Biography

Gareth is from Caerleon in Newport, South Wales. He showed an interest in music from an early age, taking up the clarinet at the age of seven, followed by saxophone aged nine and bassoon aged twelve.

Gareth began at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama as a saxophonist, but after a few months realised his future didn’t lie in the saxophone world, but as a bassoonist. He studied the bassoon under Steve Marsden and Meyrick Alexander, graduating in 2013 with a first class honours degree. Gareth continued his studies in London with a master’s in Orchestral Artistry at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. There he had lessons with Helen Simons, Amy Harman, Peter Whelan and Miriam Gussek along with regular sit-ins with the London Symphony Orchestra, before graduating in 2014.

Gareth has had orchestral experience with the Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera, along with Sinfonia Cymru, Orpheus Sinfonia and British Sinfonietta. Gareth is an active chamber musician and is a founding member of the Cardiff based wind quintet New British Winds.

QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS

What do you love about classical music?
I love that the genre of ‘classical’ music covers such a wide spectrum of musical styles, and live performances have an unrivalled energy. I also love the different challenges it can bring every day.

What’s on your playlist right now?
I am currently listening to a real variety of music, including orchestral works by Richard Strauss and Tchaikovsky. But I also have an interest in jazz music including the fantastic group Snarky Puppy, who I saw live recently.

Tell us something about yourself that might surprise us.
If I couldn’t be a musician I’d like to be a sports journalist or football commentator.