Born in Michigan, USA, Geoffry Wharton is a Concertmaster of the Cologne Philharmonic Orchestra (Gürzenichorchester der Stadt Köln) and teaches at the Musikhochschule in Essen, Germany.
He studied in North Dakota and California with Sidney Harth, Ward Fenley, and Henryk Szeryng. A Fulbright Grant took him to London, where he did further studies with Yfrah Neaman and chamber music with William Pleeth.
While in England, he became a member of the English Chamber Orchestra (under Daniel Barenboim), and was concertmaster of the Mercury Ensemble and primarius of the Wharton String Quartet. During this period, he performed regularly as a soloist and chamber music player, primarily in England and France, but also in Switzerland, Belgium, and the USA, making recordings for National Public Radio (USA), Radio France, and the BBC.
In addition to his orchestral work, he has specialized in the performance of chamber music, especially contemporary literature. He is solo violin of Ensemble Köln and of the Musikfabrik (Düsseldorf), as well as working extensively as concertmaster of Ensemble Modern (Frankfurt).
As a composer, he has written for various ensembles, including the Gürzenich Orchestra, which performed his large orchestral work "Ode de Cologne" under James Conlon. He presently is working on commissions for pieces for the Cologne Opera and the Zürich Chamber Orchestra.
He also has extensive pedagogic experience, having taught at the University of California, Cologne Musikhochschule, the Guildhall School of Music in London, the Les Arcs Festival in France, the Gubbio Festival in Italy, Violin Masterclasses in Taegu, Korea; the International Cultural Center in Groznjan, Croatia, Orchestral Audition and Chamber Music Classes for Jeunesses Musicales in Weikersheim, Germany, and in the Orient-Occident Project in Beirut, Lebanon..
More >>
Geoffry Wharton |
Der Violinist und Komponist Geoffry Wharton stammt aus Michigan,
USA. Nach seinem Studium in North Dakota, Kalifornien, und London
mit Ward Fenley, Yfrah Neaman, Henryk Sczeryng, und Sidney Harth wurde
er zunächst Mitglied des English Chamber Orchestra, war außerdem
Konzertmeister des Mercury Ensemble und Primarius des Wharton String
Quartet. Als Solist gab er Konzerte in Europa und den USA. Seit einige Jahren ist er Konzertmeister des Gürzenichorchesters der Stadt Köln. Neben siener Orchestertätigkeit engagiert sich Geoffry Wharton auch stark für Kammermusik und dabei speziell für die zeitgenössische Literatur, so u. a. regelmäßg als Konzertmeister und Solist des Frankfurter Ensemble Modern, die Musikfabrik in Düsseldorf sowie Ensemble Köln. Geoffry Wharton komponierte Werke für verschiedene Ensembles. Seine Komposition "Ode de Cologne" für großes Orchester wurde vom Gürzenich-Orchester unter James Conlon uraufgeführt. Er ist Lehrbeautragter an der Musikhochschule Essen/Duisburg und künsterlische Leiter der Kammermusikkursen des Groznjan-Festivals in Kroatien. More >> |
Discography: Hindemith: Violin Concerto (Kammermusik Nr.4) ; "Black Angels" by George Crumb (Disques YPV, Paris); Das Lied von der Erde by G. Mahler (Chamber Version); Blue's Blues, Jazz Pieces by M. Kagel; Kölner Horn Trio (works by Brahms, Hans, Lonquich); Tango Alemán (Kagel, etc)
For more information on recordings, click here.
For more information on my compositions, click here.
Contact me: g@whartons.de
