The Australian bassoonist, Matthew Wilkie, studied at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane, during which time he made many solo appearances with the Queensland Youth Orchestra. He then settled in Hannover, West Germany, to continue his studies with Professor Klaus Thunemann.
In Germany Matthew Wilkie appeared as soloist with a number of orchestras including the South West Germany Chamber Orchestra and the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra. In Geneva he won second prize in the International Music Competition where he performed the Mozart Bassoon Concerto with L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande.
Matthew Wilkie joined the Chamber Orchestra of Europe in 1986 as Principal Bassoon and has made a number of solo performances and recordings with them, including the Mozart bassoon concerto and the Strauss Duet Concertino, and as principal bassoon of the Wind Soloists of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, he has also made recordings including Mozart's Wind Serenades and Wind Divertimenti Complete with Teldec Classics. In 1995 together with members of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe he recorded the six Trio Sonatas by Jan Dismas Zelenka, for Claves.
Matthew Wilkie was appointed Principal Bassoon with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in January 2000. Now aged 44, he lives with his Japanese-born wife, Noriko Shimada, and two young children. Noriko Shimada is a contrabassoon player for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. |