Birmingham (UK)
Sebastiano Dessanay is a composer and double bassist resident in Birmingham (UK).
Originally from Sardinia, his music is highly informed by a strong sense of melody and attention to textural details. The double bass has often a prominent role in his research and elements of improvisation permeate his compositions, often enriched by the use of electronics.
Sebastiano started to play piano and cello when he was 11 and then turned to electric bass, playing with different rock and pop bands. Some years later, after having obtained a geology degree at Cagliari University, he started studying double bass and composition at Cagliari Conservatoire where he graduated in 2007. In November 2007 he moved to UK, in 2009 he completed a Master in Music Composition at the Birmingham Conservatoire, where he also obtained a PhD in Composition in 2014. He currently teaches double bass and music theory at the Birmingham Junior Conservatoire, and he collaborates with the Music Department at the University of Birmingham.
Sebastiano regularly collaborates with musicians in classical and contemporary music, jazz, pop-rock and folk music, opera, theatre, dance, film and visual arts. He has performed extensively throughout Europe and has recorded in many projects as a leader and as a session musician.
Prizes and awards have included: Honorable Mention from the International Society of Bassists (ISB) for the composition Noise for double bass and electronics at the 2012 David Walter Composition Competition; 1st prize at Sardinia International Composition Competition in 2004 with the composition Scherzo for solo double bass.
His music has been performed at the RADA Studios, Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (London, 2017), Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall Building (Birmingham, 2017), the Barber Institute of Fine Arts (Birmingham, 2017), the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre (London, 2016), the REP Theatre (Birmingham, 2016), the Traverse Theatre (Edinburgh, 2016), the Tramway Theatre (Glasgow, 2016), the MAC (Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, 2015), Library of Birmingham (Birmingham, 2015), Stratford On Avon Music Festival (Stratford-upon-Avon 2012), Jazz Dock (Prague, 2012), Sound New Festival (Canterbury, 2010 and 2012), European Jazz Expò (Cagliari, 2012), Nuoro Jazz Festival (Nuoro, 2012 and 2013), Integra Festival (Copenhagen, 2011), University of Nebraska (Omaha, 2011), Royal Conservatoire (Stockholm, 2011), Frontiers Festival (Birmingham, 2009 and 2010), The Place (London, 2008 and 2009), Spazio Musica Festival (Cagliari, 2004), Time in Jazz Festival (Berchidda, 2000).
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