Double bassist Phoebe Russell thrives both as an experienced orchestral musician as well as a dynamic soloist and chamber musician, captivating audiences worldwide by showcasing the beauty and versatility of the double bass beyond the confines of the traditional orchestral realm.
At 17, Phoebe moved to Berlin, where she debuted with the Berlin Philharmonic’s esteemed double bass section. A graduate of its prestigious Karajan Academy, she has since performed in over 20 countries with leading ensembles, including the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Radio Symphony Orchestra Berlin, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester, Netherlands Philharmonic and Mahler Chamber Orchestra. In 2017, Phoebe was appointed Principal Double Bass of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. She is also a regular guest principal with orchestras in Australia and abroad, including the Australian World Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and most recently, the Impossible Orchestra led by Alondra de la Parra at the PAAX Festival in Mexico.
As a soloist, Phoebe has performed widely across Australia, the USA and Europe, including a packed recital in the Berlin Philharmonic’s lunchtime concert series. She has appeared with the Queensland, Tasmanian and Canberra Symphony Orchestras, Baden-Baden Philharmonic, and premiered several new works, including Paul Dean’s Double Bass Concerto.
A passionate chamber musician, Phoebe is a core member of Ensemble Q and regularly appears at festivals including the Australian Festival of Chamber Music and Martinborough Chamber Music Festival, and recently toured with Musica Viva Australia. A dedicated educator, Phoebe is a lecturer in double bass at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University. She has taught masterclasses internationally, including at the Guildhall School of Music in London, Penn State University, the Melbourne and Sydney Conservatoriums of Music, Australian National Academy of Music, and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá.