|
The South African pianist, teacher, music producer & DJ, Gareth Edward Ross, started piano lessons at 11 years. He later moved to Johannesburg where he matriculated from The National School of the Arts in 2004 receiving the top awards for both 1st instrument (piano) and 2nd instrument (oboe). He then moved to Pretoria where he completed his Bachelor of Music degree *** laude specialising in piano performance at the University of Pretoria (2008); other final year subjects were music theory and chamber musicand Awarded academic honorary colours; his Teachers Licentiate Diploma (piano) *** laude from UNISA (University of South Africa) (2008). As a result of his academic achievements for his BMus degree he is now a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society. He has been taking piano lessons from Professor Joseph Stanford since 2003.
In 2004 Gareth Edward Ross won 4th prize and the prize for the best interpretation of a work by J.S. Bach at the Hennie Joubert National Piano Competition. In 2005 he was the category winner for piano, and received the prize for the best performance of a 20th century work at the ABSA National Youth Music Competition. He has performed with the Cape Philharmonic and Sasol Pro Musica Orchestras playing W.A. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 15 in B flat and the Concerto for two pianos. In 2006 he received first prize at the Varna Symphonic Workshops International Piano Concerto Competition in Bulgaria also playing Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 4. Also in 2006, he won 2nd prize and best performance of a South African work at the UNISA South African Scholarship competition. He is a recipient of both the Pretorium Trust Bursary (2006-2008) and SAMRO Music Study Scholarship (2005 and 2006), as well as the University of Pretoria Achievement Bursary (2007 and 2008). In 2007 he performed as a soloist with the University of Pretoria Symphony Orchestra playing Saint-Saëns’ 4th Piano Concerto, and was a semi-finalist in the UNISA National Piano Competition.
In 2008 Gareth Edward Ross won the DJ Roode Overseas Scholarship and was awarded the SAMRO prize for the best performance of a South African composition at the UNISA Overseas Scholarship competition. Also in 2008 he received the UNISA Teachers Licentiate diploma *** laude. In 2009 he won 2nd prize in the SAMRO Overseas Music Scholarship Competition as well as the prize for the best performance of the prescribed South African compositions. After the competition he spent 3 months at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as part of their Masters of Music programme. In September 2011, he passed his UNISA Performers Licentiate examination *** laude and soon after he travelled to Italy to attend the Palazzo Ricci Masterclasses hosted by the European Academy of Performing Arts. He had piano lessons with the celebrated pianist, Carmen Piazzini, and also had classes in Alexander Technique. He obtained and his Master of Music degree in Piano Performance with distinction from the University of Pretoria (2019).
Gareth Edward Ross was the Chairman and Founder of the Southdowns College Ensemble Jamboree, an ensemble eisteddfod which he created. He has also created his own music course called Music Integration which is a combination of music appreciation (from Renaissance music to Lady Gaga), theory, form analysis, music history, the music, entertainment and fashion industries, and philosophy. He lectured this at the Stagedoor Showbusiness Academy in Centurion.
Gareth Edward Ross has been performing as a concert pianist since the age of 12 and has won multiple awards in South Africa, Germany and Bulgaria. In addition to those countries he has performed in Italy, South Korea and the USA. He has performed regularly on the television show Ouverture for Kyknet, as well as at the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square, the Musaion and in the ZK Matthews Great Hall at UNISA. Currently based in Port Elizabeth South Africa, he is working on releasing his first two singles as a music producer by the end of 2020. |
|
Work experience:
January to Kingsmead College, Johannesburg: May 2008: Piano teacher; instrumental accompanist; choir accompanist; aural teacher (primary and high school)
January to St Mary’s Diocesan School for Girls, Pretoria: August 2009: Piano teacher; music theory teacher; instrumental accompanist; chapel accompanist (high school).
May 2010 to Stagedoor Showbusiness Academy, Centurion (tertiary level): August 2011: Music theory lecturer; Music integration lecturer Music integration is my own music course that I created. It is a combination of music appreciation (from Renaissance music to Lady Gaga), theory, form analysis, music history, the music, entertainment and fashion industries, and philosophy.
May 2010 to Southdowns College, Centurion: January 2012: Piano teacher; administrator for the music department; instrumental accompanist; chairman and founder of the Southdowns College Ensemble Jamboree; in charge of all administration for the music department. SDC Ensemble Jamboree is a music eisteddfod which celebrates ensemble playing of all levels, from primary school children to university students. He created, managed and produced the event.
January 2012 Presenter of ‘Bach to Bass’ radio slot on ChaiFM; discussion of music gigs to present: happening in and around Johannesburg, from classical to dubstep. He also works as and Piano Teacher at The National School of the Arts, Johannesburg. |
