We are happy to announce that John Pellegrino will return as associated faculty, double bass. He joined the School of Music faculty in spring semester 2023, making this his first full academic year leading the bass studio.

Pellegrino is principal bass of the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra (Ohio) and the Peninsula Music Festival (Wisconsin), assistant principal bass of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (Ohio) as well as a member of the Grand Teton Music Festival (Wyoming). In summer 2023 Pellegrino joined Classical Tahoe (Nevada). He has performed, toured and recorded with many of this country’s leading orchestras and is on the faculty of both The Ohio State University and Capital University.

In 2007 Pellegrino was named artistic director of Music on the Hill, a chamber music festival located in the Ocean State. Before moving to Columbus to become a member of the CSO in 1989, he was a section member of the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra. Prior to joining the NOSO he earned degrees from the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School. In addition to his studies in NYC, Pellegrino performed with the New York Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, the Philharmonia Virtuosi, the International House Chamber Orchestra and the Jupiter Symphony. He has served on the faculties of Ohio Wesleyan University, Denison University, the Eastern Music Festival (North Carolina), the Warwick Music Festival (Rhode Island), Kinhaven Music Camp (Vermont) and the Chamber Music Connection in Worthington (Ohio).

In 2008, he was the recipient of the Ohio Private/Studio Teacher of the Year award given by the Ohio String Teachers Association. His students have won competitions held by the International Society of Bassists, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Aspen Music Festival, Ohio String Teachers Association, Interlochen Arts Camp and the Philadelphia Orchestra.  

Professor Pellegrino is an incredible addition to the string faculty in the School of Music. His local, regional and national reputation demonstrates a stellar record of accomplishment, both as performer and pedagogue. We are thrilled to have his many of years of expertise joining us in the performance area this fall.

— Susan Powell, DM, professor of percussion and area head of performance