Double-Bassist Aiyana Rennie began learning the double bass when she was 9 years old at the Royal College of Music’s Junior Department as a member of the Mini Bass Programme. When she turned 12, she continued her studies at the Yehudi Menuhin School, and she currently attends Chetham’s School of Music. 

Since 2016, Aiyana has been an active performer in various orchestral groups. She was a member of the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain for four consecutive years from 2016 to 2019. In 2019, she joined the Ernest Read Symphony Orchestra, which was founded in 1931 and is one of London’s leading amateur orchestras. One of her most recent performances with this orchestra was at the 90th Birthday Gala at the Dukes Hall of the Royal Academy of Music. In 2020, Aiyana successfully auditioned for the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain at the age of 14 and has been a member for three consecutive years. That same year, Aiyana was one of eight young musicians selected to be a part of the London Philharmonic Orchestra Junior Artist program where she received extensive orchestral training and development. She’s currently a member of the Chineke! Junior Orchestra, which will be playing in their first European tour starting at the Lucerne Festival 2022 in the heart of Switzerland.

Most recently Aiyana was awarded 2nd Prize in the Cello and Double Bass Category of the 2022 Radda Rise International String Competition and was also selected for the Category Audition round of 2022 BBC Young Musician. In addition to classical music, Aiyana has a strong interest in musical theatre and jazz. Aiyana started playing jazz piano at 7 years old and has continued to pursue it as a member of the National Youth Jazz Collective as well as the National Youth Jazz Orchestra London Academy. In 2016, she was the first recipient of the Chris Isaac £1,000 Award, which is given to the most promising jazz musicians in memory of the talented musician, Chris Issac. In 2019, she had the opportunity to perform double bass for the British Youth Music Theatre’s A.L.I.C.E Wanderlust show, which strengthened her passion for musical theatre. 

Aiyana’s expertise and extensive experience for her age are widely acknowledged. She was invited to speak in a panel conversation on YouTube as part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic YOLA National at Home - Young Artist Series: Bass Forward, alongside three distinguished double bassists, Chi-chi Nwanoku, Joseph Conyers, and Dalanie Harris. She was also invited to perform in all three Behind Closed Doors Concerts with the Chineke! Orchestra at the London Royal Festival Hall in 2020. Her most recent performances as a member of the Chineke! Orchestra include Exodus: Bob Marley Reimagined, which was a partnership between Island Records and BBC marking the 60th anniversary of Jamaican Independence, and Max Richter’s VOICES and The Four Seasons Recomposed at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. 

Aside from music, Aiyana enjoys travelling, hiking and sailing, and she is a member of the Royal Yachting Association in the United Kingdom.