Born in Waipukurau, Gregory Squire began playing the violin at the age of 11, and at 14 became a pupil of Auckland-based teacher Heather Smith. Based in Wellington, he enjoys a busy international career and leads varied life as performer, conductor and teacher.

Born in Waipukurau, Gregory Squire began playing the violin at the age of 11, and at 14 became a pupil of Auckland-based teacher Heather Smith. Based in Wellington, he enjoys a busy international career and leads varied life as performer, conductor and teacher.

In 1975 he was awarded an Associated Board Scholarship to study with Jaroslav Vanecek at the Royal College of Music. In addition to further studies with Mark Lubotsky and Joseph Gingold his quartet was awarded the prestigious Leverhume Award, enabling studies with the Amadeus Quartet to continue alongside regular music club and festival appearances.

When the quartet dissolved he joined the English Northern Philharmonia (the Orchestra of Opera North) before moving to Scotland to join the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. His enthusiasm and commitment to outreach work led to the SCO becoming internationally renowned in this field, and he devised, produced and directed a large number of projects from one man shows in schools to full-scale music-theatre. He also became involved in the youth orchestras, both local and national, regularly coaching and giving individual tuition while, at university level, conducting opera and concerts.

In 1988 he was offered co-principal 2nd violin with the LSO, and, shortly after, the position of Concertmaster of the Scottish Ballet Orchestra, which he accepted, initially combining it with his work in the SCO.

In 1991 a growing interest in period instrument performance lead to work with John Eliot Gardiner’s English Baroque Soloists and the Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique

From 1992 onwards he divided his time between the Scottish Ballet Orchestra, (as Concertmaster); The Scottish Early Music Consort (as Musical Director); and a number of other period instrument ensembles (as soloist and guest).

With Scottish Ballet, whose orchestra varies in size between 50 and 80 depending on repertoire, he regularly appeared as soloist, performing concertos by Bach, Chausson, (his ‘Poeme’) Bruch and Vivaldi.

A growing interest in conducting led to engagements elsewhere, for example with Gian-Carlo Menotti as producer and soloists of Rome Opera. Other operatic productions he has conducted include Castor et Pollux by Rameau, King Arthur and The Indian Queen by Purcell and, for the 1997 Glasgow International Early Music Festival, a new production of Cavalli’s opera La Didone.

In 1998 he returned to New Zealand as a member of the NZSO and serves many artistic roles throughout the country .  With the NZSO he was for 3 years also their Education Development Officer and plays in the NZSO Chamber Orchestra as principal second violin. He has tutored at Victoria University and is currently on the staff of Massey University as teacher and conductor of the Massey Chamber Orchestra.

In addition to his  interest in period instrument performance Gregory is  a keen advocate of contemporary music and this is shown by the programmes he chooses in recital and as conductor. In his former role of Education Development Officer for the NZSO he regularly scheduled contemporary music in the concerts he conducted.

Gregory is Musical Director  of the “New Zealand Baroque Ensemble” After Gregory’s overseeing it’s formation, this ensemble was immediately invited to play for NBR New Zealand Opera’s production of Handel’s Acis and Galatea.  His baroque chamber ensemble “Scaramuccia” is also attracting considerable attention and in 2004 toured for Chamber Music New Zealand’s Celebrity series.

He regularly conducts the Wellington Chamber Orchestra, last year appearing in a joint role as conductor and soloist, performing Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante and conducting works by Mendelssohn and Brahms.

This year Gregory took on the role of overseeing the string coaching at Victoria University’s Academy, formed to aid the development of secondary school students looking towards studying music at tertiary level. Greg  also coaches chamber music on Saturday mornings, when his busy schedule allows, with younger students within the CHAMPS programme, formed to encourage school-age students to participate in chamber music.