Violist Paul Groh was born and raised in the Detroit area in the US.  He studied viola with Ara Zerounian of the Interlochen Center for the Arts, Joseph Pietropaolo of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Nathan Gordon of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.  His professional orchestral experience includes stints in the Saginaw (Michigan) Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Chamber Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Baroque Orchestra. 

Paul was the state of Michigan’s old-time country fiddle champion at age 19 and later spent several years as a bass guitarist and backup singer in country, blues, and rock and roll bands.  In 1992 he joined the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra as a section violist, also serving as the orchestra’s personnel manager, librarian, and utility string player (bass guitar, banjo and mandolin). 

Migrating to Australia in 2000, Paul is currently principal viola in Newcastle’s Christ Church Camerata and the Lake Macquarie Philharmonic Orchestra.  He has appeared as a solo recitalist, chamber musician and lecturer in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Thailand.  He is a regular contributor to the Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Viola Society and has composed a large body of music for the viola.  Paul plays an early twentieth-century viola made by Charles Enel of Paris.

AT THE FESTIVAL