Desmond Willis is a 15 year old Double Bassist, Oboist, and Pianist from Millersville, Maryland. He currently studies with David Sheets, assistant principal bass of the Baltimore Symphony and has been playing bass for 3 years. In 2025 and 2026 he got into MMEA’s All State Junior Orchestra as first and second chair respectively, and he currently plays in the top group (YO) of the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestras. He has played in concert with professional orchestras such as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Naptown Philharmonic. He is about to start his sophomore year at Broadneck a high School, where he participates in their Apex Arts program. In March of 2026 he won 2nd place in the Penn State Bass Expo orchestral competition, and this summer he attended the Philadelphia International Music Festival Music Festival and Bass Works MD, where he was placed in the top chamber group. In 2025 he performed the Koussevitzky Double Bass Concerto with his high school’s chamber orchestra, and next year he plans to do the same with the Bottesini Concerto No. 2. He’s also played in AACPS’ All County Orchestra for the past 4 years in a row, All County Band in 2024 and 2025, and All County Jazz Band in 2025.
Watch Desmond Norman Willis perform Moses Fantasy by Niccolo Paganini on the double bass for the 19th Century Music Competition 2026 as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.