Dr. Will Yager is a versatile double bassist committed to experimental music, improvisation, and collaborating with artists in the creation of new solo and chamber repertoire for the double bass. He is a founding member of the soprano/double bass duo LIGAMENT, improvising trio Wombat, and Terns, a new duo with flutist Sasha Ishov. Performance highlights include appearances at Bang on Can’s Long Play Festival, Big Ears Festival, International Society of Bassists Convention, SPLICE Festival, High Zero Festival, Experimental Sound Studio’s Quarantine Concerts, Omaha Under the Radar, and Constellation Chicago’s Frequency Series. Yager is also a founding member and currently serves on the board of the nonprofit organization Bass Players for Black Composers.
As members of LIGAMENT, Anika Kildegaard and Will Yager have premiered many new works and have an upcoming album of pieces written expressly for the duo. Notable performances include appearances with No Exit New Music (Cleveland), the Johnstone Fund for New Music, University of Northern Iowa New Music Festival, University of Georgia New Music Festival, Kansas City Contemporary Music Festival, and Cleveland Uncommon Sound Project’s Re:Sound. Recent concert seasons have included residencies at the University of Idaho and University of Iowa, collaborations with the composition department at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and tours of the midwest and east coast.
Wombat, along with saxophonist Justin Comer and guitarist Carlos Cotallo Solares, is an improvising trio dedicated to experimental and intermedia performance. Wombat has performed at the Oh My Ears Festival (Phoenix, AZ), MOXsonic Experimental Electronic Music festival, the University of Iowa Center for New Music, as well as tours across the US. Wombat has several recordings available on Bandcamp, including their most recent recording Burnt Ends.
In addition to his varied performing activities, Dr. Yager is on faculty at the University of Northern Iowa.