Dennis Whittaker (Double Bass) graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor University, and with a Master’s of Music from Northwestern University. His teachers include Paul Ellison, Jeff Bradetich, Eugene Levinson, Mark Whitney and Michael Cameron. In 1987, Mr. Whittaker won the Gary Karr Foundation National Double Bass competition, and was the recipient of a fine bass donated by the Karr foundation. He has been the principal Double Bassist of the Houston Grand Opera since 1996, and appears on eight world premiere recordings with that organization. He is the instructor of Double Bass at the University of Houston Moores School of Music since 1997. He has served as string area coordinator and is currently coordinator of the “Tuesday recital” series and string chamber music. He has hosted the Texas Double Bass symposium, and maintains a presence of master classes, low string festivals, and hosts visiting master classes in the state of Texas. Before teaching at the University of Houston, he taught orchestra in the public schools in Waco and Houston for seven years. He has acted as a substitute bassist with the Houston symphony since 1996, appearing on three recordings with them on the Telarc and Koch labels, and joined them on tours to Japan and Europe. He has also substituted with the Houston Ballet Orchestra, the Houston Sinfonietta, and the River Oaks Chamber orchestra.