Praised as a “master of his instrument” and “virtuosic performer of undeniable gifts” (Fanfare), bassist Edward Kass performs internationally as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral musician, specializing in contemporary performance. A graduate of the San Jose Unified Public School system, Kass is noted for his “phenomenal musicianship” (Which Sinfonia) and “terrific precision” (The Arts Fuse).

Mr. Kass performs frequently with such groups as the International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble Dal Niente, and Sound Icon, and his recent appearances include the Lucerne Festival, Tanglewood, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Donaueschinger Musiktage, and Elbphilharmonie Visions. Dedicated to the creation of new music, Mr. Kass has premiered dozens of new works, including commissions by Katherine Balch, Unsuk Chin, György Kurtág, and more.

Since 2016, he has performed with soprano Nina Guo as Departure Duo. Known for their “inestimable chemistry” with “both intimacy and power” (Take Effect), the duo has sold out shows at Spoleto Festival USA and has been featured at Yellow Barn, Constellation’s Frequency Series (Chicago), Sequence at km28 (Berlin), and more. Their “exquisitely beautiful” (Avant Music News) debut album, Immensity Of, was released on New Focus Recordings in 2022.

Sought after as an artistic leader and pedagogue, Mr. Kass serves as a Contemporary Leader for the Lucerne Festival, a role that combines performance with artistic curation, creation of new works, and pedagogy. In addition to teaching at the Lucerne Festival Academy, he has been in residence at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Brandeis University, UC Santa Barbara, University of Georgia, and more. With pianist and music therapist Renate Rohlfing, Mr. Kass co-created “Tell Your Story,” a community-based creative engagement project for Spoleto Festival USA to create sonic memoirs preserving the oral history of the greater Charleston area.

Edward Kass completed his graduate and undergraduate studies at New England Conservatory under the tutelage of Todd Seeber and Lawrence Wolfe. In 2015, he received the New England Conservatory John Cage Award for Outstanding Contribution to Contemporary Music Performance.