International Society of Bassists Announces Winners of 2025 Makers Competition

The silver medal was shared between multiple makers in both major categories

The International Society of Bassists (ISB) held the 2025 edition of its biennial Makers Competition from June 2 to 4 at the Florida State University College of Music. Fifteen makers across a total of three different countries brought basses to the competition for consideration.

The instruments were compared across two categories, those of tone and workmanship.

In the tone category, Benjamin Joella and Jacob Stone Pembelton shared the silver medal, with no gold medal being awarded. In addition, Frederick Boissonnault and Mason Weedman received certificates for tone.

In the workmanship category, the silver medal was again shared, this time between Trevor Davis, Sam Morel, and Gian Pangaro. Certificates for workmanship were also given to Pembleton, Boissonnault, Weedman, and Benedict Puglisi.

The competition also includes a "sound-off" category, in which the instruments are played behind a curtain and the public is given the chance to vote on the tone of the basses. In this category, Christopher Gutierrez, Sam Morel, Keiran O’Hara, Gian Pangaro, and Gary Upton produced the top five instruments.

Dustin Williams served as the chair of the 2025 competition, and the juries were as follows: Pablo Alfaro, Joey Naeger, and Bill Scott (workmanship); and Jay Meder, David Marray, and John Schimek (tone).