Garrett Knecht
Cellist Garrett Knecht is from Calgary, Alberta where he began his studies with John Kadz in the Academy of Music at the Mount Royal College Conservatory. He continued to pursue a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Calgary. As a visiting student at the University of Ottawa, Garrett formed the Volta String Quartet, completing several international concert tours and competitions including the London International String Quartet Competition and the Paolo Borciani Competition in Italy. As well as being voted “What’s Hot at the University of Ottawa” by Maclean’s magazine, the quartet also recorded several works for CBC radio including a premiere of Canadian composer Patrick Cardy's Dolce es Decorum Est.
After completing his first degree, Garrett spent two long term residencies at the Banff Centre for the Arts where he collaborated with artists such as Edgar Meyer and Marc Durand. Garrett then continued his studies under Bryan Epperson at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto completing an Artist’s Diploma.
An experienced orchestral musician, Garrett now performs regularly with the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra in Toronto. Other orchestras he works with include the Via Salzburg Chamber Orchestra, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Toronto Philharmonia.
Garrett is an eclectic and avid chamber musician, and plays a wide range of styles and genres. Most recently he was principle cello for the Canadian premier of Steven Sondheim’s musical Anyone Can Whistle. Annually, Garrett also performs cello quartets at the Harbourfront Festival in Toronto’s Music Garden with some of the cities top cellists. He is also regularly involved in various jazz and pop music recordings.
A passionate and enthusiastic teacher, Garrett has been teaching privately for many years. He has just accepted a position as string teacher and chamber music coach at the Alan Howard Waldorf School in Toronto. He is looking forward to growing his teaching studio and sharing his love of cello with his students through his innovative and upbeat teaching style.