Gareth Lubbe is a South African-born multi-instrumentalist and overtone singer, acclaimed internationally as both a soloist and chamber musician for his distinctive versatility and genre-spanning collaborations. From 2007 to 2014 he served as Principal Viola of the Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig under Riccardo Chailly, before being appointed Professor of Viola at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, succeeding Vladimir Mendelssohn.
A sought-after chamber musician, Gareth has performed alongside artists such as Boris Brovtsyn, Janine Jansen, Mischa Maisky, Pinchas Zukerman and Dame Evelyn Glennie, appearing in major venues including Carnegie Hall, the Berlin Philharmonie, Wigmore Hall and Suntory Hall. Alongside his instrumental work, he is also a polyphonic vocalist, weaving overtone singing into his performances. He has taught this technique internationally, including at The Juilliard School and with the St Thomas Choir, and a number of composers have written works specifically for his voice.
As a concerto soloist he has appeared with ensembles including the Deutsches Sinfonieorchester Berlin and the Munich Chamber Orchestra. His chamber recordings are released on labels such as Naxos, Signum and BIS. His album Lubatov (Leo Records), created with jazz pianist Simon Nabatov, highlights his vocal techniques and improvisational imagination, and his collaboration with composer and trombonist Nils Wogram received the German Jazz Prize for Best Instrumental Album in 2022. One of the more unusual moments in his career includes performing on the famously inventive “manure organ” at the Stelzenfestspiele bei Reuth.
Gareth also keeps strong links with South Africa through his community work: he is a board member of Community H.E.A.R.T., founded by anti-apartheid activist Dr Denis Goldberg, and serves as an International Ambassador for the Denis Goldberg House of Hope in Hout Bay.
