The inaugural International Double Bass Festival will be held on 16th October, hosted by the Royal College of Music (RCM). The festival will attract bassists from all over the world, to gather here for a day of seminars, performances, masterclasses and coaching sessions.
A masterclass on 14th October that will precede the festival, will be led by Dan Styffe, co-principal bass of the Oslo Philharmonic, along with RCM string players. Free tickets will be available at the RCM Box Office. The festival’s inaugural concert will be Bottesini’s Gran Duo Concertante, with appearance of RCM’s profesor Gabrielle Ragghianti, Italian bassist, along with Charlotte Saluste-Bridoux, RCM violinist. Masterclasses and workshops will be led by bassists Laurene Durantel, Rodrigo Moro Martin, Alberto Bocini and Dan Styffe.
A session on preparing for auditions will be given by RCM professor Tony Hougham the section principal bass of Royal Opera House’s orchestra. The festival’s other highlights include- professor Peter Buckoke of RCM Alexander Technique, talking on pain-free bass playing; Cristiano Scipioni, Italian luthier, with Martin Penning, British maker, on an exhibition of double basses.
The culmination of the festival will see music featuring RCM staff, students and guest artists, with a Q&A session too. As the festival permits free entry, there are no tickets needed. There are only some pre-booked sessions of coaching for some. For more information, go to the website- rcm.ac.uk/bassfestival.
