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Bruce Ridge -LRB- born January 1 , 1964 -RRB- is an American symphonic bassist and arts advocate .. He is the former Chairman of the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians -LRB- ICSOM -RRB- and a member of the North Carolina Symphony .. International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians. International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians. North Carolina Symphony. North Carolina Symphony. In 2014 , he was re-elected to a fifth term as ICSOM Chairman , making him the longest-serving Chair in the organization 's history Ridge served as ICSOM Chair from 2006 until August , 2016 .. In 2008 , Ridge was invited by the Federation International des Musiciens to address the first International Orchestra Conference in Berlin , Germany .. Federation International des Musiciens. Federation International des Musiciens. Berlin. Berlin. Germany. Germany. He was also invited to speak at the Second International Orchestra Conference in Amsterdam , as well as the third International Conference in Oslo .. Amsterdam. Amsterdam. Oslo. Oslo. In March 2009 , he was invited to testify before the United States Congress during a hearing on the Economic and Employment Impact of the Arts and Music Industry .. United States Congress. United States Congress. Ridge 's speeches and articles have been published in numerous countries , and he has been quoted in newspapers across the United States , as well as in the American Foreign Press .. As chairman of ICSOM , Ridge became an international leader on issues affecting arts organizations and met with countless orchestras across America , from San Juan to Honolulu .. San Juan. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Honolulu. Honolulu. He served as a faculty member for many sessions of the League of American Orchestras `` Orchestra Leadership Academy '' as well as on the faculty for the League 's music director search seminars .. League of American Orchestras. League of American Orchestras. He has appeared as a guest speaker on the history of symphony orchestras in America at The Colburn School of Music in Los Angeles and Roosevelt University in Chicago .. The Colburn School of Music. The Colburn School of Music. Los Angeles. Los Angeles. Roosevelt University. Roosevelt University. Chicago. Chicago. Ridge began his professional career when he joined the Virginia Symphony at the age of 15 , becoming the youngest member in the history of the orchestra .. Virginia Symphony. Virginia Symphony. He later studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music , where he graduated with Distinction in Performance honors .. Curtis Institute of Music. Curtis Institute of Music. New England Conservatory of Music. New England Conservatory of Music. He has performed at Tanglewood , Interlochen , the Grand Teton Music Festival , and with the orchestras of Charleston -LRB- SC -RRB- , Jacksonville , and Honolulu .. Honolulu. Honolulu. Tanglewood. Tanglewood. Interlochen. Interlochen. Charleston. Charleston, South Carolina. Jacksonville. Jacksonville. Ridge is believed to be just the second musician from a major American symphony orchestra to chair a music director search .. He has also served on grant panels for the National Endowment for the Arts , and as a member of the City of Raleigh Arts Commission .. National Endowment for the Arts. National Endowment for the Arts. City of Raleigh Arts Commission. City of Raleigh Arts Commission. Ridge 's double bass teachers include Lawrence Wolfe of the Boston Symphony , and Roger Scott of the Philadelphia Orchestra .. Boston Symphony. Boston Symphony. Philadelphia Orchestra. Philadelphia Orchestra. He also performs on. the bass guitar and solo jazz bass for the North Carolina Symphony Pops series .. North Carolina Symphony. North Carolina Symphony. He has recorded two albums of original folk rock compositions .. On March 8 , 2016 , Ridge announced that he would step down as ICSOM Chair following the August , 2016 ICSOM Conference in Washington , DC , ending his tenure as the organization 's longest serving Chairperson .