“Leader John Garner’s riveting solo performance of the world premiere of Robert Matthew–Walker’s Fantasia Malincolica, highlighted a fascinating accessible work covering a vast array of techniques; immaculate intonation, gutsy rhythms, full rich drama to airy trills and confident double-stopping. Truly musical throughout.” (Maggie Cotton, August 13th. 2010, The Birmingham Post. Review of the 9th Virtuoso Violin Festival Concert)
John took up the violin, age 7, under the guidance of local teacher, Tim Beilby. After less than four years he had passed his grade 8 exam with distinction, and at age 14 was awarded a performance diploma from the Royal Schools of Music, also with distinction. He continued his studies for several years with Rimma Sushanskaya, last pupil and protégée of the legendary Russian violinist, David Oistrakh, and is now in his third year at the Royal College of Music, studying with Mark Messenger, head of the string department, and jazz violinist Chris Garrick.
John’s experiences as both a soloist and a chamber musician have been wide-ranging. He has played in masterclasses and private coaching sessions with renowned musicians including Lewis Kaplan, Felix Andrievsky, Daniel Rowland, Peter Herresthal, Savely Shalman and Alvia Vandysheva. As a member of several string quartets, including the highly successful Highbury String Quartet and the Royal College of Music’s Park Quartet, he has taken part in masterclasses with the Endellion, Coull, Maggini, Cavaleri, Sacconi and Chilingirian quartets. Recently, he performed Elgar’s Piano Quintet in London’s prestigious Wigmore Hall. John has also been a member of, and led, numerous youth orchestras and professional orchestras including the Academy Chamber Orchestra, the Royal College of Music Sinfonietta and the West Midland Light Orchestra. In October 2011, John toured Bosnia and Serbia with the SIDA European Student Chamber Orchestra where he appeared on stage alongside French violinist Pierre Amoyal in performances of Bach’s Double Violin Concerto.
In 2007, John performed the Tchaikovksy Violin Concerto in the Adrian Boult Hall in Birmingham, with the King Edward’s Symphony Orchestra, later performing the first movement in Symphony Hall alongside dancers from the Elmhurst Ballet School in a newly choreographed ballet. The following year, he performed Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 with the Academy Chamber Orchestra. He has given many recitals over the years, many raising money for under-privileged communities in Chile.
Under the guidance of British jazz legend Chris Garrick, John also plays with The Garnish Trio, a jazz group with an unusual line-up featuring violin, double bass and keys. As a producer, he privately released his first CD of crossover compositions, ‘Three Stages of Chaos,’ in 2009 and is about to release a second, ‘Music for a While.’ A remix of his track, ‘Last Dance’, done by London-based dance producer Simon Holmes, was released publicly in 2010. As a member of band Polaroid 85, and formerly Eyes Are Mosaics, John has supported such high-profile artists as Mr Hudson, OK Go, Lisa Mitchell and To Kill a King in some of the UK’s most famous venues.
John plays on an Italian violin c.1925 made by Dante and Alfredo Guastalla.
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“THE undoubted highlight of the 24th annual evening of music-making was provided by the talented 15-year-old John Garner. This young violinist, who is West Midland Light Orchestra’s youngest member, superbly played the solo part in the theme music from the film Schindler’s List…” (This is Kidderminster Nov. 2005)
“In the second half the 15-year-old British violinist John Garner played unaccompanied Bach and Ysaÿe excellently….” (Musical Opinion Nov-Dec 2005, review of the Virtuoso Violin Festival)
“It was the first occasion for the choir members to hear John Garner and they, like everyone, were thrilled with his command of the instrument…” (The Chronicle, 28th Jan 2005 – review of Tsunami concert)