The National Centre for Young Bass Players
Welcome
Now in its 40th year, Bass Club has given students the specialist tuition they need to reach and go beyond their ambitions. Courses are tailored to the individual's needs and the atmosphere is uniquely supportive.
Whether you are an advanced player taking professional auditions or a young player going on your first specialist course these amazing possibilities are available to you.
The repertoire, teaching and communication styles have been developed over many years.
Bass Club offers a number of courses throughout the year which coincide with UK school holidays; in spring for younger bassists, summer and Christmas for students at all levels.
Summer School 2026
We are pleased to announce that this year's Summer School will once agin be held within the fabulous environment of the Yehudi Menuhin School. If you want to brush up, perform more, progress, be around amazing players within this specialist environment, then this is the place to do it!
The dates for all courses are: August 31st - September 3rd
Prices:
Advanced Seminar (orchestral/soloist, by invitation) £450
Advanced Course (above Grade 8, by invitation or tape, please ask for guidance) £450
Main Course (minimum Grade 6) £450
Junior Course £440
We are delighted to share that this year's summer school will feature the following tutors, who have come through Bass Club. They all hold principal positions and are exceptional bassists and inspiring people:
Philip Nelson -Member of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and Principal of the Sinfonia of London. Former Section-Leader of Royal Northern Sinfonia. Prize winner in the International Society of Bassists Solo Competition.
Will Duerden -Section Leader of Royal Northern Sinfonia and soloist with YCAT and Chamber Musician and Soloist. Prize Winner in the International Society of Bassists Solo Competition 2023. Hattori Foundation award holder and chosen to be a Borletti Buitoni Trust fellowship holder.
Alexander Heather -Associate Principal Double Bass Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Prize winner in the International Society of Bassists Solo Competition 2023.
Caroline Emery (Course Director) and Professor at the Royal College of Music and the Yehudi Menuhin School.
Jan Alm (Co Director) and formerly Gothenburg Symphony and Professor at Gothenburg University.
Frances Preston (Director of Junior Studies) Royal College of Music Junior Department and freelance player, former bass clubber.
To apply, please contact bassclub@blueyonder.co.uk
Virtual Junior Course August 2020
This was an enormously successful new venture led by Caroline, Frances and our new international guest tutor Tracy Rowell. The course was designed to encourage our younger students and there was a mixture of lessons, masterclasses, technique point classes, group activities and then the hang, run by Caroline with suggestions from the lovely Ayesha who normally comes on our courses as house staff adviser. We managed to negotiate the time difference for Tracy who was teaching from Cleveland, Ohio and at the same time as some of her children were returning to school for the first time in months. We were so happy also to welcome Issac who was calling in from Washington DC, having recently moved back to the USA thanks to this pandemic. We miss him dreadfully but are happy that he was able to join from his new home.
Our featured project of the week was a new piece written by Anthony Bailey. Anthony was one of the young composers who wrote a piece for Bass Club in 1998 as part of our chamber music drive with funding from the National Lottery. Now he is a successful composer and educator, teaching alongside Frances and Caroline at the Royal College of Music Junior Department. He produced a wonderful three-part piece and there is a further arrangement with piano. Contact Bass Club if you want to order it.
Please enjoy the recordings of our first virtual project, with many many thanks to Anthony, as well as some of the pictures from the course. The students of course are very quick to learn the ins and outs of Zoom, as you can see from the art work on one of the screen shots. It is amazing how much everyone got out of the course and what fun we had despite being far apart. Thanks to everyone who participated in a memorable event. Bass is best!!! despite the pandemic.