Jeremy Watt

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 taking on his current job as Sub Principal Bass No.4 in the City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Jeremy forged a highly successful freelance career over 14 years, 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 with recording the music for many major films, including 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.

In 2008 Jeremy became a deputy teacher of double bass at the Royal College of Music Junior Department and undertook masterclasses at the Queensland Conservatorium and the Southern Cross Music Festival in Brisbane. In 2018 Jeremy was invited onto the teaching staff of the double bass faculty at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire to coach chamber music.

Jeremy has a strong interest in 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 retired maker.  He feels very fortunate to be able to play on a lovely instrument from the early 1800s by John Frederick Lott.