Will Duerden

Double Bass, Royal College of Music

Will Duerden began playing the double bass at the age of seven, and two years later was awarded a full scholarship to the Yehudi Menuhin School. As a keen chamber musician, he has worked with artists including Lawrence Power, the Sitkovetsky Trio and the Echea Quartet. Will is also a member of the LGT Young Soloists and the prestigious Young Classical Artists Trust’s roster.

Will has been awarded first prize in the Haslemere String Competition and, twice, the RCM Bass Competition. He has also won the Yorke Double Bass Prize and the Peter Morrison Concerto Competition, and has been highly decorated by the International Society of Bassists. For his undergraduate studies, he was awarded the ABRSM scholarship to the Royal College of Music and has received the Nancy Wolfers Scholarship for his master’s.

Will has distinguished himself as a leading orchestral player, performing with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia of London, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Aurora Orchestra, the Royal Northern Sinfonia, Philharmonia Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He has worked closely with renowned conductors including Sir Antonio Pappano, Sir Andrew Davis and Vasily Petrenko. As a soloist, Will has performed with the RCM JD Symphony Orchestra, the Horsham Symphony Orchestra, the European Youth Summer Music Symphony Orchestra and the Waverley Ensemble.

Will received special permission by Edgar Meyer, the renowned bassist and composer, to perform two of his works at Wigmore Hall – a considerable privilege as the composer does not publish his scores.

Outside of music, Will enjoys cooking and dedicates himself to extending his knowledge of wine and winemaking.