Paul DeNola

A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Paul DeNola joined the National Symphony Orchestra’s bass section in July of 2006. Before moving to Washington, D.C., Paul spent three seasons as a member of the Oregon Symphony in Portland.

Paul completed his undergraduate degree at Indiana University where he studied with former Los Angeles Philharmonic Principal Bassist Bruce Bransby. He then attended the University of Southern California where he studied with Nico Abondolo and privately with David Moore. His other teachers have included Barry Lieberman, Barton Frank, and Spencer Hoveskeland.

Paul has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New Century Chamber Orchestra, the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society, the Eclipse Chamber Orchestra, the Garth Newel Music Center, the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the Los Angeles Bach Festival, among many other orchestras and chamber music groups. He has also attended the Aspen Festival of Music and the Music Academy of the West.

As of 2015, Paul is the double bass instructor at American University in Washington, D.C. In the summers at AU, Paul collaborates with fellow NSO bassist Ira Gold for an intensive double bass workshop called DC Bass at American University. Additionally, he is actively maintaining a private bass studio as well as coaching local youth orchestra bass sections. Paul is also on faculty at Peabody Bass Works, a summer music workshop for aspiring young bassists. He was previously on faculty at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, and was an assistant instructor at the University of Southern California.

A recent collaboration with NSO violinist Heather LeDoux Green has resulted in a new music comedy show for kids called “The String Thing.” The show features a violin/bass duo playing classical music mixed with jokes and props. “The String Thing” will be featured as part of the Teddy Bear series at the Kennedy Center in spring of 2016.

Paul’s mammoth cello-shouldered double bass was made by Thomas Dodd in London, England, around 1810.