Katy Furmanski

Katy began learning the double bass at age 13 when her mother noticed an advert about lessons and suggested she try it. Under the guidance of teacher Susan Denyer, she progressed quickly and won a West Sussex county award which allowed her to benefit from private lessons at the rates of group lessons. For a few years she played in the West Sussex County Youth Orchestra, later as principal double bass, and with whom she went on tour to Germany and Hungary. She has also played with the Sussex Symphony Orchestra alongside her teacher on a number of occasions, the most memorable of which being an outdoor concert with Katherine Jenkins.

In 2004 Katy received a place at the Royal Academy of Music’s junior department which she attended for two years. She learnt with Chris West and played in the Junior Academy Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Peter Stark.

Katy was accepted into the National Youth Orchestra (NYO) of Great Britain in 2005. With them she received coaching from Corin Long, Duncan McTier, and Kevin Rundell and was conducted by Richard Hickox, Sir Neville Marriner and Sir Mark Elder. The NYO gave her the opportunity to realise one of her ambitions by playing in the BBC Proms. In 2006 Katy auditioned to the Royal Academy of Music and gained a place on their Bachelors degree course where she is still studying now. Katy learns with Graham Mitchell, Duncan McTier, and Rodney Stewart with the addition of masterclasses taken by visiting professors such as Božo Paradžik, Matt McDonald, Peter Puhn, and Dominic Seldis.

Katy particularly enjoys the orchestral opportunities available to her at the Academy. Recently this has included Humperdinck’s opera Hansel und Gretel with Sian Edwards, the musical Sweet Charity under the direction of Mark Warman, and Beethoven 9 with Sir Colin Davis. She also has a strong interest in playing with smaller ensembles, taking up small chamber projects such as The Four Seasons by Piazzolla and Glinka’s septet Serenade on Themes from Donizetti's Opera Anna Bolena. Katy is the double bassist for the Arnold Camerata.

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