16) and Kieran (10).
The checkered history of the orchestra has led to an interesting life for me. I was privileged to spend a couple of
years as Orchestra Committee Chairman during what was then the longest lockout in American orchestra history.
During the last "break in service," we spent five years living in Ohio where--amongst other things--I served
as foreman of the Lorain County Grand Jury. I have had the pleasure of doing lots of volunteer work, including
a stint on the SDSO Board.
Currently I serve on the Governance Committee at the San Diego High School/School of International Studies.
I would like people to know that the reason I continue to perform is because I hope that hearing us play elevates
their souls to a higher level, that as they listen to some of mankind's most eloquent creations,
it will give them pause as they ponder the rest of life in all its complexities.
Double Bass
Hometown:
Portland, Oregon
Age when you started playing your instrument?
10
Year joined SDSO?
1982
What other orchestras have you been a member of?
Principal Bass of the Austin Symphony;
Principal Bass of the Symphonisches Orchester Berlin,
Oregon Symphony;
Principal Bass of Aspen Chamber Symphony
Education:
Studied in String Bass Performance program with
Stuart Sankey at UT Austin;
four summers as Fellowship student at the
Aspen Music Festival.
Area music affiliations:
Several seasons played with SDCO,
String Bass instructor at USD,
many summers at the Peter Britt Festival,
will perform this summer (2006) as
Principal Bass at the Cascade Festival in Bend,
Oregon with Murray Sidlin.
Other instruments you play?
When I was in High School I played lead guitar
with the rock group Prism.
I worked my way through college playing jazz
in clubs on both string and electric bass.
Hobbies:
My hobbies are reading about politics, playing
handyman/gentleman farmer at our property in Oregon,
and mountain hiking. Most of my time right
now is spent raising children and being a family
guy. I am married to my first wife Rosanne and we have
two wonderful children, Eleanor (16) and Kieran (10).
The checkered history of the orchestra has led to an interesting life for me. I was privileged to spend a couple of
years as Orchestra Committee Chairman during what was then the longest lockout in American orchestra history.
During the last "break in service," we spent five years living in Ohio where--amongst other things--I served
as foreman of the Lorain County Grand Jury. I have had the pleasure of doing lots of volunteer work, including
a stint on the SDSO Board.
Currently I serve on the Governance Committee at the San Diego High School/School of International Studies.
I would like people to know that the reason I continue to perform is because I hope that hearing us play elevates
their souls to a higher level, that as they listen to some of mankind's most eloquent creations,
it will give them pause as they ponder the rest of life in all its complexities.