Born in Mexico City in 1979, Morgan Szymanski started playing the guitar at the age of six. Early studies at the National Music School (Mexico) and the Edinburgh Music School led to a scholarship to study under Carlos Bonell and Gary Ryan and the Royal College of Music in London, graduating in 2004 with first class honours. During his studies he won all guitar prizes from the RCM as well as scholarships from the Tillett Trust, Countess of Munster Musical Trust, Leverhulme Trust, Wall Trust, FONCA and a scholarship to study at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. He immediately went on to become the first solo guitarist to be selected by YCAT and was the first guitarist to be awarded a Junior Fellowship at the RCM, where he completed his Masters with distinction.
A top prize-winner at international competitions, in 2002 Morgan won first prize at the National Guitar Competition in Mexico. Abroad, performances as a soloist and with orchestras have taken him concert halls and festivals in Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, China, Chile, France, Germany, Guatemala, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Macedonia, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Scotland, U.S.A, Wales and Zimbabwe.
Over the last year Morgan has given recitals at major UK venues and festivals including Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, Bridgwater Hall, Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall, King’s Place, the Sage Gateshead, Royal Opera House and London International Guitar Festival. In May 2007 he made his debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performing Joaquin Rodrigo’s ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’. He has broadcast live on TV and radio worldwide, highlights including BBC World Service and Radio 3. Abroad he has performed at the Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre, Luxembourg Philharmonie, Vienna Konzerhaus and Mexico’s Palacio de Bellas Artes.
Described as ‘top class in every respect’ (Classical Guitar Magazine, 2005), Morgan’s previous CD ‘The Unicorn in the Garden’, was released in 2005 including works by Iannarelli, Ritter, Ponce and Barrios as well as works especially written for him by Alec Roth. His recordings with His ensemble ‘Machaca’ Mano a Mano and Los Ambulantes on Sarabande Records have been qualified as ‘a jewel’ by Gramophone Magazine.
Morgan’s interest in chamber music has led to collaborations with artists such as John Williams and Carlos Bonell (guitar), Mark Padmore (tenor), Alison Balsom (trumpet), Priya Mitchell (violin), Marcelo Nisinman (bandoneon), the Sacconi Quartet, Phuong Nguyen (accordion), Adam Walker (flute) and Clara Mouriz (mezzo-soprano) amongst others.
He has appeared as a soloist with the Royal Philharmonic Ocrhestra, Hallé, Orchestra of the Swan, Southbank Sinfonia, the Welsh Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Sinfonia, the Cervantes Choir and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.
