Every two years the International Society of Bassists sponsors a worldwide competition for composers dedicated to the memory of David Walter, a passionate advocate for the creation of new repertoire for the double bass. Composers are eligible in three divisions: solo, chamber and bass with media. In addition to a monetary award, a world-class artist often premieres the winning composition at the following convention.

The 2014 grand prize in the solo division was awarded to Lu Shang for The Fantasy Higgs Boson for double bass and piano. It was given its world premiere by bassist Szymon Marciniak and pianist Evan Mitchell at the 2015 convention at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado on June 3 of that year.

Pianist and composer Lu Shang has been passionate about music since he was a child. At age 15 he won a gold medal in the 2007 Same Sunshine, Same Love youth arts competition in China. That same year, he took first place in the preliminary round of the Helen Cup International piano competition, and received an award of excellence in the final round. He was admitted to the Shenyang Conservatory of Music Accessorial Middle School at age 16, where he studied composition with Liu Xueyan.

In 2011, he was admitted to the China Conservatory of Music as a top student with the rank of Distinction. He is continuing his studies at the conservatory with Professors Chen Xinruo, Luo Xinmin and Ye Xiaogang. Earlier in 2014, he won first prize in the young artists' works for piano in the Golden Key International Music Festival.

Back to New Music for Double Bass DVD