Matthew Wilkie, Principal Bassoon

“I have played with the COE for over 37 years and what a wonderful time I have had with all my great friends and colleagues. It has simply been the greatest musical experience of my whole life!
Even now, every time I pick up my instrument to play or teach, I think of COE; the orchestra everyone wants to join and no one wants to leave!”

BIOGRAPHY

After studying in his home country, Australia, Matthew went to Germany to continue his studies with Klaus Thunemann. In 1981 Matthew was a prize winner at the International Bassoon
Competition in Geneva. This was followed by many concerto opportunities with various orchestras in Europe.

Matthew joined the Chamber Orchestra is Europe in 1986 and has been a member for the last 37 years. During his time with the COE, Matthew not only performed and recorded several concertos, but also countless chamber music works with the COE Wind Soloists. In 2000 Matthew joined the Sydney Symphony Orchestra as their principal bassoonist and for the past 20 years has been fulfilling his commitments with the COE by travelling between Europe and Australia 5 to 6 times a year.

Matthew is also highly regarded as a teacher having held a position at the Frankfurt Hochschule für Musik and more recently at the Australian National Academy of Music. He is regularly asked to
conduct master classes in Japan and Europe.