Nina DeCesare

Nina DeCesare joined the bass section of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in September 2020 after five years playing with the Oregon Symphony. She has also performed with the Seattle Symphony, the Houston Symphony, the Knights Orchestra, and the Oregon Bach Festival. Equally comfortable as an orchestral musician, soloist, and chamber musician, Nina regularly performs with Third Angle New Music, 45th Parallel, and Classical Up Close. Nina is passionate about teaching and mentorship and has presented masterclasses at Peabody Institute, the Pittsburgh Bass Symposium, and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. In the summer, she has appeared as faculty at KC Bass Workshop, the Twin Cities Bass Camp, and the Rabbath Institute Los Angeles.

Nina began playing the bass while studying with renowned pedagogue George Vance, later working closely with Ira Gold and Hal Robinson. In 2011, Nina made her solo debut with the Chesapeake Orchestra in Southern Maryland, performing the Vanhal Concerto. In 2014, Nina completed her Bachelor of Music degree at Rice University, studying with Paul Ellison. During her time at Rice, she spent her summers at the Tanglewood Music Center, Sarasota Music Festival, Moritzburg Festival Academy, Wabass Institute, and Domaine Forget International Academy.

When she is not performing, practicing, or teaching, Nina can be found hiking, cooking, or playing with her two dogs, Misty and Merlin.