Carson Fast is a Pacific Northwest based double bassist. She is a recent graduate from the University of Oregon as a Master’s in Double Bass Performance and will be attending the University of Colorado Boulder for a second Master’s in Pedagogy and Performance. She started playing double bass at eleven years old and fell in love with the instrument. She is dyslexic and double bass and music in general became her key to success in school. As a musician, Carson made her solo debut in 2018 with the Tacoma Youth Symphony performing the Dittersdorf Double Bass Concerto and since then she has performed as a soloist in New York City and in Italy. While at Central Washington University, she performed with the symphony orchestra as a featured collegiate guest at the 75th Midwest Clinic in 2021, performing the Rite of Spring. She currently wrapped up her second season with Orchestra Next as a fellow and the University of Oregon Symphony Orchestra as Co-Principal as well as many chamber ensembles. Carson is a champion of new music, premiering many student works. She was the double bass soloist on 80 X 35 x 20 by Nicolas Sasse, a work highlighting the tragedy of the Orca whale Tokitae, her solo represented Tokitae. She has performed all over the world including places such as Seattle, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Tennessee, Oregon, and Italy. She holds a bachelor’s in music performance from Central Washington University. Outside of music, Carson enjoys reading fantasy novels, kayaking, sailing, and rock climbing.