International Society of Bassists Announces 2024 Jane Little Scholarship Recipient

Maxine Gimbel has been awarded the $10,000 scholarship for an outstanding female bassist at a tertiary level

Founded in 2022, the International Society of Bassists’ (ISB) Jane Little Scholarship is named for Jane Little, who played in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for 71 years, and was one of the longest-serving members of any American professional orchestra.

Carrying a value of $10,000, the scholarship annually recognizes an outstanding female bassist who is entering their tertiary study.

This year’s recipient, Maxine Gimbel of Oak Park, Illinois, began playing the bass at age 12 with Mohannad Al Zahabi, and is currently principal bass of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Studying with Ian Hallas of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Gimbel’s accolades include an honorable mention at the Walgreens National Concerto Competition in 2022. 

She has also served as principal bass in the Illinois Music Education Association’s 2023 Honors Orchestra, and attended the Boston University Tanglewood Institute in 2023. 

Her upcoming events include performances as a member of the National Youth Orchestra of the USA (NYO-USA) for its upcoming 2024 international tour.

Additionally, Gimbel has been accepted by a number of music schools and will soon attend college to begin her double bass performance studies in the fall. 

“The panel was again very impressed and moved by the quality of the applicants, both musically and in terms of character as evidenced by their statements and references,” read the press release.