Patricia R. Bastis, Cellist

Patricia R. Bastis is a professional cellist (Professional Biography pdf) and maintains Mrs. Pat’s Cello Studio, a small, classical cello performing arts studio in Southwest Washington providing one-on-one, private instruction for student beginners (see studio history).

Patricia attended the Indiana University Bloomington Jacobs School of Music (ranked #7 worldwide and #2 in the United States according to QS World University Rankings for performing arts universities worldwide). At the Jacobs School, she studied cello under Janos Starker, one of the world’s all-time top 20 greatest cellists according to BBC Music and many other similar classical music standards, and Fritz Magg [external link].  Patricia also studied under Dudley Powers, former principal cellist for the Chicago Symphony.  She has received further instruction from Robert LaMarchina [external link], William Fitzpatrick [external link] and Yorgos Kouritas [external link].  While at university, Patricia was a co-winner of the then annual Chicago-area Congress of Strings and awarded an invitation for a 2-week musical performance experience under Eugene Ormandy, conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra for 44 years.

During her early professional career Patricia played with the Chicago Youth Symphony (as principal cellist), Chicago Civic Orchestra (feeder for Chicago Symphony) and Indiana University Orchestra.  She then enjoyed a 19-year career with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra (HSO), then one of the nation’s top regional orchestras, as a full-time cellist.  After her time with HSO, Patricia was the principal cellist for 3 years with the Saddleback Symphony (Mission Viejo, California), a teaching orchestra.  She also periodically performed by invitation with the Southeast Symphony in Los Angeles, California.

As a member of the Honolulu Symphony cello section, Patricia played with the then principal cellist, Steven Pologe, currently a Professor of Cello at the University of Oregon School of Music and cellist with the Oregon String Quartet and Chamber Music Amici.  During her symphony time, the HSO performed with many well-known artists, including Yoyo Ma, Van Cliburn, Pinchas Zuckerman, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Ray Charles, Dave Brubeck, Janos Starker, Joshua Bell, Wynton Marsalis, and Lynn Harrell.  The HSO performed under numerous distinguished visiting conductors, including Eugene Ormandy, Robert LaMarchina, Thomas Schippers, Aaron Copeland, Aaron Khachaturian, Maxim Shostakovich, Seiji Ozawa, Dave Brubeck, Jean Martinon and Anthony Parnther.

In addition to classical etudes, sonatas, orchestral and chamber music, Patricia’s repertoire includes opera, ballet, and pop music.  She has performed at weddings, parties, chamber music classes, and student school assemblies, classes and talent shows.  By invitation, Patricia works with the Finland-based creators of the MyPianist app to check and edit cello parts for new pieces posted to the app.  MyPianist is a virtual pianist that follows a player just like a live pianist.

During her HSO performance years, Patricia played a Renault Chatelain 1779 French cello, which is now played by a former student who has a Julliard masters and plays for four orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic.  Patricia’s current instrument is a Rudolph Schuster 1923 cello.