Douglas Whates was born in 1981 to a Scottish mother and a half English/half German father and spent his formative years in Scotland, England and the Middle East. He returned and has remained in Scotland since 1996. He moved to Glasgow in 1999 to study composition with Dr. Gordon McPherson at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, receiving the Patron’s Fund Prize (Royal College of Music) for Composition in 2003, and graduated in 2004 with a 1st class honours.
He has had major works performed by the London Sinfonietta; RSAMD Sinfonietta; the Hebrides Ensemble; the Paragon Ensemble; the National Youth Guitar Ensemble with Allan Neave; and fledgling new music group Symposia. In 2003 he was commissioned to write the theme music for Nemesis Inferno—one of the UK’s most advanced roller coasters.
2006 saw the debut of the critically acclaimed, genre-defying ‘Douglas Whates and his Music’ sextet at RSAMD’s Plug festival, an ensemble in which he doubled as composer and bassist.
Equally active as a performer, Douglas started his musical education aged 9—studying trumpet and piano. During his secondary education, attention turned to guitar and while at RSAMD his formal instrumental training was in classical guitar. Towards the end of his studies, focus shifted to bass—the instrument with which he is now most readily associated. In this capacity he has performed with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra; Scottish Ballet Orchestra; appeared as a sideman for London session ace Hugh Burns (Scott Walker, Gerry Rafferty, Paul McCartney) and celtic/crossover guitarist John Goldie; has undertaken theatre pit work—including touring with Sunshine on Leith; has featured on BBC Radio as composer or performer on numerous occasions; and is a founding member of the acoustic chamber ensembles, Frevo Quartet and Kelvin Trio.
As a jazz bassist, Douglas regularly performs in and around Glasgow with some of the top musicians on the scene, as well as fronting his own trio. In 2008 he supported Tomasz Stańko as bassist in the newly formed Mira Opalińska International Quartet.
As an educator, he has held posts at Stevenson College Edinburgh (composition lecturer/tutor, music technology, harmony and creative skills) and has extensive experience conducting masterclasses/clinics. He is currently a member of the string faculty at RSAMD (bass guitar) and teaches classical guitar at Craigholme School.
 |
Standing Stones Frevo Quartet |
£6.50 | |
 |
Histoire du Tango Frevo Quartet |
£6.50 | |
 |
Rawlnish Blue Rose Code |
£6.50 | |
 |
Maelasta Maelasta
|
£12.50 |