Sara Neilson is a Double Bass Instructor in the Greater Chicago area, as well as Section Bass with the Arkansas Symphony and the Southwest Michigan Symphony. Through her mentors at DePaul, where she received her Master’s Degree in Music Performance, and elsewhere, she brings a movement-based teaching philosophy to the bass world. In addition to teaching, Sara has performed at venues across the US and Canada, most notably Carnegie Hall in NYC and Orchestra hall in Chicago. She was runner up in the DePaul University Concerto Competition in 2014, and has been fortunate to work with Francois Rabbath for a performance at Le Domaine Forget in Québec, Canada.

Ms. Neilson’s students have been received to great acclaim and success at Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and the Obama Foundation. They have also been admitted to Interlochen School for the Fine Arts, NYO2, and NYO. Former students have continued in music or in other fields at University of Missouri, Howard University, Lawrence University, University of Chicago, and Carnegie Mellon University.

When she is not playing the Double Bass, Ms. Neilson can be found hiking, doing yoga, knitting, or just playing with her wonderful dog, Olive.