Ellis "Pat" Patterson - Double Bass

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Pat started playing bass upon entering Junior High School when his mother signed him up for "Beginning Strings." Since he was the biggest guy in the class, he was given a the bass. On entering High School he enrolled in Orchestra and Band. The band director asked what he would like to play when the band marched and he answered "French Horn!" So, he was given a Sousaphone. Pat played String Bass and Tuba/Sousaphone for the remainder of High School and UCLA.

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He took a break from playing music for 3 years after leaving UCLA, courtesy of the US Navy. Upon discharge, he auditioned for the Long Beach Symphony, where he remained a member for 16 years. For more than 20 years, he was also the principal bass with the Eastern Sierra Symphony in Mammoth Lakes. 

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"During the years there have been many, many professional and community orchestras willing to put up with my playing, including 10 or so years each with the Downey Symphony, the West Los Angeles Symphony and Burbank Philharmonic. After moving to Thousand Oaks 15 years ago, I eventually found the Moorpark Symphony and the Westlake Village Symphony, associations that I hope to continue well into the future!"