Jeremy and Leon Spikmans are brothers from Mount Riverview in the Blue Mountains who have profited immensely from the wealth of fine musicians in this area. Both began studying cello and piano with Fran Firth and Shirley Plowright, respectively, at an early age. Leon later took up the double bass under Paul Laszlo, and then trumpet with Matthew Carter.

Jeremy, now 18, finished his secondary schooling at Penrith Selective High School in 2025; he also earned his cello Licentiate diploma, and a nomination to “ENCORE”, the showcase for top performers in the NSW Higher School Certificate music subjects.

Leon, 16, is in his final years at the Conservatorium High School as a double bass major tutored by Andrew Meisel. He also earned his cello Associate diploma in 2024.

Jeremy and Leon have won positions in all the orchestral programs run by Australian Youth Orchestra: Young Symphonists (in which Leon has been Principal Double Bass and Jeremy Associate Principal Cello); National Music Camp (in which Leon was Associate Principal Double Bass in his first eligible year, and more recently Principal Double Bass of the Amadio Chamber Orchestra); and the AYO flagship orchestra on its tours interstate and internationally in 2025 and 2026.

Jeremy and Leon have enjoyed success performing together with high points being Featured (double) Soloists in the NSW Primary Proms and concerto soloists with the Blue Mountains’ Orpheus Strings, playing Vivaldi’s double cello concerto.

Rossini’s Duet for Cello and Double Bass is that rare exemplar of a work written for both instruments that treats both as equal partners. The lively interplay between the instruments throughout the work reaches its apogee in this third and final movement, in which the constant rapid chasing and swapping of motifs and roles mirrors the brotherly relationship behind the performance.