Biography
Violinist Brendan Garde graduated in 2019 with a Master’s in Music Performance from CIT Cork School of Music and was awarded Best Taught Master’s Degree Student 2019. Brendan was also the recipient of the Cork Orchestral Society Emerging Artist Award 2019.
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Brendan began learning violin at the age of seven at the Cork School of Music, under Colette O’Brien and later with Adrian Petcu. Joining the Cork Youth Orchestra and Irish Youth Orchestra opened up a world of collaborative playing, and were formative experiences for him which led on to participating in summer chamber music courses, both in Ireland and abroad.
Keen to pursue a degree in music, and specialise in violin performance, Brendan studied at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester, where he gained a BMus degree, under the guidance of Leland Chen. While at the RNCM, Brendan was an ABRSM EU Scholar and was a finalist in both the Norman George Violin Scholarship and the Helen Porthouse Paganini Prize competitions. Opportunities to perform as an active chamber musician at the RNCM were many, and he was awarded the Weil Prize in 2016.
Since his time at the RNCM, he has completed a Master’s in Music Performance, studying under Gregory Ellis, at the CIT Cork School of Music, and was awarded Best Taught Master’s Degree Student of 2019. Brendan was also the recipient of the Cork Orchestral Society Emerging Artist Award 2019.
As a keen chamber musician, Brendan has performed at many events and festivals, including the Ortús Chamber Music Festival, Salisbury International Arts Festival, Finding a Voice Festival, Kaleidoscope and the West Cork Chamber Music Festival. As a freelance orchestral player, he has played with numerous orchestras, including the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Irish National Opera and the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra.
Biography
Violinist Brendan Garde graduated in 2019 with a Master’s in Music Performance from CIT Cork School of Music and was awarded Best Taught Master’s Degree Student 2019. Brendan was also the recipient of the Cork Orchestral Society Emerging Artist Award 2019.
Read More
Brendan began learning violin at the age of seven at the Cork School of Music, under Colette O’Brien and later with Adrian Petcu. Joining the Cork Youth Orchestra and Irish Youth Orchestra opened up a world of collaborative playing, and were formative experiences for him which led on to participating in summer chamber music courses, both in Ireland and abroad.
Keen to pursue a degree in music, and specialise in violin performance, Brendan studied at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester, where he gained a BMus degree, under the guidance of Leland Chen. While at the RNCM, Brendan was an ABRSM EU Scholar and was a finalist in both the Norman George Violin Scholarship and the Helen Porthouse Paganini Prize competitions. Opportunities to perform as an active chamber musician at the RNCM were many, and he was awarded the Weil Prize in 2016.
Since his time at the RNCM, he has completed a Master’s in Music Performance, studying under Gregory Ellis, at the CIT Cork School of Music, and was awarded Best Taught Master’s Degree Student of 2019. Brendan was also the recipient of the Cork Orchestral Society Emerging Artist Award 2019.
As a keen chamber musician, Brendan has performed at many events and festivals, including the Ortús Chamber Music Festival, Salisbury International Arts Festival, Finding a Voice Festival, Kaleidoscope and the West Cork Chamber Music Festival. As a freelance orchestral player, he has played with numerous orchestras, including the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Irish National Opera and the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra.
Premium Violin Course
Perfect for adult beginners; this course will guide you through the fundamental skills of violin playing.
You will be equipped with the tools and knowledge to propel your learning journey.
The course is tailored to each learner’s individual goals and needs.
Modules:
- Violin technique
- Read and interpret sheet music
- Musicianship skills
- Practice strategy
Included:
- One-to-one private lessons
- Personalized demo videos
- Personalized Practice Schedule
- Feedback on video submissions
Premium Violin Course
Perfect for adult beginners; this course will guide you through the fundamental skills of violin playing.
You will be equipped with the tools and knowledge to propel your learning journey.
The course is tailored to each learner’s individual goals and needs.
Modules:
- Violin technique
- Read and interpret sheet music
- Musicianship skills
- Practice strategy
Included:
- One-to-one private lessons
- Personalized demo videos
- Personalized Practice Schedule
- Feedback on video submissions
Performing
As a performing violinist, I have considerable experience playing as a soloist, as a chamber musician in small ensembles (quartets, trios, etc), and as an orchestral player in concert performances, festivals, corporate events, launchings and openings, weddings, civil and church ceremonies, and much more. I’ve included samples of my recent performances below, as well as recordings of my own individual playing for you to hear.
Teaching
A huge part of the violin experience for me is being able to guide others as they learn to play. I’ve crafted my approach to teaching violin through experience and with a keen interest in the subject. Playing the violin as a child through to continuing my studies to master’s level, I have acquired insights that I believe can be valuable to others who are learning the violin.
Recordings
Until you can come along to a live event or concert, feel free to listen to a sampling of my violin playing here. Please do get in touch through the contact form below if you’d like me to play violin at your next event.
Topics
Contact Points: Left Hand
In this topic, we explore the ways in which the contact points between the left hand and the violin affect the workings of the hand.
