William Wasson

Acting Assistant Principal Double Bass

William Wasson joined the San Francisco Opera Orchestra in 2024, having previously spent three seasons with the National Symphony Orchestra and one season as Principal Bass of the San Antonio Symphony.

After starting his musical education in the Los Angeles public school system, Bill earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University, where he studied with Bruce Bransby. He then completed graduate degrees in his hometown at the Colburn Conservatory and the University of Southern California, studying with Peter Lloyd and David Moore, respectively. Additional early teachers include Kaveh Rastegar, Francis Senger and David Young.

Bill has performed frequently with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, as well as with the San Diego Symphony and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. As a student, he attended the Aspen Music Festival, the New York String Orchestra Seminar and the Academy at Le Domaine Forget in Quebec. He has performed in the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl and received an Honorable Mention in the International Society of Bassists Composition Competition.