Strings - staff
Chair/Associate Professor
Goetz Richter (Violin), Kuenstl Staatsdiplom Munich BA(Hons) PhD Syd
Associate Professors
Ole Böhn (Violin), AdvDip Royal Danish, AdvDip Höchschule Köln
Reiner Schmidt (Viola), DipMus Conservatory G. Dima
Alice Waten (Violin), MA Moscow Conservatoire
Senior Lecturers
Roger Benedict (Viola), GRNCM Royal Northern College of Music
Caroline Henbest (Viola)
Georg Pedersen (Violoncello), Deuxieme Prix ParisCons
Lecturers
Maxime Bibeau (Double Bass)
Susan Blake (Violoncello), Solisten Diplom Basel DSCM
Kees Boersma (Double Bass) DipMus VCA
Alex Henery (Double Bass)
Gregory Pikler (Guitar)
Marina Phillips (Violin, Viola), BMus(Hons) MMus UWA PhD UT
Part-time Staff
Raffaele Agostino (Guitar)
Janet Davies (Violin)
Charmian Gadd (Violin)
Jane Hazelwood (Viola)
Mark Ingwersen (Violin), BMus AIS GSMD Lond
Louise Johnson (Harp), ALCM(Teach)
Christopher Kimber (Violin)
Maria Lindsay (Violin), DSCM(Perf)
Jemima Littlemore (Violin), BMus
Marina Marsden (Violin), DSCM(Perf) Perf Dip Vienna
Anna McDonald (Violin)
Elisabeth Mitchelmore (Violin), SGPML Stuttgart GradDip(Perf)
Philippa Paige (Violin), LRAM (Teach) Lond BMus(Perf)
Carl Pini (Violin)
Sun Roh (Violin), BMus RAM
Zoltan Szabo (Cello)
Alexandru Todicescu (Viola/Violin), DipMus Buch Dip(Spec) Brus
Thomas Tsai (Cello), PerfDip Sth Calif DSCM
Emma West (Violin)
Uzi Wiesel (Cello)
Wanda Wilkomirska (Violin), MMus Budapest
Jeremy Williams (Viola)
Robin Wilson (Violin)
Daniel Yeadon (Cello)
Peter (Shi-Xiang) Zhang (Violin)
Chair/Associate Professor
Goetz Richter (Violin), Kuenstl Staatsdiplom Munich BA(Hons)
Goetz Richter is Associate Professor for Violin and Chair of the String Unit at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music since 1997. His performance career encompasses concerto, recital, chamber music and orchestral performances and he has a particular interest in assisting young performers in developing comprehensive skills and attitudes to sustain a long-term professional engagement with music. His research interests include all areas of violin pedagogy, repertoire development and the history of violin playing. He has also published in philosophy and the philosophy of music.
Richter performs regularly as a chamber musician throughout Australia, playing with ensembles such as Trio Novalis, Novalis Ensemble and the Sydney Schubert Ensemble and as a recitalist with pianist Jeanell Carrigan. In 2005 and 2006 he was invited to perform and teach at the Euro Arts Festival in Leipzig. He is the artistic director of the Kendall National Violin Competition. He also has a long history performing with many Australian orchestras: he was Concertmaster of the Queensland Theatre Orchestra in 1985, Associate Principal Second Violin of the Melbourne Symphony from 1986 to 1987 and Associate Concertmaster of the Sydney Symphony from 1987 until 2002.
Born in Hamburg, Germany, Associate Professor Goetz Richter
studied in Germany and Switzerland with Helmut Heller (Hamburg), Gerhart Hetzel (Munich), Max Rostal (Berne) and advanced solo performance with Artur Grummiaux and Riccardo Odnopossoff. He completed a doctorate in philosophy at Sydney University in 2007.
Associate Professors
Ole Böhn (Violin), AdvDip Royal Danish, AdvDip Höchschule Köln
Ole Böhn has pursued an extensive career as soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. Since his debut in 1969, he has performed regularly with orchestras in Europe, the US and South America. In 1983 he toured the People's Republic of China.
He has collaborated with conductors such as Moshe Atzmon, Herbert Blomstedt, James Conlon, Lukas Foss, Michael Giehlen, Marek Janowski, Franz Welser-Möst, and Oliver Knussen, and is a frequent performer on radio and television world-wide.
In 1990 he gave the world premiere of Elliott Carter's violin concerto with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and has since performed this concerto, which was written for and dedicated to him, with the leading orchestras in Europe and the United States.
Ole Böhn's repertoire ranges from the baroque to the present day and he is regarded as one of the leading interpreters of American contemporary music in Scandinavia.
He has taught at the Royal Danish Conservatory and at the Conservatory of Music in Oslo; given classes at the Eastman School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Hart School of Music, the Norwegian State Academy of Music, Gedai Institue, Tokyo, and the University of Northern Illinois; and for several years conducted summer classes at the Officina da Musica de Curitiba, Brazil.
Ole Böhn has studied under Louise Behrend at the Juilliard School of Music, with Ernst Glaser in Oslo, Henry Holst at the Royal Danish Conservatory of Music, and with Max Rostal at the Statliche Hochschule für Musik in Cologne.
He is the concertmaster of the Norwegian National Opera and has previously held a similar position with the Copenhagen Symphony Orchestra, and worked for shorter periods as concertmaster of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Teatro del Fenice in Venice, Theatro Municipal, Rio de Janeiro, the Residentie Orchestra in Den Haag, Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, The Beethoven Orchestra, Bonn and the Hamburg State Opera.
Ole Böhn uses a violin made in 1766 by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini. It was acquired for his use by Nordea Bank of Norway.
He joined the Sydney Conservatorium of Music as Associate Professor in 2009.
Associate Professor Reiner Schmidt (Viola), DipMus Conservatory G. Dima
A violist of international acclaim, Reiner Schmidt undertook his Masters degree in his native Romania before emigrating to Germany to study at the Musikhochschule in Detmold with Bruno Giuranna. Later, he continued his training with Dino Asciolla at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome.
Reiner has held the position of Principal Viola at a number of prominent European orchestras including the Northwest German Philharmonic, Wuppertal Symphony Orchestra and Teatro Comunale di Bologna.
He has worked with many of the world’s celebrated conductors including Rafael Kubelik, Rudolf Kempe, George Solti, Michael Gielen, George Pretre, James Levin, Daniel Barenboim, Antal Dorati, Karl Boehm, Guiseppi Patane, Yuri Temirkanov and Guennadi Rojdestvensky.
Reiner was privileged to perform with Anne Sofie von Otter on her major world tour 8 years ago, in venues including La Scala di Milano. As part of the Sonare Quartet, Reiner won a prestigious German Record Critics Award in the late 1980s and from 1994 he has regularly appeared in chamber music performances with the Residenz Quartet in Wuerzberg, Germany.
As a dedicated chamber musician, he has played with Arthur Grumiaux, Wolfgang Marschner, Wolfgang Boettcher, Ralph Gothoni, Boris Kuschnir, Zakhar Bronn, Nikolaj Znaider, Julian Rachlin, David Geringas, Pavil Gililov, Wolfgang. Guettler, Voces-Quartet and the Vogler-Quartett.
In addition to performing, Reiner is a continuing guest conductor with Sud West Deutsche Kammerorchester, one of the oldest and most important German chamber orchestras, along with Camerata Wuerzburg and the Romanian Philharmonic.
A legendary teacher, Reiner teaches in 7 different languages, coaching leading professionals and young students across a broad range of repertoire. Prior to joining the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, he taught in the strings department of the Musikhochschule in Wuerzburg, Germany. In 1994, Reiner was officially recognised as a leading Professor by the Bavarian Cultural Minister.
His pupils have gone on to hold leading positions in the world’s preeminent orchestras and music schools Academia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, La Scala in Milan, Teatro San Carlo in Naples, Italy, Oper nund Museumsorchester Frankfurt
Opera Riga in Latvia, Staedtisches Orchester Muenster, Ulm, Wrozclaw Opera, Seville and many other orchestras.
Reiner Schmidt has been Music Director at the Festival “Musica al Castello” (1990-1994) in Bracciano-Rome, “Polesine Musica” Rovigo, Italy (1982-83) and for the last ten years he has been closely involved with the Bronnbacher Klassik festival in Germany.
Reiner is a highly regarded scholar and for the last 20 years he has been a senior editor and researcher for viola music with Peters Edition in Frankfurt. His most recent publication is a transcription for viola of. G. Setaccioli-Sonata op.31.
Senior Lecturers
Roger Benedict (Viola), GRNCM Royal Northern College of Music
Roger Benedict’s wide-ranging career has encompassed work as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, teacher and conductor. In 2002 he moved from the UK to Australia, to take up positions of Principal Viola of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Director of the orchestra’s Fellowship Program.
A highly sought-after teacher, he was a Professor at the Royal Northern College of Music from 1997-2002, and is a Tutor to the European Union Youth Orchestra. He is now Senior Lecturer at the Sydney Conservatorium and gives masterclasses worldwide.
In 1991 to 2000 Roger Benedict was Principal Viola of the Philharmonia Orchestra, London. He also regularly performs as a guest principal with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
As a viola soloist Roger Benedict has appeared with the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Ulster Orchestra in the UK, including performances at the Royal Festival Hall and the Edinburgh, Brighton and Lichfield Festivals. He also performs regularly with the Sydney Symphony in Australia and Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa in Japan. For BBC Radio Three he has recorded Walton’s Viola Concerto, Vaughan-Williams’ Flos Campiand the world premiere of Michael Berkeley’s Viola Concerto, and for ABC Classic FM he makes frequent broadcasts. With the Sydney Symphony he performed Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante in 2002 and 2004, Berlioz’s Harold in Italy in 2005, and Andrew Ford’s The Unquiet Grave in 2007.
As recitalist and chamber musician Roger Benedict has appeared at London’s Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room, as well as at all the major festivals in the UK, his chamber music partners including Lorin Maazel, Sir Simon Rattle, Louis Lortie and Leif Ove Andsnes. In Australia he performs widely as a chamber musician, as a guest with such groups as the Macquarie Trio and Sydney Soloists.
As a conductor Roger Benedict has appeared with orchestras at the Sydney Conservatorium and the Australian National Academy of Music. For the Sydney Symphony he has conducted the Playerlink program and education concerts, and he recently appeared in New Zealand with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.
Lecturers
Maxime Bibeau (Double Bass)
Maxime Bibeau is a lecturer in double bass at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and Principal Double Bass with the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
Inspired by the sounds of jazz, Maxime Bibeau began playing the double bass at the age of 17 in his native Canada, where he completed his undergraduate degree at the Conservatoire de Musique du Québec à Montréal with René Gosselin in 1996. He went on to obtain a Master’s of Music at Rice University in Houston with Timothy Pitts and Paul Ellison for which he was awarded a full tuition scholarship, grants from the Canada Arts Council and from the Canadian Research Assistance Fund.
Bibeau has been a member of the SHIRA International Symphony Orchestra Israel, the Jeunesses Musicales World Orchestra, and has participated in many festivals, including the Spoleto Festival, Italy.
Appointed Principal Double Bass of the Australian Chamber Orchestra in 1998, Bibeau has immersed himself in the musical life of his adopted country, giving solo and chamber music performances at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville (2004), Sydney Festival (2004) and at the Huntington Festival in Mudgee (1998-05). He regularly appears in the series Sensational Sunday at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and has performed as a soloist with the ACO in performances of Piazzola’s Contrabajissimo and Mozart’s Per questa bella mano with Teddy Tahu Rhodes.
Bibeau has also taught at the National Music Camp, Sydney Youth Orchestra, University of NSW, and at the Australian National Academy.
Kees Boersma (Double Bass) DipMus VCA
Kees Boersma, lecturer of double bass at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, is Principal Bassist with the Sydney Symphony. He also performs and records with the Sydney Soloists, and is a regular guest Principal Bass with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.
Boersma joined the Sydney Symphony in 1990 and has featured as a soloist on a number of occasions. Solo works with the SSO have included the Dittersdorf Divertimento for Viola and Double Bass, Bottesini’s Double Concerto for two Double Basses and orchestra, Dragonetti’s Pezza di Concerto, Mozart’s concert aria ‘Per Questa Bella Mano’ with Teddy Tahu Rhodes and the world premiere of Colin Bright’s bass concerto Young Tree Green, commissioned by the SSO.
As a chamber musician, he makes regular appearances with the Sydney Soloists and the Australian Ensemble. He has also toured with Musica Viva, appeared at the inaugural Melbourne Spoleto Festival, and in 2007 was a featured performer in the Australian Festival of Chamber Music. Boersma was also a founding member of the Brisbane-based contemporary music group ELISION, premiering the works of Franco Donatoni, Richard Barrett, Lisa Lim and Brian Ferneyhough. In his ten years with the ensemble he also recorded CDs and toured Italy and Germany, including an appearance at the Ultraschall Festival in Berlin.
Born in the Netherlands, Boersma trained at the Victorian College of the Arts and later undertook post-graduate studies in his birth country at the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam. Consequently, he performed for two years with the Royal Concertgebouworkest Orchestra, including appearances at the Salzburg Festival, the BBC Proms London and tours to Montreaux, Lucerne, Paris, Vienna and Berlin. Upon return to Australia, he performed as Principal Bass with the State Orchestra of Victoria and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, before joining the Sydney Symphony.
As a music educator, Boersma has had a long association with the Australian Youth Orchestra and their summer National Music Camps as a tutor. He has been a presenter at many double bass conferences.
Alex Henery (Double Bass)
Alex Henery plays Principal Double Bass with the Sydney Symphony, and teaches bass at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He has performed regularly as a soloist in various music festivals, including performances of Bottesini’s Double Concerto (Passione Amorosa), and Bottesini’s Concerto no.2 with the Sydney Symphony.
Henery moved to Australia from the UK and studied the bass at the Sydney Conservatorium from 1985 to 1986 before moving to New York, and later Boston to continue his studies. In 1989, he returned to the UK where he began his professional career, working initially with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. He played Co-Principal Bass in the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in 1990 and, in 1992, took up the Co-Principal position with London’s Philharmonia Orchestra. During his time in London, he was also a regular Guest Principal with the London Symphony, Royal Philharmonic and many of London’s Chamber orchestras. He returned to Sydney in 1998 to join the Sydney Symphony and the Conservatorium’s teaching staff.