Edgar Meyer is a distinguished double bassist and composer renowned for his innovative contributions to contemporary classical music. With a career spanning several decades, he has garnered critical acclaim and numerous accolades, including six Grammy Awards, most recently in 2024 for his collaborative album As We Speak, which won Best Contemporary Album and Best Global Music Performance. Meyer's performances of Giovanni Bottesini's Double Bass Concertos No. 1 and No. 2 have showcased his exceptional skill and artistry, further solidifying his reputation as a leading figure in the world of classical music. He has also captivated audiences with his interpretation of Piazzolla's Four Seasons, blending classical and contemporary styles seamlessly. In addition to his impressive discography, Meyer is known for his dynamic collaborations with renowned artists such as Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, and Rakesh Chaurasia, pushing the boundaries of genre and musical expression. Looking ahead, Meyer continues to engage with new projects that promise to further enrich the musical landscape, ensuring his legacy as a pioneering artist remains vibrant and influential.

Bassist

Experience the grandeur of Baroque music like never before at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center's "Baroque Organ" concert. This exceptional event, set to take place on Sunday and Tuesday, December 8 & 10, 2024, at the prestigious Alice Tully Hall, promises an unforgettable auditory journey through the works of eight Baroque masters.

For two hours, including an intermission, attendees will be treated to a rare opportunity to hear Alice Tully Hall’s magnificent 4,200-pipe organ. This lush and powerful instrument will serve as the centerpiece in a program meticulously curated to showcase its grandiosity. Nine extraordinary artists, including renowned organist Paolo Bordignon, will perform a selection of transcriptions by Bach himself, organ solos featuring a French holiday carol, and more, bringing the rich textures and intricate harmonies of the Baroque era to life.

The program features a diverse range of compositions, from Alessandro Scarlatti's "Three Arias for Trumpet, Oboe, and Organ" to George Frideric Handel's "Concerto in A major for Organ, HWV 307, Op. 7, No. 2". Each piece has been carefully selected to highlight the unique capabilities of the organ, as well as the virtuosity of the performers.

In addition to Bordignon, the concert will feature performances by violinists Benjamin Beilman and Alexander Sitkovetsky, violist Matthew Lipman, cellist Keith Robinson, double bassist Edgar Meyer, oboists James Austin Smith and Juri Vallentin, and trumpeter David Washburn. These acclaimed musicians, each with their own impressive career and contributions to the world of classical music, will come together to create an evening of unparalleled musical excellence.

Located at 1941 Broadway at W 65th St, New York, NY 10023, Alice Tully Hall provides the perfect setting for this musical feast. Its acoustics and intimate atmosphere ensure that every note of the Baroque organ and the ensemble's performance is experienced in its fullest beauty.

Tickets for this not-to-be-missed event are not yet on sale but keep an eye out for their release. This concert is a celebration of Baroque music's enduring beauty and the remarkable talents of today's classical musicians. Join us for an evening that promises to be both enlightening and enchanting, a true testament to the timeless appeal of Baroque music.

EPSG:4326

Baroque Organ

Lincoln Center

This collaboration brings together three singular figures in American concert music—virtuoso instrumentalists with fierce classical chops, deep connections to roots and fiddle music, and wide-open artistic sensibilities.

Tessa Lark, Joshua Roman, and Edgar Meyer

Purchase College, State University of New York

[Edgar Meyer is] “The most remarkable virtuoso in the relatively un-chronicled history of his instrument.” - The New Yorker

Edgar Meyer (Double Bass), Tessa Lark (Violin), Joshua Roman (Cello)

Soka Performing Arts Center

Master of the upright bass and five-time GRAMMY® Award-winner Edgar Meyer is joined by two like-minded artists to pluck and bow original contemporary compositions by Meyer paired with Bach favorites. These seemingly unlikely collaborations have become Meyer’s signature, making him a standalone among American classical musicians.

Tessa Lark, Violin Joshua Roman, Cello Edgar Meyer, Double Bass

Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts

Join us for an unparalleled musical experience as Cal Performances presents an exciting new collaboration featuring three of American concert music's most singular figures: Tessa Lark on violin, Joshua Roman on cello, and Edgar Meyer on double bass. This exceptional trio will perform at Hertz Hall on October 20, 2024, at 3:00 pm, offering a program that showcases their virtuosic talents, deep connections to roots and fiddle music, and expansive artistic sensibilities.

The performance will include selections by J.S. Bach, specifically the Sonata for Viola da Gamba in G Major, BWV 1027, alongside works by Edgar Meyer, including "Trio 1986" and "Trio 1988". Additionally, the audience will be treated to a Bay Area Premiere of a new work co-commissioned by Cal Performances, composed expressly for these artists, marking a highlight of the event.

Edgar Meyer, a recent Grammy winner and perhaps today's best-known bass virtuoso, has built an extraordinary career as a soloist with leading orchestras, a musical partner to renowned artists like Yo-Yo Ma and Chris Thile, and a sought-after composer and recording artist. Joining him are the genre-crossing, Kentucky-born violinist Tessa Lark and the eclectic cellist Joshua Roman, both of whom bring their unique styles and wide-open artistic sensibilities to this collaboration.

Tickets for this not-to-be-missed performance start at $68, with season subscriptions available now and single tickets going on sale on August 6 at noon. This event promises to be an exhilarating romp through a diverse musical landscape, brought to life by three of the most innovative and exciting musicians of our time. Leadership support for this performance is provided by Nadine Tang, with additional support from Dr. Rupali Das-Melnyk and Dr. Ostap Melnyk.

Don't miss this opportunity to witness a groundbreaking performance that bridges the worlds of classical, roots, and fiddle music. Reserve your seats today and be part of a musical journey that celebrates innovation, collaboration, and the sheer joy of live music.

Tessa Lark, violin Joshua Roman, cello Edgar Meyer, double bass

University of California, Berkeley

Join Musicians of the Philharmonic for personal and intimate performances, and experience the personality of the performers. See how a small setting can amplify a huge musical event!


NY Phil Ensembles at Merkin Hall

Kaufman Music Center

“Hi-yo, Silver! Away!” Rossini’s William Tell Overture is best known for being featured as the theme song for the radio and television series The Lone Ranger.

In 2024 Meyer received his sixth and seventh Grammy Awards for a collaborative recording “As We Speak” with Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, and Rakesh Chaurasia. The recording won Best Contemporary Album and Best Global Music Performance.

Piazzolla's Four Seasons

Southern Oregon University

Grants Pass High School

Collier Center for the Performing Arts

The AMFS invites you to an intimate evening of conversation and music with renowned composer and bassist Edgar Meyer. Artist Dinners are hosted in private homes and include a cocktail reception, performance, and catered dinner with the artist.

Artist Dinner with Edgar Meyer

Private Residence in Aspen

Prepare to be mesmerized when four virtuosi present a concert based on their latest album As We Speak. Tabla player Zakir Hussain explains “When we are performing on stage, in composing mode or creating mode, we are basically having a conversation. So the music emerges as we speak.”

Special Event As We Speak with Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer bass, Zakir Hussain tabla, and Rakesh Chaurasia bansuri

Aspen Meadows Resort

The first time banjo legend Béla Fleck, tabla master Zakir Hussain, and double bass virtuoso Edgar Meyer got together to make an album, it was to write, not to play.  When Fleck and Meyer were looking for a third partner for a triple concerto they had been commissioned to write to mark the opening of Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center, they thought of Hussain, who was quite interested in orchestral writing. “We thought we could learn a whole lot from this guy!” says Béla. The result was The Melody of Rhythm (2009), recorded with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra under Leonard Slatkin.

As We Speak: Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer, featuring Rakesh Chaurasia

Groton Hill Music Center

Experience an exquisite afternoon of chamber music at the renowned Davies Symphony Hall on Sunday, May 26, 2024, at 2:00 PM. This special event features a curated selection of intimate chamber music programs, meticulously performed by small ensembles of the talented San Francisco Symphony musicians. The program includes a diverse range of compositions, showcasing the depth and versatility of chamber music. Highlights include "Four Duos for Cello and Guitar" by Durwynne Hsieh, "Duo Concertante for Violin and Double Bass" by Krzysztof Penderecki, "From Concert Duo for Violin and Double Bass" by Edgar Meyer, and the "Piano Trio in A minor" by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

The ensemble boasts an impressive lineup of artists, including David Goldblatt on cello, Steven Lin on guitar, Jessie Fellows and David Chernyavsky on violin, Daniel G. Smith on double bass, Amos Yang on cello, Elizabeth Dorman on piano, and Chen Zhao on violin. This event promises to be a memorable experience for all attendees, offering a unique opportunity to witness the synergy and artistry of SF Symphony musicians in a more personal and intimate setting.

For those requiring assistance with purchasing tickets for patrons with disabilities, please contact the box office at 415-864-6000. Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty and intricacy of chamber music performed by some of the most talented musicians in the field.

Chamber Music at Davies Symphony Hall

Davies Symphony Hall

“Intersection” features music by composers who explore the terrain between traditional genre boundaries. The program features Anna Meredith’s astonishing 1980s electronica meets ’90s clubland composition Tuggemo, the first movement of Edgar Meyer’s virtuosic Concert Duo for Violin and Bass, Courtney Bryan’s gospel and jazz-flavored fusion of the sacred and secular, Soli Deo Gloria for two guitars, and the world premiere of Dmitri Tymoczko’s Nerds, for chamber ensemble. The evening concludes with Angélica Negrón’s dóabin, inspired by the invented language of a pair of twins; acclaimed composer Tyshawn Sorey’s shimmering, lyrical work, For Fred Lerdahl; and avant-garde icon György Ligeti’s minimalist composition, Six Bagatelles, for woodwind quintet.

Intersection

Curtis Institute of Music Lenfest Hall

Genre-defying bassist and composer Edgar Meyer bridges the worlds of classical and bluegrass music to shine a new light on American music. The only bassist to ever be awarded a MacArthur ‘genius’ grant, his diverse lineup of musical collaborators includes Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile, and Béla Fleck. Meyer joins the Winston-Salem Symphony to perform his own Concerto for Double Bass and Giovanni Bottesini’s Concerto No. 2.

Jessie Montgomery’s Strum likewise salutes American folk music, creating a mesmerizing groove through the plucking of strings, and Dvořák’s groundbreaking Symphony No. 9 masterfully fuses European classical traditions with the rich rhythms and melodies of the American landscape.

Edgar Meyer + The New World

R.J. Reynolds High School

Ace meets bass... Jonathan Aasgaard and Jamie Kenny play duets for cello and double bass from across two continents and three centuries.

Jamie Kenny, double bass and Jonathan Aasgaard, cello

The Music Room

In Mendelssohn’s case, the talent was supported by privilege. He was born into a family that was cultured and wealthy; his grandfather was the noted philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, and his father, Abraham, was a supremely successful banker (one remembered for his remark that he was destined to go down in history as his father’s son and his son’s father). As a result, young Felix, his gifted sister Fanny Cäcilie, and their younger sister Rebecka and brother Paul enjoyed certain perks as they moved through their childhood. One was that Felix had at his disposal a private orchestra to try out his new compositions at Sunday musicales in the family home in Berlin (where the Mendelssohns had moved when Felix was only two). Many of his lifelong friendships were developed during the years of the private house concerts; it was then that he grew close to Ferdinand David (the musician whom Mendelssohn blessed with his two violin concertos), Julius Schubring (the theologian who would go on to compile the texts for Mendelssohn’s oratorios), and Karl Klingemann (eleven years Mendelssohn’s senior, an accomplished amateur musician and a diplomat). Klingemann is at least partly to thank for the existence of the concert overture Fingal’s Cave, one of Mendelssohn’s most popular works.

Virtuosic

Ridgefield Playhouse

Experience intimate chamber music programs curated and performed by small ensembles of SF Symphony musicians. In this concert: music by two double-bassists, Shinji Eshima and Edgar Meyer, plus Aleksey Igudesman’s Latin Suite and Claude Debussy’s Piano Trio.

These genre-defying virtuosos move with ease among classical, bluegrass, and North Indian music, creating a fusion uniquely their own. With 20 GRAMMY© Awards among them, these three artists are at the height of their powers, crossing sonic borders.

Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, and Edgar Meyer with Rakesh Chaurasia

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

A harmonic convergence of virtuosity, the trio of tabla master Hussain, banjoist Fleck, and bassist Meyer reunite on the Miner stage to revisit their magical chemistry 14 years after the release of their GRAMMY-nominated 2009 album The Melody of Rhythm to celebrate the release of their new album As We Speak. They are joined for this evening by bansuri flute maestro Rakesh Chaurasia.



Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain & Edgar Meyer with Rakesh Chaurasia

SFJAZZ Center

The first-time banjo legend Béla Fleck, tabla master Zakir Hussain, and double bass virtuoso Edgar Meyer got together to make an album, it was to write, not to play.

When Fleck and Meyer were looking for a third partner for a triple concerto, they had been commissioned to write to mark the opening of Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center, they thought of Hussain, who was quite interested in orchestral writing. “We thought we could learn a whole lot from this guy!” says Béla. The result was The Melody of Rhythm (2009), recorded with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra under Leonard Slatkin.

As We Speak: Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer, Feat. Rakesh Chaurasia

This amazing World Music gig is a confluence of Indian classical, Western classical, jazz, and bluegrass. The artists have collectively won 22 Grammys!

Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer, Rakesh Chaurasia - Live in Concert ·

Wortham Theater Center

Join us for an enchanting evening of classical music at the Evnin Rising Stars I concert on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at 8:00pm in the Chamber Music Room at Caramoor, Katonah, NY. This special event showcases the immense talent of young artists from Caramoor’s Evnin Rising Stars program, a prestigious incubator for the next generation of classical musicians.

Under the guidance of Guest Artistic Director, cellist Marcy Rosen, and accompanied by distinguished artists Shmuel Ashkenasi on viola and Edgar Meyer on double bass, the evening promises a repertoire that spans the works of Boccherini, Dohnányi, Mozart, Schubert, and Edgar Meyer himself. This concert is a unique opportunity to experience the vibrancy and skill of rising stars Maria Ioudenitch, Lun Li, Amarins Wierdsma, Njord Fossnes, Cara Pogossian, Gabriel Martins, Chase Park, and Janice Carissa as they perform pieces that challenge and showcase their growing artistry.

The program includes Luigi Boccherini's Quintet in A Major, Op. 29 No. 4, G. 316, Edgar Meyer's Quintet, and Ernő Dohnányi's Piano Quintet in C Minor, offering a rich evening of musical exploration and enjoyment.

Don't miss this opportunity to support and witness the future of classical music. Tickets are also available for Sunday’s performance at 3:00pm. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Caramoor website.

Evnin Rising Stars I

The Rosen House at Caramoor

Bringing our milestone 50th season to a spectacular end, the Dover Quartet, violist Ida Kavafian, and cellist Peter Stumpf play Schoenberg’s soaring tone poem Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night), which takes its inspiration from a poem about the transformative power of compassion and understanding, and pianist Haochen Zhang and bassist Edgar Meyer join members of the Dover Quartet for what’s arguably the most-loved work in the chamber music repertoire: Schubert’s Trout Quintet.

Trout Quintet

Lensic Performing Arts Center

Bassist Edgar Meyer—hailed by The New Yorker as “the most remarkable virtuoso” in the history of his instrument—joins the Dover Quartet for his own bluegrass-, folk-, and jazz-influenced Quintet. The program also features the Dover Quartet playing Haydn’s stately Emperor Quartet (originally written for the last Holy Roman Emperor) and pianist Haochen Zhang, violinist Ida Kavafian, and cellist Peter Stumpf performing Brahms’s gorgeous Piano Trio in B Major.

Edgar Meyer Quintet

Four longtime friends of the Festival—violinists Benny Kim, Daniel Phillips, Ida Kavafian, and Jennifer Gilbert—solo in one of the most beloved and well-known works of the classical music repertoire: Vivaldi’s sparkling, infectious, and brilliantly evocative The Four Seasons.

The Four Seasons

Enjoy an evening of musical entertainment with two of the world’s foremost bassists. Eminent jazz bassist Christian McBride brings his unique musical flair to complement Edgar Meyer’s accomplished background of classical, folk, and bluegrass. The two virtuosos and friends join forces and share the stage for a transfixing and lively performance that’s sure to be an electric evening for all!

Special Event: Bass Sensations Christian McBride and Edgar Meyer

“When we are performing on stage, in composing mode or creating mode, we are basically having a conversation,” says renowned tabla player, Zakir Hussain, of his bandmates, banjo legend Béla Fleck, the great double bassist Edgar Meyer, and bansuri player Rakesh Chaurasia. “So the music emerges as we speak.”

As We Speak: Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain

Berklee College of Music

Three masterful genre-benders—Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, and Edgar Meyer—come together once again to blur geographic borders and musical boundaries for an exuberantly virtuosic and exciting evening of music.

Bluegrass, classical, global music, jazz, and more come together and recombine in unheard-of ways. Their joy is palpable, and the audience will share the excitement and enthusiasm. 

Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Zakir Hussain

Dance is love in motion. Winter Mix: Love Songs/Love Stories explores the complexities of love through three pieces, including a performance of Gerald Arpino's renowned classical work Birthday Variations set to the music of Giuseppe Verdi. Short Trip Home, by director and choreographer Garrett Ammon, features music composed by Edgar Meyer and Joshua Bell performed by bluegrass musicians Sam Bush and Mike Marshall. It is a story of family dynamics, marriage, parenthood and witnessing children find new love as they create their own place in the world. Finally, Marcus Jarrell Willis, currently the Resident Choreographer from Ballet Cymru in Newport, Wales, has imagined an exciting new work to premiere at Winter Mix with a very carefully curated song list focusing on love and relationships. Don't miss it!

Winter Mix

Playhouse on the Square

Like a shooting star, Franz Schubert blazed across music's sky for a brief 31 years, leaving behind over 1,000 works that transformed the Classical into the Romantic age.
Four programs spanning Schubert's creative career and variety of compositions offer a rich journey into one of music's most ethereal worlds. A fifth concert explores how the legacy of Schubert and composers in the two centuries following his death have re-worked and been inspired by his compositions.

Winter Festival: From Song

Curtis Institute of Music students perform over 100 free recitals during the semester, held on most Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. Admission requires advance registration and is complimentary.

Viola, Trumpet, and Bass

Curtis Institute of Music

American music masters Sam Bush, Mike Marshall, and Edgar Meyer join with George Meyer for the kind of special collaboration usually heard only at a bluegrass festival. Bush and Marshall are mandolin virtuosos rooted in bluegrass. The Meyers (Edgar on acoustic bass, son George on violin) come from the classical world. Together, they make acoustic music that can only be categorized as “amazing.” You’ll hear works from the 1999 genre-bending album Short Trip Home (which featured Bush, Marshall, and the elder Meyer), plus new music written for this tour. Four musical stars are coming together in a burst of creativity; don’t miss it!

Sam Bush, Mike Marshall, Edgar Meyer & George Meyer

McCallum Theatre

American music trailblazers Mike Marshall, Edgar Meyer, George Meyer, and Bryan Sutton come together in this energizing ensemble, each with a keen sense of musicianship and mastery of their instrument and genres. Blending new grass and classical, they bring the summer bluegrass festival circuit to the Bing.

Mike Marshall, Edgar Meyer, George Meyer, and Bryan Sutton

Stanford University

Sam Bush, Mike Marshall, Edgar Meyer, George Meyer

Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts

Formed at the Curtis Institute of Music, the members of the Dover Quartet count among their mentors some of the greatest musicians of our time, and the ensemble’s performances continue to combine the hallowed standards of string playing’s golden age with adventurous programming and appealing personal presence. Their program for CMS shows all their facets, and in addition, we are thrilled to present bassist Edgar Meyer in his own bass quintet, which received its first performance for CMS in 1996.

Dover Quartet with Edgar Meyer

Five-time Grammy-winning bassist and composer Edgar Meyer, whose unparalleled technique and ingenuity in composition and performance has made him one of the most notable bassists in history, is joined by the Scottish Ensemble, for an upbeat performance. A MacArthur Award recipient and the only bassist to receive an Avery Fisher Prize, Edgar Meyer has carved out a remarkable and unique niche in the musical world, taking an instrument normally relegated to the back of the orchestra and realizing its full potential as a musical centerpiece. Through reimagined and original compositions, Meyer makes the bass the focal point of a piece and in his collaborations with other artists, such as Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, and Chris Thile, he shows how versatile the instrument can be.</p><p>Winner of the Ensemble Award in the 2020 Royal Philharmonic Society Awards, the Scottish Ensemble promotes the rich diversity of the string repertoire, exploring adventurous ways through which it can be presented and shared, and seeks out thoughtful ways of connecting classical music to contemporary life.

Edgar Meyer and the Scottish Ensemble

An astounding group of virtuosos—Yo-Yo Ma on cello, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Edgar Meyer on bass, and Chris Thile on mandolin—reunite live for the first time in nearly a decade. Joined by featured vocalist Aoife O’Donovan, the lively talents of these exceptional artists come together on stage to create a singular sound that’s composed, part improvised, and uniquely American—music so complex to pull off that the group likens it to a goat rodeo, airplane pilots’ nickname for a situation in which many different things need to go right to avoid disaster. In the words of the Los Angeles Times, this concert presents “unlikely musicians on unlikely instruments in concerts … that [are] part blues, part bluegrass and a smidgen of Bach.” Hang on to your seats as the music transports you to magical heights with heart-rending ballads and Americana energy!

NOT OUR FIRST GOAT RODEO

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

Edgar Meyer, a virtuoso of the double bass, will be gracing the stage as part of the University of Chicago's 2024/25 Classic Concert Series. Renowned for his unparalleled technique and musicianship, Meyer has carved out a unique niche in the music world, both as a performer and a composer. His accolades include a MacArthur Award, an Avery Fisher Prize, and seven GRAMMY Awards, two of which he received for his 2023 album "As We Speak," created in collaboration with Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, and Rakesh Chaurasia. Meyer's musical journey is marked by collaborations with legendary artists such as Chris Thile, Joshua Bell, Yo-Yo Ma, and Emanuel Ax, showcasing his versatility and broad appeal.

In this performance, Meyer will present McGlynn's Jigs, a piece co-composed by himself and Arty McGlynn, alongside pianist Tamara-Anna Cislowska. His ability to blend classical precision with innovative compositions has earned him praise from critics and audiences alike. The New York Times hails him as a legitimate heir to the tradition of double bass, while The New Yorker describes him as the most remarkable virtuoso in the history of his instrument. The Washington Post notes his unique approach, dubbing him "not your classic classicist." This event promises to be a testament to Meyer's extraordinary talent and his significant impact on the world of music.

Edgar Meyer, double bass

Reynolds Club

Tessa Lark, at once a widely praised violinist and acclaimed Appalachian fiddler, is more than a performer: she’s a convener of adventurous, up-for-anything collaborators. For this concert, she’s assembled an accomplished trio that spans the generations, bringing together artists who span, blend, and play with genres.

Edgar Meyer

Bassist

Events

Upcoming events

Apr 25, 2025

Edgar Meyer, double bass · UChicago Presents

May 9, 2025

Tessa Lark, Joshua Roman, Edgar Meyer · Celebrity Series of Boston

Past events

8 - 10 Dec, 2024

Baroque Organ · Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center

Nov 17, 2024

Tessa Lark, Joshua Roman, and Edgar Meyer · Conservatory of Music at Purchase College

Future and recently performed repertoire

Double Bass in Double Bass Concerto No.2 by Bottesini

Rogue Valley Symphony

Double Bass in Double Bass Concerto No. 1 by Meyer

Rogue Valley Symphony

About

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