Rhonda Wheate

Having grown up in Australia, Rhonda attended performances of the Sydney Schools Performing Ensemble in the Sydney Town Hall and was inspired to take up the violin at the age of 13 after several years of organ lessons. Through the violinist Heather Stewart, Rhonda was introduced to legendary
stringed-instrument maker John Godschall Johnson.
From John's unique workshop in Sydney, Rhonda was privileged to meet Professor Leonie Darby, and to support John's violin-making workshops by performing at various venues including the Sydney Opera House.

After playing with the Fishers Ghost Youth Orchestra and various small ensembles in Sydney and Canberra, Rhonda taught the violin for several years while completing a Bachelor of Science (Honours), Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and PhD.

Since moving to Glasgow in 2007, Rhonda has been able to indulge her passion for folk music, fiddling and generally enjoying music that people can dance to.
In 1990, Rhonda was made custodian of John Godschall Johnson's hand-made Violin Number 11, in which the instruction 'This Instrument May Be Freely Given, Never Bought or Sold' was inscribed.

She still plays John Godschall Johnson's Violin No 11, which is housed in an authentic coffin case, restored by Richard Alfred Heckenberg.