Blake Hilley is an award-winning double bassist who performs both as a classical soloist and an orchestral bassist. He loves to explore the versatility of the bass, bringing the voice of the instrument to the public. Blake is currently the Section Double Bassist of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. He is also a Substitute Bassist for the New York Philharmonic and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Blake graduated from The Juilliard School with his Bachelor of Music with Academic Honors in 2022, and he is continuing his studies at Juilliard pursuing his Master of Music with Timothy Cobb, Principal Bassist of the New York Philharmonic. While at Juilliard, Blake is Principal Double Bassist of the Juilliard Orchestra and has performed under Maestros including Itzhak Perlman and David Robertson. Blake also performs Baroque Double Bass and has toured across Germany with Juilliard415 and Yale Schola Cantorum as the Principal Double Bassist and Featured Soloist in a total of 6 concerts, performing Haydn's Symphony No. 6 and Creation Mass under Maestro David Hill.

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Blake's discography includes a wide variety of Classical Music to Original Compositions. His latest releases include his "Meditations" EP with harp, J.S. Bach's "Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major" and David Anderson's "Four Short Pieces for Solo Double Bass". As a composer, Blake has debuted his original solo double bass composition "Pride and Steel" and his original rock song "Fairytales". Blake's catalogue of recordings further include his EP of classical impressionistic songs "Selections for Double Bass and Piano". Plus, his debut single: Max Bruch's "Kol Nidrei", which was lauded by Jason Heath from Contrabass Conversations in Blake's interview at ContrabassConversations.com

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Blake has performed with the New York Philharmonic at David Geffen Hall, and with the Juilliard Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. Blake was the Principal Bassist of the Juilliard Opera for Mozart's "Cosi fan Tutte". He was also the featured bassist of the New Juilliard Ensemble under the baton of Maestro Dr. Joel Sachs.​ Top winner of the Camerata Artists International Competition 2020, Blake has premiered a new work for the solo double bass called "Bass Heart" by Bishu Chattopadhyay. His chamber music concerts include Beethoven's 1st Piano Concerto arranged for String Quintet and Piano and David Anderson's "7 Double Bass Duets". 

 

Artists Blake has played with include the Goat Rodeo Sessions, featuring Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile, and Stuart Duncan. During the Pandemic, Blake was honored to be selected to perform with Itzhak Perlman and the Juilliard Orchestra in their virtual performance of Elgar's Nimrod featured on CBS Sunday Morning. 

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Blake works with his sister, Ilana Hilley , a producer, cellist, and singer/songwriter at NYU. Their latest release was "After All" available on all streaming services.

 

As an artist who enjoys connecting with his audience, he has played concerts at libraries and retirement homes in Atlanta with Ilana. They both enjoy demonstrating the power of music not only in the concert hall, but in the everyday moments that can be made to last through music. Blake has also joined quarantineconcerts.tv as a way to bring music to individuals at home during the pandemic.