🎓EDUCATION

An alumnus of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, May earned a BA in musical studies with an endorsement in string teaching in 1992. She continued her studies for a further two years gaining a Certificate of Post Graduate in Orchestral Double Bass playing and winning the Eugene Cruft Prize for Double Bass and the Scottish Society of Composer’s Award for the performance of a contemporary work. Being passionate about all styles of music, May broadened her musical horizon and in 2001 she gained the St Andrews University Scottish Certificate in Jazz. Energised by her passion for jazz, May went on to receive an Advanced Diploma in Jazz, which won her the Linda Trahan Memorial Quaich for best performance.

May’s talent and passion have made her a popular and sought-after music educator, working with students of all ages and stages. She has a particular interest in teaching mini bass and from this, she conceived the innovative Bessy Bass project to promote the double bass as well as other instruments to children. Ultimately, the goal of this project is to inspire and motivate children to find their instrument and embark on their own musical journey.

May is an experienced and passionate double bass teacher, accomplished workshop leader and masterclass tutor. recognised for her work in bringing quality music education to communities in Scotland, the UK and beyond.

The most recent addition to the Bessy Bass project is the Bass School. Starting out as the Bessy & Benny School of Bass, May began teaching primary aged students, providing them with everything they needed to get started. She then took the model into some schools in Edinburgh, where the project is now about to start its 3rd year.

May then opened the Bessy Academy for her students to graduate to as they reached High School age. May is excited to be developing an online school which will be suitable for all ages and stages of double bassist!

May is also an experienced workshop leader. She collaborated with percussionist Jo May and together they regularly deliver workshops to primary school children.

Since November 2022, May has been part of the Benedetti Foundation’s tutor team, delivering workshops to school age string players throughout the UK.

In October 2023, May was invited to deliver workshops and masterclasses to students at the Conservatory of Music Isaac Albéniz in Girona. She worked with students aged 8 to 16 at a variety of levels and also had the opportunity to use her Spanish skills.

May organises double bass days with the Scottish Bass Trust and has worked alongside David Heyes delivering workshops in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Wells Cathedral School. May has partnered with David Heyes and Recital Music on a number of projects over the years, including workshops, composing competitions and commissions. David has written some trio pieces for the Bessy Bass project and has also commissioned May to compose for the younger double bassist. May’s pieces are part of the Recital Music catalogue and are available world wide. She has written a selection of pieces for the Bessy Bass project which are also available worldwide in PDF form through bessybass.com.

May regularly coaches youth orchestra double bass sections from school to national levels with ensembles such as the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, National Children’s Orchestras, West of Scotland Schools Symphony Orchestra and the Universities of Scotland Symphony Orchestra.

To further demonstrate her commitment to the field, May serves on the board of the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra and is a Trustee of the Scottish Bass Trust.

🏫 EDUCATOR

🎻Performer

In 1995, May was appointed to the post of sub-principal bass with Orquestra Simfonica de Balears, Palma de Mallorca, where she remained for three and a half years before returning to Scotland, launching her freelance career in 1998, which continues to the present day. 

During her freelance career, May has performed with world-leading and highly esteemed ensembles, such as Orchestra of Scottish Opera, BBC Scottish Symphony, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Ballet Orchestra, Dunedin Consort, Scottish Ensemble, Assembly Project, Hebrides Ensemble, Royal Northern Sinfonia & Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Fitzwilliam Quartet, Amici Ensemble & the Clod Ensemble – to name but a few.

Her performances don’t just include the classical repertoire – May’s passion for MUSIC has taken her across the genres, performing, recording and touring with singer songwriters, rock bands, jazz ensembles and folk groups. She has performed and recorded extensively at festivals and events including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Celtic Connections. May has performed and recorded with folk composer and pianist James Ross; acclaimed saxophonist Richard Ingham, most recently touring with Strangeness and Charm celebrating the return of the “Book of Deer” to Aberdeenshire; and the John Montgomery Band. May also has recorded with singer/Songwriter Dot Allison of One Dove, as both a band member on bass guitar and on double bass as part of her string section. She performed in the Uk and Canada with singer/songwriter Andi Neate and was also a member of the South American Folk band, Voces Del Sur for several years performing and recording with them throughout the UK and Europe.

May also enjoys musical theatre and has worked on many West End touring productions of musicals visiting Edinburgh including Phantom of the Opera, Singing in the Rain, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Thoroughly Modern Millie and The Secret Garden. Most recently May became the bassist for the International sell-out musical, The Mould that Changed the World which rose to fame at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2018 and returned in 2022 before touring the USA a few weeks later.

May also gives occasional solo performances and is co-founder of the cello/bass duo, “Opus Duo” which has performed throughout Scotland.

📔 AUTHOR

May has had a lifelong interest in writing but it wasn’t until 2015 that she published her first children’s book, Around the World with Bessy - Part One - Europe.

Working with best selling author, Mary Thomson Turner and her company, Whitewater Publishing, May got the confidence to take that final step. May has now written three books in the Around the World with Bessy series and has also written a few ‘grown up’ pieces! Some of her short stories and other writings can be found in the anthologies, Stir Crazy and Once Upon Another Time and are available on Amazon.  

The Bessy Bass books are available in age appropriate versions for all children up to age 11 as hard copies and eBooks with accompanying music tracks on both and Amazon and bessybass.com, where she also shares her experience and insight in her popular blog.

Bessy started out as a series of story books with music for nursery and primary school children. There are three books in the series so far. Part One- Europe and Part Two - New York come in three different age appropriate versions and part One and a Half is in one easy read versions suitable for primary school readers and family story time. Each book explores the topics of friendship and inclusion as Bessy travels around the world, having adventures with other musical family and friends. The language, culture and of course, the music of each destination is featured.

May went on to create spin off shows and workshops which have been performed throughout the UK and earned sell out garlands at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe!

As well as individual lessons, students from both schools come together several times each term to attend a 45 minute zoom session, “Bessy Bass at Your Place!” These live sessions feature double bassists and other musicians from around the world who come to lead workshops, perform and talk about their career choices in a very relaxed and informal manner with the opportunity for participants to ask questions and get to know each guest.