Gareth Lubbe, a South African-born violist, violinist, and overtone singer, is internationally known for his wide-ranging collaborations with artists from many genres and for his versatility as a musician.
Lubbe was principal violist of the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig under Riccardo Chailly from 2007 to 2014 before leaving that position to become Professor of Viola, as successor to Vladimir Mendelssohn, at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany.
He has appeared as soloist with orchestras such as the Deutsches Sinfonieorchester Berlin and the Munich Chamber Orchestra amongst others.
He appears as soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe, America, Africa and Asia. He performs on the world’s leading stages such as the Berlin Philharmonie, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Wigmore Hall in London and Carnegie Hall in New York. In addition, Gareth also performs as a permanent artist and teacher at leading festivals in Finland, England, South Korea, Japan and Brazil, among others.
As overtone singer, he performs and gives active lectures around the world, translating this phenomenon of multiphonic singing into the possibilities of sound production on one’s own instrument. Many composers have written works for him in this role.
He is part of the international faculty of the annual Stellenbosch Chamber Music Festival, which brings together up to 400 young students from all over Africa and other parts of the world. In 2013 he accepted the position of professor at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, where he now leads a studio with international viola students.
He is co-artistic director of the “Stelzenfestspiele bei Reuth” where agricultural objects like shovels, milking equipment and compost machines are morphed into musical instruments.
he accepted the position of professor at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, where he now leads a studio with international viola students.