Gregory McGarity holds a Graduate Diploma in Performance from New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music and a Master of Music (Hons) in Violin and Viola at University of New England. He furthered his viola studies in Germany with Christian Euler and performed in over 500 concerts from 1995 to 1998, including in radio and television broadcasts as a soloist, chamber musician and in symphony orchestras throughout Europe.

Gregory has been Principal Violist for the Junge Philharmonie Cologne, Kammerensemble Cologne, the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Chamber Orchestra. He also played several seasons with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra in Sydney, and was a fulltime violist with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra from 2002 to 2025. Greg is also active in music education, composition and chamber music performance. He co-founded the New Zealand Concerto Orchestra with his wife Elena Abramova and has been teaching, coaching and mentoring private students for decades.

He has performed as soloist at viola congresses in Wellington and Newcastle, lectured at the Sorbonne in Paris, and performed as Principal Viola of the Auckland Trio, NZC

Greg’s solo activities include: 2001 and 2005 Viola Congresses in We(Wellington) and 2005 (Newcastle) viola congresses; 2004 International Musicians Seminar in Prussia Cove, UK; 2004

lectured at the Sorbonne, Paris; 2007 Soloist with St. Matthews' chamber

orchestra; 2008-2009 major recital programs in Australia and NZ; 2010 – 2017

Principal Viola of the following ensembles: Auckland Trio; NZCO and Auckland

Chamber Orchestra; 2001 and 2017 Presenter for NZ Congresses.