GARETH ROSS
Curriculum Vitae
Personal Information
Full name: Gareth Edward Ross
YouTube: garethross86
Languages: English, Afrikaans
Drivers License: Yes
Laptop: Yes
Internet: Yes
Computer skills: MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Apple Pages, Apple Numbers; I learn new
computer programs easily
Education
2004: Matric Certificate; National School of the Arts, Johannesburg
Recipient of top award for Music I (piano) and Music II (oboe)
2006: UNISA Grade 8 Diploma (piano) *** laude
2008: Bachelor of Music degree (honours) *** laude; University of Pretoria
Specialised in piano performance; other final year subjects were music theory
and chamber music; Awarded academic honorary colours
2008: UNISA Teachers Licentiate Diploma (piano) *** laude
2011: UNISA Performers Licentiate Diploma (piano) *** laude
Music Courses
2006: Varna Symphonic Workshops Piano Masterclasses and Concerto
Competition; Varna, Bulgaria
2009: San Francisco Conservatory of Music; 3 months as part of their Masters of
Music Programme
2011: Palazzo Ricci Masterclasses hosted by the European Academy for Music
and Performing Arts; Montepulciano, Italy
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. I
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
References available upon request.
Interests
Music, music producing, song writing, composing, DJing, performing, fashion, acting, singing, dancing, science & technology, property, cars, health, business, architecture, design.
Musical Achievements
Gareth Ross was born in Port Elizabeth and 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 BMus degree *** laude specialising in piano performance at the University of Pretoria. 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.
Gareth 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.
In September 2011 Gareth 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.
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 2008 he 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. 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 2006 he received first prize at the Varna Symphonic Workshops International Piano Concerto Competition in Bulgaria also playing Saint-Saëns’ 4th Piano Concerto. Also in 2006, he won 2nd prize and best performance of a South African work at the UNISA South African Scholarship 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 Mozart’s Piano Concerto no 15 in B flat and the Concerto for two pianos. In 2004 he won 4th prize and the prize for the best interpretation of a work by JS Bach at the Hennie Joubert National Piano Competition.
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.