Will Duerden

"...Duerden was simply superb, exquisite in the sound he produced making the bass sound big, full-toned and deeply rich in colour..."

Marc Bridle / Seen and Heard International / March 2025

Will Duerden is highly sought-after as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral leader, with a growing international career. He rose to prominence after reaching the strings category final of the 2018 BBC Young Musician of the Year competition.

A winner at the 2023 Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) International Auditions, he was subsequently nominated as a Classic FM ‘Rising Star’ 2024, and announced as a Borletti-Buitoni Fellowship artist in the same year.

Recent performance highlights for Will include his debut at St. George’s Bristol and performances at the North Norfolk Music and Buxton International Festivals, as well as Wigmore Hall and Barber Institute of Fine Arts in Birmingham. In June 2025 he was part of a stellar ensemble of YCAT artists past and present to celebrate the charity’s 40th anniversary at the Aldeburgh festival.

Will also maintains an interest in new music, and has had several significant new works specially written for him, with recent premieres in London and Milan. He also recently performed Ian Stephens’ double bass concerto ‘Scenes from a Modern War’ with the Kensington Chamber Orchestra in October 2024.

Will has also distinguished himself as a leading orchestral player, regularly performing with the Gothenburg Symphony, Aurora Orchestra, John Wilson’s Sinfonia of London Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Northern Sinfonia; the latter whom he joins as Principal Bass during the 25/26 season.

To read Will's full biography, click the link below to access his publicity pack.

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Press reviews

"No quarter is given to the player who must emulate the agility, delicacy and speed of a solo violinist on a far more unwieldy instrument. Duerden proved more than a technical match, executing altitudinous arpeggios, high harmonics and speedy sextuplets while never losing the lyricism of this likeable homage."

David Bridgewater / Wharfdale Observer / November 2025

"Professionalism was also the hallmark of Will Duerden’s performance of the Tubin Double Bass concerto...Will (a former member of HSO, a BBC Young Musician finalist, and already a world-class instrumentalist) transfixed us with his virtuosity and musicality..."

John Sherlock / Horsham Symphony Orchestra / March 2019

Contact

To book Will please contact

Etta Dainty – Senior Artist Manager [email protected]

Joe Linton - Assistant Artist Manager [email protected]

0207 379 8477

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