Michael Rittling

Principal Bass

Michael Rittling received Bachelor degrees in Music and Music Education from Florida State University in 2006. He attended Indiana University and completed a Master’s of Music degree in 2008 and a Performer Diploma in 2009. Throughout his education, Michael studied under Lawrence Hurst, Melanie Punter, Jeff Turner, Peter Lloyd, and Michael Allen. Michael has also attended numerous summer festivals including the National Repertory Orchestra, Brevard Music Center, and Sewannee Summer Music Festival. In addition to playing with the Apollo Orchestra, Michael is the Associate Principal Bass with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra in Hagerstown, MD and Principal Bass with Symphony Number One in Baltimore, MD. He joined the bass section of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra in 2009, and served as Principal from 2011 to 2014. Michael was Principal Bass with the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra for nearly two seasons, starting in 2009. Michael has also performed with the National Philharmonic, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, and the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Outside of playing, Michael enjoys teaching and maintains a private teaching studio in Baltimore. He served as Double Bass Faculty at the Tennessee Valley Music Festival in Huntsville, Alabama from 2009 to 2013, Teaching Assistant at Brevard Music Center from 2007 to 2008, and as an Instructor at the Florida State University Double Bass Camp in 2005. In his free time, Michael enjoys running, quality time with his friends, and ice cream.