OVERVIEW

Violinist Rupert Guenther is fast coming to the attention of leading figures in the classical music world for his spellbinding concerts entirely through classical improvisation, and his breakthrough method for teaching this seemingly lost art.

His Integrated Contemporary Performance© professional development initiatives and masterclasses are recognised internationally, and he is a guest professor at several European conservatoriums.

The ABC in Australia commissioned and recorded five CDs of his original works. Fine music radio station 3MBS-FM in Melbourne has both recorded his concerts and broadcast his inspired improvisations in live to air recital. On the basis of his outstanding grasp of classical improvisation he was invited by Dr David Dolan to visit the Juilliard School in New York, the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London (where he stayed for eight months), and the Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey, UK.

Since 2003 he has released over 25 CDs of his original works, and performed at hundreds of recitals and small festivals worldwide including Melbourne International Festival. He has commissions from sponsors like the World Monument Fund (UK), the Australian Centenary of Federation, concert and art venues such as the National Gallery of Victoria and Tate Britain (London), institutions such as the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, and from broadcast networks such as the ABC.

His professional development initiatives and masterclasses are recognised internationally, and he is regularly a guest professor at several European conservatoriums such as Vienna University for the Performing Arts. Participants include national leaders from the European String Teachers Association (ESTA), graduates and concert faculty from Vienna University, principal players from the Zurich Opera, La Scala (Milan), and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO).

PERFORMANCE

In his earlier years, Rupert had a European concert training in Vienna, Austria, and over 25 years of international performing experience including principal positions in the Vienna Chamber Opera.

More recently as a soloist he has appeared at many concert series and festivals worldwide including:

1. • The Guildhall Festival, London (UK)
   

•  Tate Britain, London (UK)

•   Museum of London, Docklands (UK)

1. •  Melbourne International Festival (Australia)
   

2. •  National Gallery of Victoria - Winter Masterpieces series (Australia)
   

•Bombora House, New York (USA)

•Vienna University (Austria)

•St Anna church, Vienna (Austria)

•University of Queensland (Australia)

•Monash University (Australia)

PRESS

The Age newspaper hosted a three-quarter page feature article in its Arts pages in 2008, and included him in their Top 100 Magazine as one of the major contributors to culture (January 2009). The Age also produced a five-part multi-media portal featuring interviews, music and visuals which is available on their website.

REVIEWS

“An accomplished player”

The Australian

“The real thing, not the snug sentimental favourites”

The Age, Melbourne

“Guenther’s compositions have a distinctly spiritual quality”
3MBS-FM ‘Libretto’ magazine, Melbourne

“there is a real depth and class to Guenther’s violin skills”
Nova magazine

His concerts, masterclasses, personal development, training programs, lectures and articles include invitations from leading universities, international conferences, music performance & education associations, personal development organisations, as well as the natural therapies industry.

He has been invited to teach at many mastercourses including as:

1. • assistant teacher to professor Helfried Fister at the St Paul Summer Course in Austria
   

2. • founder/director of The 1st International Mastercourse for Improvisation held annually in St Paul in Austria
   

Universities he has been invited by and taught courses at include:

1. • The Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London (UK)
   

2. • Vienna University (Austria)
   

3. • Monash University (Australia)
   

4. • University of Queensland (Australia)
   

5. • University of Western Australia (Australia)
   

6. • The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA)
   

Conferences he has presented at include:

1. • The European String Teachers Association (ESTA) 39th International Conference, Sweden 2011
   

2. • The Australian Society for Music Education (ASME) Annual Summer School, Perth 2011
   

3. • The Reflective Conservatoire: 2nd International Conference, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London (UK) 2009
   

4. • International Society of Improvised Music (ISIM) Conference, University of Denver (USA) 2008
   

His activities are supported by professional associations including:

1. • European String Teachers Association (ESTA)
   

2. • Australian Strings Association (AUSTA)
   

3. • Musikschulwerk Vorarlberg, Austria
   

4. • The International Society of Improvised Music (ISIM)
   

5. • The Global Coaching Community
   

6. • The Insight Foundation
   

As a teacher, mentor and coach he has trained people from many professions and diverse backgrounds, from parents, teenagers and university students to professional orchestral musicians, soloists and university professors including:

1. • The Zurich Opera (Switzerland)
   

2. • La Scala (Italy)
   

3. • Vorarlberg Conservatorium (Austria)
   

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS

Feature articles about his work have appeared in professional publications including:

1. • Arco magazine (ESTA)
   

2. • Stringendo magazine (AUSTA)
   

INNOVATION

In 2003, after 20 years of research and development he developed a breakthrough approach for classical improvisation performance and education, which enables classical musicians to perform their own original concert repertoires entirely through improvisation.

At the same time he began performance through sacred sound & mystical improvisation, based on refining and harmonising the individual’s energy field and inspiration to produce completely love based musical emanation.

This lead him to the development of a complete series of personal and professional development workshops and patented courses including:

1. • Sacred Sound for musicians
   

2. • Classical Improvisation
   

3. • Integrated Contemporary Performance
   

4. • Healing Stage-Fright
   

5. • Contemporary Playing Techniques
   

6. • Stage and Studio playing techniques
   

7. • Amplification and electric instruments
   

MUSICAL BACKGROUND

Earlier music studies included violin with Donald Scotts and Brian Finlayson, receiving his concert diploma at the Victorian College of the Arts in Australia followed by several years of further studies with Professor Helfried Fister in Austria. He also received significant musical mentoring from guitarist Stephen Housden and pianist Allan Zavod.

In this time he played with many orchestras including principal positions with the Vienna Chamber Opera, the Johann Strauss Sinfonietta, Vienna Pro Arte, Helios 18 baroque ensemble, Vienna NEw String Ensemble, The Australian Philharmonic Orchestra & Australian Pops Orchestra.

He played electric violin in Demis Roussos’ band, also played many stage and studio sessions including John Farnham, Olivia Newton-John, Anthony Warlow, Beatles producer Sir George Martin, and toured Peter and The Wolf with Tobias Moretti (TV actor of  Inspector Rex fame - the detective, not the dog!).

He has co-written, performed and and recorded with percussionist David Jones and keyboardist & composer Andrew Duffield, and recorded for guitarist Stephen Housden and keyboard player Allan Zavod.

He worked in the 1990’s in bar bands with many of Australia’s top session players including players from Men At Work, James Reyne, Casey Chambers, Little River Band, Ross Wilson, Daddy Cool, Goanna, Redgum, and Procol Harum.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT & COACHING BACKGROUND

He has been a lifelong meditator with over 35 years of personal development training and experience  including work with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Swami Muktananda, Depak Chopra, Ra-Elohim, and extensive personal mentoring & training from Linda and Michael King at the Insight Foundation.

Over the years he attended hundreds of international workshops and training sessions. He then became a  personal coach and trainer himself and since 2008 has been teaching, mentoring and facilitating personal development.

He has coached and mentored people on a private basis from all walks of life including classical musicians, rock musicians, executives, company and government department directors, architects, doctors, legal professionals, musicians, artists, university professors, life coaches, healers, parents, students, unemployed and people with disabilities.

Entire website contents are copyrighted ©2003-2011 Flat-Out Artists Pty Ltd and are protected by international copyright laws