Jason McNeel
Acting Principal Double Bass
Jason McNeel, bassist of the Charlotte Symphony since 2017, has served as Acting Principal Bass for the last three seasons. McNeel also teaches at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, maintains a private teaching studio, and freelances with many prestigious orchestras. He has been a frequent substitute with the Pittsburgh Symphony, playing with top soloists and conductors including Lang Lang, Yo-Yo Ma, Yefim Bronfman, Anne-Sophie Mutter, James Ehnes, Gianandrea Noseda, Manfred Honeck, and John Williams. In 2019, he joined the Pittsburgh Symphony on a European tour, which included engagements at the Berliner Philharmonie, Royal Concertgebouw, Elbphilarmonie, and two concerts at the Musikverien in Vienna. Other collaborations include Washington National Opera’s production of Strauss’s Elektra, The Royal Scottish Ballet’s production of The Crucible, and a semi-staged production of Salome with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
Prior to joining the Charlotte Symphony, McNeel was a frequent substitute with the Cincinnati Symphony, including two international tours to Europe and Asia. McNeel especially cherished the opportunity to perform at the renowned BBC Proms Festival on the Cincinnati Symphony’s 2017 European tour. During this time, he also held a part-time contract with the Rochester Philharmonic and pursued post-graduate studies with Owen Lee, principal bassist with the Cincinnati Symphony.
McNeel enjoyed several summers as a fellow at the Aspen Music Festival and one summer at the Castleton Music Festival under the leadership of Lorin Maazel. He led the bass section during the Castleton Festival’s tour to Muscat, Oman, presenting Puccini’s La Bohème at the Royal Opera House.
McNeel holds a Master of Music from Carnegie Mellon University, where he studied with Micah Howard of the Pittsburgh Symphony, and a Bachelor of Music from Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, studying with Albert Laszlo.
What piece made you fall in love with music?
Sibelius Symphony No. 2. Every time I play or hear it, I get transported back to the time I first fell in love with orchestral music.
What’s your favorite thing about performing for Charlotte audiences?
I really enjoy their enthusiasm for great music! We play off their energy, and we are lucky to have such a devoted audience.
