THE SOLOIST PROJECT

The Soloist Project is an exciting new venture from Heppleston Double Basses. Born from the limited opportunities for solo double bass performance, this new project has been designed to provide an exceptional double bassist with yearlong access to an outstanding, handcrafted Heppleston solo model double bass for use for the duration of the year.

The project also provides opportunities for the selected musician to perform a series of solo recitals around the UK and produce recordings to advance and develop their career.

Recitals 2025 (tickets on sale soon)

Friday 14th March 2025 - London - 1901 Arts Club

Wednesday 20th August 2025 - Edinburgh - Edinburgh Society of Musicians

soloist FOR 2024-2025

Marcus Vinicius De Oliveira

Member of the Latin Grammy’s Recording Academy, Marcus has been awarded several prestigious prizes, including the ABRSM Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award and the RNCM Concerto Competition, for which he is the first Latin-American double bass prize-winner in the competition’s history. 

Last year, he became the first Brazilian double bassist to perform a concerto with the BBC Philharmonic, marking his professional debut as a soloist in the UK, performing the British premiere of Andrés Martin’s Double Bass Concerto No. 1, recorded by BBC Radio 3.

Marcus frequently works with ensembles as tutti and principal double bass, including the BBC Philharmonic, Scottish Chamber, The Hallé and Royal Philharmonic orchestras. He has performed at some of the most iconic venues across the globe, such as the Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Elbphilharmonie, KKL Luzern, Usher Hall and Frankfurt Alte Oper. 

Marcus is also the founder and director of the Brasis Ensemble, a group that shares the passion to bring Brazilian music to wider audiences, as well as to change the perception of the double bass in western classical music, bringing it to the fore in concerto and chamber music contexts.

Future Projects

Applications for the 2025-2026 soloist project will open in the summer of 2025.