Artist Picture

Brandon Mason

Bass

DSO member since 2020

Brandon Mason joined the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's double bass section in the fall of 2020 after five seasons as a member of the Kansas City Symphony. Prior to his full-time appointment with the DSO, Mason performed as a guest musician with the orchestra during their 2017 tour of Japan and China. In February 2020, he served as a guest Principal Bass with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Riccardo Muti. Mason performs at the Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson Hole, Wyoming each summer as a member of their bass section, a position he has held since 2019.

Originally from Arlington, Texas, Mason's journey with the bass began in his elementary school’s fifth grade orchestra program. He attributes his interest in and pursuit of a career in classical music to the presence of a strong and well-funded public school music education program.

Mason holds a Bachelor of Music from Boston University’s College of Fine Arts where he studied with Edwin Barker, the esteemed Principal Bass of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He earned a Master of Music at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where he studied with the renowned pedagogue Paul Ellison.

As a student, Mason freelanced regularly, performing with various ensembles including the Houston Symphony, the Boston Philharmonic, Musiqa Houston, the Discovery Ensemble, the Marsh Chapel Collegium, and Time's Arrow. He spent the summers during his collegiate years performing in prestigious music programs including the Tanglewood Music Center, Aspen Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, and the Spoleto Music Festival.