Bassist OSCAR M. MEZA, while performing regularly with the Los Angeles Philharmonic as a substitute musician beginning in July of 1990, won the audition for the post of Assistant Principal Bass in March of 1993.

Born in Southern California, Meza began playing the bass at the age of nine under the tutelage of his father, Oscar Meza Sr., who has been his principal teacher. He studied with Nathaniel Gangursky in 1973 and graduated from Sylmar High School in 1975. Meza went on to study with Ami Egilsson at California State University, Northridge as a bass performance major.

He participated in the Congress of Strings at the University of Washington in Seattle in 1975 and 1976, and began his professional career in the fall of 1976 as a member of the San Diego Symphony as a section bass player until 1985, when he auditioned and won for the post of Associate Principal Bass, then auditioned again in 1989 and won the Principal Bass position. During those years, he also served as Principal Bass in the San Diego Opera and San Diego Chamber orchestras.

Meza has also performed chamber music at the Gindi Auditorium and participates regularly in the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Green Umbrella series. He also maintains a connection to the city of San Diego by performing in the La Jolla Chamber Music and Mainly Mozart festivals.

Meza currently teaches double bass at California State University, Northridge.