John Harding

John Harding Hon DMus (born 1951) is an internationally renowned Australian violinist. He has travelled the world as a soloist, teacher, concertmaster, chamber musician, conductor and recording artist.

Early life and education John Phillips Harding was born in Newcastle, New South Wales, in 1951. He began his secondary schooling was at Newcastle Boys' High School and studied violin, piano, bassoon and theory at the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music.

In 1962 he moved to Sydney, where he completed his secondary schooling at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music High School and studied violin with Robert Pikler.

He was artistic director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra (1979–1982).

In 1981 he joined the Sydney String Quartet, along with Stanley Ritchie, Alexandru Todicescu and Nathan Waks. [The initial second violinist was the Rumanian Dorel Tincu, who died just before the quartet was due to perform in the Bartok string quartet cycle for the composer's centenary in 1981 in Sydney.]

He became foundation principal teacher of violin at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts after his Piano Trio was invited to Hong Kong in 1985.