Goetz Richter

Goetz Richter is Associate Professor for violin performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney, where he coordinates performance studies for violinists and has served as Chair of Strings since 1997. Born in Hamburg, he completed violin performance studies at the Munich Hochschule für Musik with Gerhart Hetzel, followed by intensive studies with Max Rostal in Berne, and advanced solo performance studies with Arthur Grumiaux and Riccardo Odnopossoff. He holds a BA (Hons I), and a PhD in philosophy and the philosophy of music from the University of Sydney in 2007. His orchestral career includes Concertmaster of the Queensland Theatre Orchestra (1985-1986), Associate Principal Violin II with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (1986-1987), and a fifteen-year tenure as Associate Concertmaster with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (1987-2002). Richter has performed as soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Europe, including concerto performances with Australian orchestras, leadership roles in Australian orchestras, and collaborations with artists such as Herrmann Baumann, Gerard Fauth, Bernhard Greenhouse, and pianist Jeanell Carrigan for Musica Viva and ABC broadcasts. He has worked under conductors including Leonard Bernstein, Lorin Maazel, Charles Dutoit, Neeme Järvi, Yuri Temirkanov, Edo de Waart, David Zinman, Mariss Jansons, and Vladimir Ashkenazy.

Richter's research focuses on the philosophy of music, musical performance, music education, and violin pedagogy. He initiated the cross-disciplinary “Elective Affinities” project in 2012 at the University of Sydney, exploring connections between music and philosophy. He teaches performance, chamber music, orchestra studies, pedagogy, and philosophy of music courses, supervises higher degree students, and convenes a philosophy of music study group. His students have succeeded as prize-winners in competitions and secured positions in orchestras across Europe, Asia, and Australia. Key publications include his translation of Eugen Fink’s book on Nietzsche’s philosophy published by Continuum, and The Congruence of Music and Philosophy by VDM Saarbruecken, alongside articles on philosophy of Plato and Nietzsche, philosophy of music, musical performance, pedagogy, and violin pedagogy. In 2019, he was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to music as a concert violinist, artistic director, mentor, and educator. Richter is founding Artistic Director of the Kendall National Violin Competition and the Camden Haven Music Festival, former Artistic Director of the Riverina Summer School for Strings (2012-2017), convenes the Australian Violin Pedagogy Conference, edits the online journal String Praxis, and serves as visiting professor at Wuhan Conservatorium (since 2013), delivering masterclasses internationally. He previously served on the Sydney Symphony Orchestra board (2007-2016) and as president of the Sydney Musicians’ Association.

Professional Email: goetz.richter@sydney.edu.au