André Swanepoel

Johannesburg-born André Swanepoel is the acting Course Director of the MA-programme in Classical String Performance at the Irish World Academy of Music & Dance, University of Limerick, where he  teaches violin and chamber music and annually organises and directs the ICO Academy-project with invited students from across the globe.

He is currently completing a PhD in Arts Practice at the University of Limerick. His research is focused on the transfigurative impact of engaging in creative self-inquiry on his artistic practice as a musician.

Chamber music is integral to his role as principal second violin of the Irish Chamber Orchestra – resulting in chamber performances at Zankel Hall (Carnegie Hall, New York), the Library of Congress (Washington DC), the Bozar (Brussels), the Tonhalle (Zurich), the Teatro Colon (Buenos Aires), and the Sala São Paulo (Brazil). Chamber music partners in this role include Anthony Marwood, Isabelle van Keulen, Jörg Widmann, Elizabeth Leonskaya and Oliver Triendl.

Further chamber performances include appearances at festivals such as the Ryedale, City of London, Chichester and Killkenny Arts Festivals. He has performed in the Wigmore Hall in London (amongst others with the Ubuntu Ensemble for the last 3 consecutive years), in South America for the German Goethe Institut; and appeared on West German, Bavarian and Irish Radio.

As a member of the “European Music Project” he appeared in numerous theme-based all-night concert-events throughout Germany. His recordings include a critically acclaimed recording of Terry Riley’s legendary In C. As soloist he has appeared in South Africa, Ireland, Germany and the UK – where he is also a frequent guest Principal with various UK orchestras.

André studied violin with Alan Solomon in South Africa and with Winfried Rademacher and Charles-André Linale in Germany.