Payton Dziekan

Payton Dziekan is a double bass instructor at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, committed to accessibility and justice in the arts. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Double Bass Performance from Eastman, where she studied under James VanDemark, and is completing a degree in K-12 Instrumental Music Education. Her performance career includes principal roles with the Eastman School Symphony Orchestra, Eastman Philharmonia, and collaborations at institutions like Chautauqua Institution and South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities.

• Education: Eastman School of Music (Double Bass Performance, K-12 Instrumental Music Education pending completion).
• Performance Highlights: Principal bassist in multiple orchestras; performed works by Mozart, Janáček, and contemporary composers like Anna Thorvaldsdottir.
• Teaching Roles: Faculty at ROCMusic Collaborative, program assistant at South Carolina Governor’s School, and instructor at School of the Arts (SOTA).

Payton’s research and artistic focus aligns with advancing double bass pedagogy, chamber music collaboration, and equitable access to music education. Her community engagement extends to vocal performance as a mezzo-soprano and mentorship in El Sistema-style programs.