Lecturer in Classical Guitar
BMus (University of Sydney), PhD (University of Newcastle)
| Contact Campus | Hobart CBD Campuses |
| Building | Conservatorium of Music |
| Telephone | +61 3 6226 7314 |
| Fax | +61 3 6226 7333 |
| Gareth.Koch@utas.edu.au |
Gareth Koch is a 2003 ARIA Award winner and featured recording artist with the ABC Classics label. His extensive recorded catalogue encompasses the standard solo repertoire, world premieres, original works and chamber music. Born in Milan in 1962, Gareth began learning flamenco guitar at age twelve in Andalucía, Spain and clarinet at the Mozartueum in Salzburg. Gareth is a graduate of The Sydney Conservatorium of Music and scholarship holder to The Royal Conservatorium of Madrid and the Academy of Music in Vienna.
On reviewing Gareth’s recording debut in Europe, Vienna's Wiener Zeitung commented: Koch's playing is phenomenal. Britain's Classical Guitar Magazine said of his ABC Classics release, The Fragrance of Paradise: This is possibly the best CD I have ever reviewed.
During a decade in Europe Gareth collaborated with orchestras, contemporary ensembles, theatres and flamenco dance companies. During this time he premiered his controversial transcription of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana for Solo Guitar. The performance and recording of this work were banned by the publishers in Europe, and for this reason Gareth returned to Australia to record, release and tour the Carmina Burana.
Gareth is the author of many published works, both arrangements and compositions, with the publishing house Doblinger of Vienna. He was a 2004 APRA finalist for ‘Best Classical Work’. Gareth is a founding member of Saffire – The Australian Guitar Quartet. Saffire’s debut album soared to number 1 on the ARIA Classical Music Charts and the ensemble toured Europe and the USA extensively. In 2001 Gareth completed a PhD thesis which explored the nature of creativity and the workings of the unconscious mind during the act of creation.