Marianne Schofield
Double Bass

Marianne joined the Artistic Board of Riot Ensemble in 2018 and has enjoyed being part of some incredible concerts with the group since then, including the premiere of Solstices by G.F. Haas, performed primarily in total darkness, and memorable tours to Iceland, the Alps, and arctic Norway, amongst others. Through Riot Ensemble, Marianne has premiered new solo works for double bass by composers Joseph Bates, Oliver Thurley, Luke Styles and José Manuel Serrano, performing as a soloist at venues including Wigmore Hall, Kings Place and MaerzMusik Berlin.

Marianne is a founder member of award-winning contemporary quartet The Hermes Experiment, where she is active as an arranger and improviser. Formed of clarinet, harp, double bass and soprano voice, the group has commissioned over seventy composers so far and has released two ground-breaking albums of new music and arrangements. 

Marianne is a dedicated chamber musician, having performed with the Haffner Wind Ensemble, GBSR duo, the Solem Quartet, the Navarra Quartet, United Strings of Europe, Chroma, Berkeley Ensemble, and the Harborough Collective. She also performs regularly with UK orchestras including Aurora Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, English National Opera, London Mozart Players, London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Sinfonia of London, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.

Marianne studied at the Royal Academy of Music and the University of Cambridge, and is a graduate of the Hallé/RNCM String Leadership Scheme, as well as the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Experience scheme for historical double bass. She is grateful to the Cambridge Bursary fund and the Headley Trust for their generous support during her studies.