ROBERT ASHWORTH, VIOLA
Robert Ashworth is Principal viola for the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.
He has been guest-principal viola for the Sydney Symphony, Melbourne Symphony, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, as well as assistant-principal for the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. He is the violist for the Jade String Quartet in Auckland, and also plays with the Australian World Orchestra.
Robert has appeared as soloist with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra performing Anthony Ritchie's viola concerto no. 1, world premiere of Ross Harris's Aria as well as performing Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante. He has also performed as soloist with the Auckland Chamber Orchestra, and St. Matthew 's Chamber Orchestra. With the Jade String Quartet he has toured throughout New Zealand with Arts on Tour, and as a CMNZ regional artist. He has recorded for Atoll and Rattle labels as well as many performances recorded for Radio New Zealand.
Robert was awarded a Tui for Best Classical Artist Tui in 2022 and is a twice recipient of the Canada Council for the Arts Award for Emerging Artists. He has performed with various groups at international chamber music festivals in Europe, North America, and Japan. He has had the honour to study with violists Thomas Riebl and Veronika Hagen at the Universitaet Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria and with Gerald Stanick at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.
Robert plays a Canadian "cut-away" viola made in 1995 by John Newton.