Dana Wygmans, originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, holds a Bachelor’s in Music Education from Alma College in Michigan and a Master’s in Bass Performance from University of Texas at Austin, where she studied with DaXun Zhang. She has played with a variety of orchestras in both Michigan and Texas, including the Alma Symphony, Grand Valley Symphony, Round Rock Symphony, UT Symphony Orchestra, UT New Music Ensemble, and UT Wind Ensemble. Dana performs in a wide array of settings, including classical, jazz, bluegrass, soul, rock, and folk groups. Both a live-performer and studio musician, she has performed with countless bands and ensembles at many historic venues and festivals. Currently, she plays with the Americana band American Dreamer, with whom she has gone on two national tours, as well as her original project, the Magnolia Kids.

Dana has received solo awards at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival and was selected to perform for the Alma Symphony’s Concerto Competition in 2012. She was also principal bassist for UT Symphony Orchestra during the Menuhin Competition that was hosted in Austin, Texas in 2014. Other notable performances include the Detroit Jazz Festival, Kerrville Folk Festival, Old Settler’s Music Festival, as well as performances at venues such as Stubb’s and The Historic Scoot Inn in Austin, TX, and Anderson Fair in Houston, TX.

While Dana continues to be an active performer around Texas, she is deeply routed in the world of music education. In addition to being an adjunct professor of double bass at Austin Community College, she is currently the Assistant Director for the UT Austin String Project, with whom she has been collaborated for presentations at TMEA and ASTA. She is also the Orchestra Program Manager for Austin Soundwaves, an El-Sistema inspired program, and directs the Intermezzo Ensemble for Austin Youth Orchestra. Previously, she served as Director of Orchestras at Murchison Middle School and East Austin College Prep. Dana is an avid supporter of musical outreach programs and is a frequent guest and collaborator for summer programming in both Texas and Michigan. She has been teaching classical double bass privately for 15 years and her students have ranged from beginners of all ages to advanced college-bound young adults.

In her spare time, Dana loves to spend time crafting, cooking, taking care of plants, and hanging out with her cats Jeremy and Penelope.