A bass and a breakthrough propel Tiburon teen onto symphony stage

Fourteen-year-old double bassist Rudie Sheehy, seen at his Tiburon home April 23, will be performing two concerts in May for the Marin Music Chest, a nonprofit that provides scholarships and grants to local youth musicians studying classical music and performance. Rudie is also a member of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, which has its final concert of the season May 17. (Francisco Martinez / The Ark)

Just over two years ago, Tiburon teen Rudie Sheehy began watching YouTube videos of people playing the double bass, intrigued by an instrument he had never picked up.

The 14-year-old is now an emerging double bassist and member of the San Francisco Symphony’s acclaimed youth orchestra. Locals can see Rudie performing in two concerts this May, both hosted by Marin Music Chest, a nonprofit that provides scholarships and grants to local youth musicians to study classical music and performance.

He’ll first play Elegia No. 1 by Italian double bass virtuoso Giovanni Bottesini in the nonprofit’s May 2 Scholarship Winners Concert, followed by the May 17 Young Artists Concert, where he will be one of five emerging classical musicians to perform.

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