wednesday 21 october 2026
Great Scottish Double Bass Day brings players together at St Mary’s Music School
On Sunday 3 October, St Mary’s Music School welcomed double bass players of all ages and levels to the Great Scottish Double Bass Day, held in partnership with the Scottish Bass Trust.
The day gave participants the opportunity to explore the double bass through a range of workshops and ensemble sessions, from beginner skills and taster activities to jazz, blues and large-scale ensemble playing. A particular highlight was the Mass Bass Ensemble, bringing players together to experience the sound and energy of a large double bass group.
The programme was led by a team of world-class double bass players, including Stewart Wilson, Nikita Naumov, Jamie Kenny, May Halyburton, Andrew Robb and Adrian Bornet, who shared their expertise and enthusiasm for the instrument throughout the day.
For those completely new to the double bass, the event offered a chance to discover the instrument in a relaxed and supportive environment, while more experienced players could develop their playing and enjoy making music alongside other bassists.
The Great Scottish Double Bass Day was a celebration of an instrument that is sometimes overlooked, but which plays a vital role across classical, jazz and many other musical styles. Bringing players together in this way also provided an opportunity for bassists to meet and be part of a wider double bass community in Scotland.
The day culminated in 54 double bass players coming together to share what they had been focussing on throughout the day. The advanced, intermediate and beginners groups had all worked on challenging group repertoire in a very short time. Jamie Kenny (SCO) and Nikita Naumov (RSNO) gave a spectacular performance of a Telemann Concerto. Nikita also gave a solo performance and even the 12 players who had never picked up an instrument before were able to join in the Mass Group Performance.
St Mary’s Music School was delighted to host the event and looks forward to continuing to support opportunities that encourage young musicians to discover new instruments, develop their skills and enjoy making music together.
