Violist Garth Knox Receives Honorary Doctorate from Royal Conservatory of Scotland

A pioneering musician, Knox is recognized for his work in music education and contemporary music

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s (RCS) honorary degrees are awarded by its academic board to those who have made outstanding contributions to their profession and whose achievements merit high distinction and recognition.

This year, violist Garth Knox is one of three RCS honorary doctorate recipients. An active composer, Knox is the creator of “Viola Spaces,” a series of concert studies for strings that have benefitted young string players worldwide.

Knox is also a pioneer of the viola d’amore — exploring its possibilities in new music, with and without electronics. Currently, he is creating a new repertoire for this baroque-period instrument.

Born in Ireland, Knox spent his childhood in Scotland. Now based in Paris, he has a full-time solo career performing recital, concerto, and chamber music concerts across Europe, the U.S., and Japan.

In 1983, he was invited by Pierre Boulez to become a member of Paris’s Ensemble InterContemporain. Knox played in concertos directed by Boulez, as well as in chamber music concerts and festivals around the world.

In 1990, he joined the Arditti String Quartet, with whom he played in international concert halls and gave premieres of works by today’s leading composers.

As a composer, he has received commissions from the Kronos Quartet, Radio France, British Film Institute, and Festival D’Automne. His works have been performed in venues including Carnegie Hall, Royal Festival Hall, and Philharmonie de Paris.

“Standard advice is usually saying a mixture of talent, ambition, hard work and good luck, but I will talk about something that has guided me: listening,” Knox said in his speech at the 2023 RCS graduation ceremony. 

“This is not just for musicians, we all can learn how to listen better — listening to what people say, with a view to understanding what they mean,” he continued. “Listening to what is going on around you, to understand it. And listening to yourself to recognise what is genuine and what is your place in the world. Good luck with your lives and your careers.”

“Graduation is an opportunity to recognise exceptional artists who are leaders in their field,” said RCS’s principal Jeffrey Sharkey. “In [actor] Kate Dickie, [dancer] Christopher Hampson and Garth Knox, we have a trio of inspiring and influential individuals who have made such rich contributions to the arts throughout their careers.”