Kody Thiessen

Office

About

Kody Thiessen is a highly accomplished bassist who earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, studying under the guidance of Scott Pingel, Principal Bass of the San Francisco Symphony. Kody also studied with the San Francisco Academy Orchestra, working directly with Charles Chandler and Amos Yang of the San Francisco Symphony. In 2024, he was appointed Principal Bass for the Santa Rosa Symphony after serving in the section for two seasons.

Kody served as Assistant Principal Bass in the Tucson Symphony Orchestra during the 2025-2026 season, and decided to return home to the Bay Area to continue his work with the Santa Rosa Symphony and the musical ecosystem of the Bay. Kody enriches the Bay Area music scene with performances in numerous orchestras, including Symphony San Jose, the San Jose Chamber Orchestra, Modesto Symphony, California Symphony, Reno Philharmonic, Marin Symphony, Santa Cruz Symphony, and Oakland Symphony Orchestra.

Kody has performed with world-class ensembles such as the San Francisco Ballet and the San Francisco Symphony. He has also contributed to Broadway productions, serving as a substitute bassist for the North American Tour of Les Misérables. He has also performed with numerous summer festivals, including the Britt Festival Orchestra, the Mendocino Music Festival Orchestra, the Bear Valley Festival Orchestra, and as a fellow with the National Orchestral Institute and the Festival Napa Valley Blackburn Music Academy Orchestra. As a chamber musician, he has been called for numerous engagements, including performances with the Trinity Alps Chamber Music Festival and Music in the Vineyards. As an educator, Kody maintains an active private studio and is Instructor of Double Bass at Sonoma State University.