Blake Hilley: Pride and Steel for solo double bass

About the Composition Written during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown, Pride and Steel is a piece of resilience and strength. The solo double bass piece acts as an anthem to push forward and to continue making music through harsh circumstances. We all suffered isolation from the pandemic, so only through the universal language of music can we truly reconnect. About the Composer Blake Hilley is an award-winning double bassist who performs both as a classical soloist and an orchestral bassist. He loves to explore the versatility of the bass, bringing the voice of the instrument to the public. Blake graduated from The Juilliard School with his Bachelor of Music with Academic Honors in 2022, and he is returning to Juilliard for his Master of Music with Timothy Cobb, Principal Bassist of the New York Philharmonic. Blake performs with the Juilliard Orchestra under Maestros, including Itzhak Perlman and David Robertson. Blake has performed frequently with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra under M