Gavin appears on Show 453.

Gavin Hardy (double bass), 18, is native to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and is currently a high school senior at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. He began his journey as a string musician on the violin and cello, but after hearing the warm, resonant, and powerful sound of the double bass at age 12, he was hooked. At the age of 15, while studying with Paul Sharpe, he took part in the 2021 International Society of Bassists Solo Competition (15–18 division) and was selected as one of ten finalists from around the world. Later that same year, Gavin joined the high school program at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and was selected as the winner of the 2021-22 Harlan Duenow Young Artist Concerto Competition. This past summer he was invited as one of five double bassists to participate in the Pirastro Strings Elite Soloists Program, joining participants from Japan, South Korea, Mexico, and China.

Orchestral performance is a particular passion of Gavin’s, and he has been fortunate to take part in very prominent youth orchestras including both the National Youth Orchestra’s NYO2 and NYO-USA programs, as well as Boston University Tanglewood Institute’s Young Artist Orchestra. Gavin’s goal as a musician is to become the principal double bassist of a major symphony orchestra and to teach at a music conservatory.

Receiving the Award will allow Gavin to purchase a travel case for his instrument and cover travel costs to his upcoming college auditions. Traveling with a double bass comes with significant additional costs, and the Award will help to ease that burden and allow Gavin to focus on his auditions.