Po-Yu Fang

Taiwanese double bassist Po-Yu Fang is dedicated to expanding the possibilities of his instrument and sharing his artistry. He has performed across Taiwan, Singapore, and the United States, exploring a diverse repertoire and contributing original arrangements to the double bass community.

In 2023, Po-Yu Fang was named one of the top ten semi-finalists in the International Society of Bassists (ISB) Solo Competition. At the ISB Convention hosted by the University of Michigan, he also presented an arrangement of Beethoven’s 7th Symphony 2nd movement for a double bass quintet. Paul Ellison, Lynette S. Autrey Professor of Double Bass and Co-Chair of Strings at Rice University, praised Po-Yu’s performance of Brahms Cello Sonata in E minor, stating, “Anyone would pay to hear you play.”

After the pandemic, he moved to the U.S. to pursue his Master of Music degree at Louisiana State University (LSU) in August 2022, where he also served as a Teaching Assistant under the tutelage of Yung-chiao Wei. Po-Yu instructs undergraduate and graduate students, coaches bass sectionals, makes arrangements for bass ensembles and various instruments, and is a collaborative pianist for degree recitals and juries. He was invited twice to perform in the annual Stately Oaks Festival, one of the biggest recruitment events at LSU.

During two years of his Master of Music degree, Po-Yu’s accolades include winning First Prizes in both the 2023 Louisiana Bass Festival Solo Competition and Orchestra Competition in April, leading to an opportunity as a substitute bassist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in February 2025. He further made history by becoming the first double bassist to win First Prize in the 2023 Dean’s Concerto Competition at Louisiana State University and the first double bassist to secure First Prize in the 2024 Emerging Artist Competition in Louisiana, earning him the honor of performing as a soloist with the LSU Symphony Orchestra and with the Monroe Symphony Orchestra.

Since Fall 2023, Po-Yu has served as the General Manager of the Louisiana Bass Festival, where he has played a pivotal role in connecting bassists globally, organizing competitions, inviting world-renowned music/bass educators personally and virtually, and securing over $50,000 in scholarships and prizes. The festival has featured collaborations with esteemed institutions such as the Interlochen Center for the Arts and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, attracting participants from over 18 countries. One of the major projects, the BassFest Virtual Masterclass Series, has been established to deliver the opportunity to connect great musicians with financially disadvantaged students without any physical boundary.

His professional orchestral experience in the U.S. includes performances and sub opportunities with renowned orchestras such as the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony Orchestra, Aspen Music Festival Orchestra, Rapides Symphony Orchestra (regional), and Acadiana Symphony Orchestra (regional).

Po-Yu Fang holds a Bachelor of Music with Honours (Distinction) from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore under the former Principal Bassist of Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Guennadi Mouzyka, and received a Master of Music in String Bass Performance at Louisiana State University, under Yung-chiao Wei, the judge of the International Sperger Bass Competition and International Society of Bassists Solo Competition.