Ricardo Zweitisch Principal Viola

Ricardo Zwietisch started his violin studies with Erich Lehninger. Later he added the viola into his studies, taking lessons with the Hungarian violist, Bela Mori. Soon after taking the viola, he won the National Competition for Young Soloists in Brazil, playing Stamitz Concerto in D with Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra. At the same time, Ricardo began an intense chamber music activity performing with the Finanza String Quartet.

In UK Ricardo finished his Postgraduate studies and, subsequently, attained a Master Degree in Performance at the Royal College of Music, London. During his years at the RCM, he won all of the major viola competitions, including Cecil Aronowitz Viola Prize and Bernard Shore Prize (In Memory of Lionel Tertis). Ricardo represented the RCM in UK and abroad as a viola soloist. At the RCM Ricardo studied with Christopher Wellington, Neil Immelman, Dr Philip Wilkinson and Grigori Zhislin.

He performed in masterclasses for Yuri Bashmet at Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy. He also received viola tuition from Wilfried Strehle in Berlin and chamber music lessons from members of the Amadeus String Quartet at the Royal Academy of Music, London.

Ricardo became a member of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields in 1996. He has performed in most of the major concert halls around the world, including Carnegie Hall, Musikverein in Vienna, Sala Playel in Paris, Berlin Philharmonie, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, amongst others. In 2000, He was invited to become the Principal Viola of the São Paulo Opera House Orchestra, Brazil. During this time he performed as soloist and chamber musician around Brazil and Latin America. He was invited to perform Stamitz Concerto in D in Rio Grande do Sul as part of the celebration for the 180 years of the German immigration to Brazil. In London he appeared as guest Solo Viola with many orchestras, including London Mozart Players, London Festival Orchestra, English National Ballet and Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra.

During the season 2007/2008 Ricardo was the Principal Viola of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. In his many years as a performer he has played with conductors such as Sir Colin Davies, Sir Neville Marriner, Kurt Sanderling, Lorin Maazel, Pierre Boulez, Riccardo Muti, Christoph Von Dohnanyi, Oliver Knussen, amongst others. As a teacher Ricardo has given masterclasses in Latin America, Portugal and Switzerland. He has also been the viola coach for a number of orchestras in Brazil (Curitiba) and in Portugal (Ponte de Lima), where he was the coach for the European Youth Orchestra Festival Symphony Orchestra.

In UK he has been much in demand as a teacher, worked for the Birmingham Music Service and in Cambridgeshire. He is the appointed Principal Viola of the Brighton Philharmonic orchestra.