Biography

Stephen Tramontozzi joined the San Francisco Symphony in 1980 and serves as Assistant Principal Bass, holding the Richard & Rhoda Goldman Chair. In the summers, he is principal bass with the Sun Valley Music Festival Orchestra.

A member of the faculties of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and University of California, Berkeley, Mr. Tramontozzi previously taught at Stanford University and University of California, Santa Cruz. He has coached the SF Symphony Youth Orchestra bass section since its inception in 1981, and he gives masterclasses across the United States.

He has produced three solo CDs, Walkabout, Home Bass, and Urban Bass; recorded George Crumb’s Book of Madrigals under the composer’s supervision; appeared on an album of chamber music by Lou Harrison; and joined Awadagin Pratt and the St. Lawrence String Quartet for a recording of J.S. Bach’s keyboard concertos. His publications include The Solo Cello Suites of J.S. Bach for Double Bass, Nos. 1–5 and other works for double bass.

A native of Arlington, Massachusetts, Mr. Tramontozzi studied at the Eastman School of Music, New England Conservatory, and the San Francisco Conservatory.