Xavier Foley is known for communicating his virtuosity and passion for music on the double bass, which is rarely presented as a solo instrument. 

Xavier is a first prize winner of the 2016 YCA Susan Wadsworth International Auditions, winner of the 2014 Sphinx Competition, and a 2018 Recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant. He has performed recitals at Shriver Hall, Rockport Music, La Jolla Chamber Music Society, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, National Gallery of Art, and the Harriman-Jewell Series. An avid chamber musician, he has appeared with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Marlboro Music Festival, Tippet Rise Music Festival, Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, and Skaneateles Festival.

As a composer, Xavier’s For Justice and Peace was premiered by the Sphinx Organization at Carnegie Hall in October 2019, and co-commissioned by both organizations. It has since been performed by such orchestras as the Atlanta Symphony, New West Symphony, Oregon Symphony, and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Xavier’s bass concerto, Soul Bass, was commissioned and premiered by the Atlanta Symphony, with following performances with the Baltimore Symphony under their New Music Director, Jonathon Heyward and with the Kansas City Symphony under Michael Stern. 

Upcoming and recent commissions for Xavier Foley include Santa Fe Pro Musica, The Cabrillo Festival in conjunction with the Mahler Foundation, the Sphinx Organization co-commissioned with Carnegie Hall and the New World Symphony, Chicago Symphony’s MusicNOW (curated by Jessie Montgomery), and the Oregon Symphony, where he has been named Artist-in-Residence for the next three seasons.

During the 23-24 season Xavier will tour extensively throughout North America with the Sphinx Virtuosi playing his new concerto, “Galaxy” Concertante, for two double basses commissioned by Sphinx Virtuosi, New World Symphony, and Carnegie Hall, and will also make concerto appearances performing his own works with the Spartanburg Philharmonic, San Luis Obispo Symphony, Chicago Sinfonietta, University of South Carolina Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Northwest Sinfonietta, and Oregon Symphony. He will also tour with the Ying Quartet performing a new bass quintet and will appear in recital with Abbey Church Events, Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center @ the University of Alabama, Castleton Festival, Ashmont Hill Chamber Music, Schubert Club, Bowlus Fine Arts Center, and Calgary Pro Musica.  

A native of Marietta, GA, Xavier is an alumnus of the Perlman Music Program, and earned his Bachelor of Music from the Curtis Institute of Music working with Edgar Meyer and Hal Robinson. His double bass was crafted by Rumano Solano.

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YCA represents double bassist Xavier Foley for worldwide engagements (except the greater Philadelphia area). Please contact us for more information.