Jeremy Watt

Biography

Graduating in 1999 with an Honours degree in Performance on double bass, from the Queensland Conservatorium, Jeremy Watt spent two years freelancing with a number of symphony orchestras in Australia before relocating to London.

Through 1998 and 1999, Jeremy attended programs at the Australian National Academy of Music, and in 1999 participated in the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra in Sapporo, Japan, being invited back to the festival in 2000.   

Before being offered his current job as Sub Principal Bass in the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Jeremy spent 14 years forging a successful freelance career in London, working regularly with the Philharmonia Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.  As part of his work with these and other studio ensembles, he has been involved in recording many film soundtracks, including those for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows I & II, Avengers- Age of Ultron, Thor II, The Mummy, Baby Driver, The Lady In The Van, Fury, Now You See Me 2, Madagascar, The Kursk, Crimson Peak and numerous hours of BBC nature documentaries and episodes of Doctor Who.

His lifelong interest in recorded music has now developed further, into the formation of new boutique classical record label Luminate Records, which primarily releases projects by orchestral musicians based in the UK, including Jeremy’s own solo double bass recordings.

Jeremy has always been fascinated by historical double basses and their makers, and as a way of understanding more about them is currently being guided through the process of building one by from start to finish by a local retired luthier.  He feels very fortunate to own lovely instruments by English makers John Frederick Lott Snr and George Craske, and have on long-term loan a beautiful example of the Milanese school of bass making attributed to Nicola Rossi.