
Biography
Violinist Brendan Garde graduated in 2019 with a Master’s in Music Performance from CIT Cork School of Music and was awarded Best Taught Master’s Degree Student 2019. Brendan was also the recipient of the Cork Orchestral Society Emerging Artist Award 2019.
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Brendan began learning violin at the age of seven at the Cork School of Music, under Colette O’Brien and later with Adrian Petcu. Joining the Cork Youth Orchestra and Irish Youth Orchestra opened up a world of collaborative playing, and were formative experiences for him which led on to participating in summer chamber music courses, both in Ireland and abroad.
Keen to pursue a degree in music, and specialise in violin performance, Brendan studied at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester, where he gained a BMus degree, under the guidance of Leland Chen. While at the RNCM, Brendan was an ABRSM EU Scholar and was a finalist in both the Norman George Violin Scholarship and the Helen Porthouse Paganini Prize competitions. Opportunities to perform as an active chamber musician at the RNCM were many, and he was awarded the Weil Prize in 2016.
Since his time at the RNCM, he has completed a Master’s in Music Performance, studying under Gregory Ellis, at the CIT Cork School of Music, and was awarded Best Taught Master’s Degree Student of 2019. Brendan was also the recipient of the Cork Orchestral Society Emerging Artist Award 2019.
As a keen chamber musician, Brendan has performed at many events and festivals, including the Ortús Chamber Music Festival, Salisbury International Arts Festival, Finding a Voice Festival, Kaleidoscope and the West Cork Chamber Music Festival. As a freelance orchestral player, he has played with numerous orchestras, including the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra.
Teaching violin is also something about which Brendan is very passionate. Over the years, he has developed many practical ideas, acquired through research and experience, which he shares with students in their violin studies. For more on this see the Topics page!

Biography
Violinist Brendan Garde graduated in 2019 with a Master’s in Music Performance from CIT Cork School of Music and was awarded Best Taught Master’s Degree Student 2019. Brendan was also the recipient of the Cork Orchestral Society Emerging Artist Award 2019.
Read More
Brendan began learning violin at the age of seven at the Cork School of Music, under Colette O’Brien and later with Adrian Petcu. Joining the Cork Youth Orchestra and Irish Youth Orchestra opened up a world of collaborative playing, and were formative experiences for him which led on to participating in summer chamber music courses, both in Ireland and abroad.
Keen to pursue a degree in music, and specialise in violin performance, Brendan studied at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester, where he gained a BMus degree, under the guidance of Leland Chen. While at the RNCM, Brendan was an ABRSM EU Scholar and was a finalist in both the Norman George Violin Scholarship and the Helen Porthouse Paganini Prize competitions. Opportunities to perform as an active chamber musician at the RNCM were many, and he was awarded the Weil Prize in 2016.
Since his time at the RNCM, he has completed a Master’s in Music Performance, studying under Gregory Ellis, at the CIT Cork School of Music, and was awarded Best Taught Master’s Degree Student of 2019. Brendan was also the recipient of the Cork Orchestral Society Emerging Artist Award 2019.
As a keen chamber musician, Brendan has performed at many events and festivals, including the Ortús Chamber Music Festival, Salisbury International Arts Festival, Finding a Voice Festival, Kaleidoscope and the West Cork Chamber Music Festival. As a freelance orchestral player, he has played with numerous orchestras, including the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra.
Teaching violin is also something about which Brendan is very passionate. Over the years, he has developed many practical ideas, acquired through research and experience, which he shares with students in their violin studies. For more on this see the Topics page!
Performing
As a performing violinist, I have considerable experience playing as a soloist, as a chamber musician in small ensembles (quartets, trios, etc), and as an orchestral player in concert performances, festivals, corporate events, launchings and openings, weddings, civil and church ceremonies, and much more. I’ve included samples of my recent performances below, as well as recordings of my own individual playing for you to hear.
I would be delighted to play violin at your next event, so please feel free to get in touch to chat about music selections and booking details.
Teaching
A huge part of the violin experience for me is being able to guide others as they learn to play. I’ve crafted my approach to teaching violin through experience and with a keen interest in the subject. Playing the violin as a child through to continuing my studies to master’s level, I have acquired insights that I believe can be valuable to others who are learning the violin. The teaching page gives more detail about my approach and pedagogies as a violin teacher. You will find details of violin lessons there too. The Topics page shares free resources, ideas and advice for those interested in learning to play the violin.
Recent Performances
Music for Galway – Lunchtime Recital
Emily Anderson Concert Hall 05.10.2022
Luminosa Orchestra – Athrú
St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church 22.09.2022
Morrígan
Cork Opera House 31.07.2022

Recent Performances
Music for Galway – Lunchtime Recital
Emily Anderson Concert Hall 05.10.2022
Luminosa Orchestra – Athrú
St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church 22.09.2022
Morrígan
Cork Opera House 31.07.2022
Recordings
Until you can come along to a live event or concert, feel free to listen to a sampling of my violin playing here. Please do get in touch through the contact form below if you’d like me to play violin at your next event.
Topics
Contact Points: Left Hand
In this topic, we explore the ways in which the contact points between the left hand and the violin affect the workings of the hand.