Northwood Street, Camperdown NSW, Australia
Double Bass Lessons | Artist development, Ensemble Coaching, HSC Music Exam Preparation, Online Lessons
Bio
Bonita is a highly qualified professional double bass player and teacher.
Bonita is a permanent full-time member of the Opera Australia Orchestra, performing both as Tutti and seasonal Principal Bass, and has extensive experience performing opera, ballet, and symphonic repertoire. She has performed globally with several esteemed orchestral ensembles including the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Dutch Ballet Orchestra, Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, and Auckland Philharmonia. Within Australia, she has had Guest Principal and Tutti engagements with orchestras such as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Bonita’s breadth of experience extends to prominent early music ensembles including Pinchgut, Orchestra of the Antipodes, Australian Brandenberg Orchestra, and the Cantata Singers Orchestra (USA), as well as recording for several acclaimed Hollywood film scores.
Bonita holds degrees from prestigious performing arts institutions. She was awarded a full scholarship to complete her Master of Music (Performance) from Boston University, College of Fine Arts and was fortunate to study orchestral repertoire under renowned Boston Symphony Orchestra bassists Todd Seeber and Principal Ed Barker. Bonita received her Bachelor of Music (Performance) from the University of Melbourne, Victorian College of the Arts, and has spent several years living and working in The Netherlands, Europe.
Bonita has over 15 years of experience teaching students of all ages and levels. She currently runs her own private teaching studio and also offers lessons online. Bonita has also taught at educational programs including Melbourne Youth Orchestra, Sydney Youth Orchestra, and State Music Camp.
Teaching Info
My teaching style is friendly, comfortable, and engaging. I am passionate about music and the double bass, and enjoy sharing this with others who are drawn to the instrument! Whether I’m working with children, teens or adult students, I appreciate that everyone has a different way of learning so I aim to tailor my lessons to each student’s individual needs and goals. I teach both German and French style bows and have many years of experience teaching the AMEB repertoire. I provide structure and support to enable students to advance through each AMEB level. I am very familiar with this route, having done it myself many years ago!
As a professional bassist with a smaller physical stature, I have a focused approach to body awareness to ensure that a player’s size is no barrier to success. I believe that it is vital to be aware of your body to prevent injury, be as efficient as possible, and ultimately get the best possible sound out of your double bass. I emphasise the importance of establishing the correct “set up”, so that good technique becomes second nature. In my experience, having strong foundations is critical to enjoying the double bass and maximising a player’s potential.