DOMINIC SELDIS  (double bass) » 

Orchestral bookings (since May 2009) SESSIONS John Wilson   The recital button is inactive   The Repertoire button is inactive.      Reviews THE STRAD "Dominic Seldis - A Double Bassist, has exactly the right sort of convivial personality to create this musical entertainment." "Spectacular feats of dexterity co-existed with moments that were more speculative." MUSICAL OPINION "The recital at the Wigmore Hall was given by Double Bass player Dominic Seldis. Seldis is clearly an artist of talent, drawing remarkably beautiful tone from an instrument too little regarded by most audiences." "There is no doubt that Seldis is a player to watch." THE INVERNESS COURIER "Seldis cut a swashbuckling figure and produced playing to match on the breathtaking Czardas by Monti" "Uproarious fun and sheer musicianship from this hugely entertaining dynamic duo." YORKSHIRE POST "Mr. Seldis' lyrical playing of Rachmaninov's Vocalise could easily have been mistaken for a Cello...Delightful." CROYDON ADVERTISER "Relaxed, versatile, humorous and good entertainment value." THE CUMBERLAND NEWS "Dominic Seldis and James Pearson treated the audience to an evening of rich music and entertainment." "Here are two very fine performers and musical communicators." EAST LOTHIAN COURIER "They promised to entertain and entertain they did!" "Warming the audience with their infectious sense of fun " STEWART COLLINS - ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - HENLEY FESTIVAL " What Classical music needs these days is musicians who can not only do the business on stage, but who can also communicate in an unfussy, uncomplicated way. In my experience there aren't many better than Dominic on either score." RICK JONES - MUSIC CRITIC - LONDON EVENING STANDARD " You are a very talented Double Bass player and a fine musician...You played Rachmaninov's Vocalise and Schubert's Arpegione Sonata with an agility and lyricism unexpected in a Bass player."   The discography button is inactive.      Outreach experience Double Bass Workshops Dominic has developed a fun, interactive and informative 'schools workshop' that focuses on not just the Double Bass but music in general. As the Double bass is used in virtually every genre of music, the workshop goes through a journey travelling throughout the world, giving examples of different types of music from various different countries, various styles of pop and classical music and music from film and television. The children get a chance to come up on stage and conduct, touch the instruments, show off their knowledge of music and at the end of the workshop, all the children become a human drum kit as the workshop finishes with a rousing Brazilian Samba. The children leave the workshop singing the tunes that they have heard, playing the rhythms they have been taught and enthused about music in general - but most importantly with a smile on their faces!! The workshop is suitable for all ages and can be performed to small groups up to whole schools. DomSeldisJamesPearson.jpgbass_scroll.jpgdominic_1.jpgdominic_2.jpgdominic_3.jpg        The Teaching button is inactive.

Dominic' performances, above, are of the Vittorio Monti Czardas with Dominic Seldis (double bass), James Pearson (piano), Edward Hession (Accordion); and of the Koussevitsky Valse Miniature with Dominic Seldis (double bass), James Pearson (piano)

Biography
Born in 1971 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk Dominic was schooled at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester from the age of 8 firstly playing the violin, and then at the age of 14 changing to the Double Bass. His first Bass teacher was Ian Coburn, then Duncan McTier.

In 1989 Dominic was awarded a top Scholarship to study to the Royal Academy of Music, London to study under Professor Robin McGee and then on to the Mozarteum, Salzburg in 1992 to study under the Principal Double Bass player of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Professor Klaus Stoll.

Dominic has been a concerto finalist at the Shell LSO competition, prizewinner at the Royal Overseas league competition and was the first bass player ever to be taken under the wing of the Young Concert Artists Trust.

Dominic has performed Concertos with such Orchestras as London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, The Orchestra of St. Johns Smith Square and BBC National Orchestra of Wales. He has also performed with Pianist James Pearson numerous times on both BBC and commercial radio and television stations, at the Wigmore hall, South Bank Centre, and notable festivals and societies throughout Britain and Europe.

As well as solo and chamber music engagements, in 1998 Dominic was appointed Principal Double Bass of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and in 2008 he was appointed Principal Bass of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam.

He also free lances with other orchestras and is often guest Principal Double bass with such Orchestras as Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, The Halle, London Sinfonietta, and the Academy of St. Martins in the Fields.

Dominic has played on many film/TV soundtracks and commercial recordings including Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix & Half Blood Prince, Dr. Who, Torchwood, Goldneye, Rugrats the movie, Phantom of the Opera, Beyond the sea, The man in the iron mask, The English patient, and for artists such as Shirley Bassey, Take That, Mel B, Tina Turner, Sugar Babes, Karl Jenkins, Vanessa May and Jacqui Dankworth.

He has also appeared many times on radio or BBC television either as a presenter or player, most recently on Proms on 4, Young Musician of the Year a judge on BBC2's 'Maestro' and guest on The Last Night of the Proms.

Dominic is a professor at the Royal Welsh College of Music and visiting professor for both The Royal Academy of Music and Trinity College of Music in London.

He currently lives in Gloucestershire with his wife Frankie, their 3 daughters and Chocolate lab Oscar. He is also a keen amateur boxer and magician.

Orchestral Work
Sessions: John Wilson.

Education
Dominic was born in Bury St Edmunds 1971. Dominic's schooling took place at Chethams School of Music. Dominic's graduate studies took place at Royal Academy of Music (1989 - 1992) and Salzburg Academy (1992 - 1993).

Prizes and Awards

• Scholarship to RAM
• Shell/LSO Finalist (1991)

Teachers: Duncan McTier, Prof. Robin McGee and Prof. Klaus Stoll

Dominic joined Morgensterns in May 1994

Dominic's web profile was last updated 19th May 2012