Twenty double bassists from around the world competed in the inaugural Bradetich Foundation International Double Bass Solo Competition at UNT in June. Foundation and competition founder Jeff Bradetich, Regents Professor of double bass, says he expects the event will help double bassists earn long-needed appreciation as solo instrumentalists.

“Winners will be international ambassadors for the double bass,” says Bradetich, who adds that such competitions were not available for the double bass when he was a young performer.

Winning the top prize — $10,000 and a New York debut in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall — was Artem Chirkov of Russia. Namgyun Kim of Korea clinched the second-place prize of $5,000, and Rex Surany of New Jersey won the $2,500 third-place prize. All three earned CD recording and distribution, concerts and master classes throughout the U.S. and abroad, and four years of career development.

Tian Yang Liu, a UNT student from China, earned honorable mention and was named the favorite of the voting audience.