Contrabass
Originally from Chicago, Paul has been a member of the Las Vegas Philharmonic since 2000. Paul is also an active freelance musician who’s credits include among others The Phantom of the Opera, Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, Mama Mia, Spamalot, Avenue Q and a Canadian tour of Miss Saigon.
In addition to performing Paul is also an educator. He is the Adjunct Professor of Double Bass at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas as well a double bass coach with the Clark County School District, working with both the middle and high school levels. Paul also maintains a private teaching studio.
Paul received a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance from the University of Northern Colorado (Greeley) where he studied double bass with James Vaughn. Other teachers include Christopher Hanulik (Los Angeles Philharmonic) and Thomas Lederer (Dallas Symphony).
In his leisure time Paul enjoys among other things hiking, gym time, meditation and is a big fan of sports.
Ryan Dudder is a graduate of the University of Portland (1997) where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree. Upon graduation Dudder moved to Pendleton, Oregon to teach orchestra and was also an active musician within the community and neighboring areas. He served as principal double bass for the Oregon East Symphony, and was an active member in the bass section for the Walla Walla Symphony and Grande Ronde Symphony.
In 2001 Dudder relocated to Las Vegas where he is the orchestra director at Cannon Jr. High School. He has built the string program to include six classes with over 240 students. In 2003 he assumed the responsibilities of chairperson for the school district’s Middle School Honor Orchestra, and in 2007 became the conductor for Sinfonia, one of the orchestras within the Las Vegas Youth Orchestras. In 2003 he completed a Masters of Music degree in music education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Dudder has been a member of the Las Vegas Philharmonic bass section since 2004 and was principal bass for the Desert Springs Chamber Orchestra. Dudder is also an active member of the American String Teachers Association.
Dr. Geoff Neuman is an experienced conductor, music educator and performing musician and plays bass in the Las Vegas Philharmonic. He has completed a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Conducting and Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. With over 20 years of experience as a music educator, his focus has been on string education along with conducting orchestras and band ensembles. While teaching in Clark County School District he was part of the program named as the national Grammy Signature School. He is a sought out clinician for both bass and conducting. Previously the Director of Orchestras at the College of Southern Nevada and Associate Conductor of The Henderson Symphony, he has recently been appointed as the Director of Instrumental Music Studies at the State College of Florida and the Bradenton Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Neuman made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut and has conducted in various concert halls throughout US and Europe. His ensembles have performed at prestigious conferences such as The Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and American String Teachers Association National Conference.
As a bassist, Geoff is known for his versatility with both the electric and string bass in classical, rock, jazz, and other music situations. In addition to playing string bass in the Las Vegas Philharmonic, he also performs regularly with his jazz trio, and has performed with artists such as Andrea Bocelli, Jennifer Hudson, Luciano Pavarotti, Kelly Clarkson, Elton John and many others. He has performed at major venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Village Vanguard, and the Kennedy Center, and as a substitute musician on production shows in Las Vegas including Cirque du Soleil’s Ka’, Show Stoppers, Lion King, Mamma Mia and more.
