Roberto Carrilo-Garcia

Principal Double Bass

Multi-instrumentalist Roberto Carillo performs on double bass, guitar and viola da gamba.

Born in Tenerife, he started his musical studies at the Conservatorio Superior de Musica de Santa Cruz. After graduating on the guitar, he studied the double bass and composition while playing in the Orquesta Sinfonica de Tenerife.

He subsequently studied the double bass at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. In 1992, Roberto joined the Royal Northern Sinfonia as Principal No. 2 Double Bass. Whilst in Newcastle, he was a member of several chamber groups, as bass soloist, viola da gamba and as a guitarist.

Subsequent appearances led to playing guitar concertos with the Royal Northern Sinfonia and other professional, amateur and youth orchestras with tours to Germany, France, Switzerland and Spain.

Roberto has also played Guest Principal Double Bass with the London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra National de France in Paris, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, BBC Scottish, Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, European Union Chamber Orchestra, touring in South America, Europe, the Middle and Far East.

In September 2001, Roberto became Principal Double Bass of the Hallé Orchestra where he stayed for 17 years. He has been double bass professor at the Royal Northern College of Music and gives masterclasses in Spain, Poland and the UK. Roberto currently teaches double bass, viola da gamba and chamber music at Chetham's School of Music. He coaches with the National Youth Orchestra, NYO Inspire, Aldeburgh Music and the Halle Youth Orchestra.

He is a regular contributor to the Tring Chamber Music series, gave a performance of Tubin's Double Bass Concerto in Poland and a recital for solo double bass in Manchester University’s concert series.

Very active in chamber music, Roberto has just returned from Australia where he performed in the prestigious Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Queensland.