Following Joel Quarrington’s debut performance at the International Society of Bassists in Oklahoma City in 2007, the British magazine Double Bassist declared that “his performance was mesmerizing – his trademark bel canto playing style brought an otherworldly quality to Bottesini’s Elegy in D… impeccable articulation, a rich tonal palette, absolute control and crystalline clarity.” Reviews such as this have confirmed his reputation as one of today’s leading double bassists. Born in Toronto, Quarrington began playing the bass at the age of eleven, pursuing his formal studies of the double bass in Toronto, Rome, Vienna and Prague. He received the Eaton Award for outstanding graduating performer in 1975 from the University of Toronto and top awards in the Canadian Broadcasting Music Competition (1976), the Isle of Man (1978) and the Geneva International Competitions (1978).
Over the last 30 years, Quarrington has served as the Principle Solo Bassist of several ensembles, including the Canadian Opera Company, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

Musicians: Joel Quarrington (double bass), Jean Desmarais (piano)