Gareth Newman is a pupil of Charles Cracknell, who was Barbirolli's first bassoon in the post-war Halle Orchestra. He has had orchestral jobs in Lisbon, Portugal; Liverpool, England and London. At present he is Sub-Principal Bassoon of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and has been Professor of Bassoon at the Royal Academy of Music since 1994. Gareth has played guest Principal with all of Britain's major orchestras, and has taught and played all over the world.

He first appeared at IDRS in 1983, when he gave a recital and judged the Gillet Competition along with Sol Schoenbach and Maurice Allard. He also played at Graz 1984, Frankfurt 1992, and Melbourne 2004 as well as appearing on the jury in Manchester in 1989.