Biography
Gary Beswick was born into a musical family in Santa Cruz, California in 1961. His first musical studies were with his violinist father who encouraged his move from violin to viola at an early age. While at university in San Francisco he was principal and solo violist with the Santa Cruz Symphony as well as violist with the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. Before relocating to London in 2005 he was an active musician in the San Francisco Bay Area. Gary's viola studies at San Francisco State University School of Music and Dance, where he was a Morrison Chamber Music Scholar, were with Gennady Kleyman and Daniel Kobialka of the San Francisco Symphony, and chamber music studies were with renowned cellist Laszlo Varga. During this time he was principal viola of the University Symphony and was frequently heard as a concerto soloist. Graduate viola performance studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music were with Leonid Gesin and chamber music with Mark Sokol and Bonnie Hampton. Gary has performed with numerous orchestras and festivals in the USA, some of which included: The Monterey, San Jose, Pacific Chamber, Sacramento, San Francisco Chamber, Marin, Berkeley, Santa Cruz and California Symphony Orchestras, as well as performances with the Spoleto, Cabrillo, Congress of Strings, Midsummer Mozart, Aspen, Bear Valley, Redlodge, Hidden Valley, and Carmel Bach festival orchestras.

In London Gary continues to work as a freelance violist and viola tutor. In April 2007 he was selected viola coach for the Incorporated Association of Preparatory School's National Chamber Orchestra Course held at the Yehudi Menuhin School.

Orchestral Work
Orchestras: Amadeus Orchestra, Brandenburg Sinfonia, City Chamber Ensemble, English Festival Orchestra, London Pro Arte, Orchestra of St John's, St John's Chamber Orchestra, Surrey Philharmonic, Watford Philharmonic.

Gary's orchestral work also includes Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Orchestra of St John's, English Festival Orchestra, London Pro Arte Orchestra, Amadeus Orchestra, Oxford Philomusica, City Chamber Ensemble, Surrey Philharmonic, Watford Philharmonic, Polesdon Festival Orchestra, Leith Hill Festival.

Education
Gary's graduate studies took place at San Francisco University School of Music & Drama (B Mus (hons) 1989 Viola Performance), and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Prizes and Awards

• Morrison Chamber Music Scholar at the San Francisco University School of Music.
• Scholarship to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
• Prize winner of the University Concerto Competition on four occasions.

Teachers: Leonid Gesin, Gennady Kleyman and Daniel Kobialka.

Gary joined Morgensterns in December 2005

Gary's web profile was last updated 26th Jan 2008